Author Archives: Don Whiteside

Been thinking about your career goals lately? That’s great! Obviously, it is important to know what you want to accomplish. However, that alone is not enough. Many other factors can impact your chances for success and must also be considered. Fortunately, the "SMART" approach can help you do this.  SMART will help ensure you have looked at your goal from all the right angles and asked all the right questions. So, what exactly is SMART?

SMART is a goal-setting concept introduced back in the early 1980s. Although it has been around a while, it is far from obsolete. In fact, it is still quite popular today. Why? Because it is a simple, easy-to-understand, and common-sense approach. You may come across variations of the SMART model, however, at its core, the basic concepts are the same.

Developing and evaluating goals using the SMART approach helps to ensure they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based.

Let’s see how SMART might work in the real world.  For example, suppose you decide to pursue a particular career field.  After researching the educational requirements required for a job in that field, you learn a bachelor’s degree is definitely needed. However, what if you currently have little or no college? It would seem the goal is fairly obvious: obtain a bachelor’s degree. However, have you really examined the goal in enough detail?  Now, take a look at the goal from the SMART perspective.

NOTE: In this example, completing one’s education was the identified goal, so SMART will be applied with that in mind. However, keep in mind the SMART approach will work with any goal, not just goals relating to education. Simply adapt the SMART model for your particular goal.

Specific

The goal is to get a bachelor’s degree, so that seems pretty specific already, right? Or is it? Sometimes, it may not be enough to simply have a bachelor’s degree in any major.  Certain career fields may require a degree in a very specific major. Even then, a degree in a specific major may not be enough! The degree may also have to be from a college program which is accredited by a particular entity. Did your goal include these very specific details?  If not, the goal is not specific enough.

Depending on the circumstances, the goal may have to be revised. For example: earn a bachelor’s degree in the specific major from a university with the required program accreditation. This is a significant change which could affect where you get the degree, how long it will take, and what it will cost. It’s a good thing you figured this all out up front. Otherwise, you could spend time and money on a degree which will not achieve your end goal.

Measurable

Since degrees require a defined number of credit or semester hours in order to graduate, educational goals are inherently measurable. It is easy to count your completed credit hours and know how close you are to obtaining your degree.  Unfortunately, not all goals are nearly this measurable.

What about goals such as those relating to skill?  Suppose you are seeking a promotion to an analyst position which requires skill in using Excel spreadsheets. Your goal might be “becoming proficient in Microsoft Excel.” You should already suspect such a goal is problematic for several reasons. How would you measure something like that?  How do you know when the goal has been met?

Here’s an idea. What about taking an Excel class?  After all, that’s measurable. Seems simple enough; either you took the class and passed or not.  But wait! Simply taking a class is not the same as being skilled and proficient.  You probably know people who have taken an Excel class and still cannot create decent spreadsheets or charts.  If so, you see the challenge in making some goals measurable.

Goals like this might be best measured by identifying an accomplishment which would confirm achievement of the desired skill level. For example, your modified goal might read something like, “I will create four different Excel spreadsheets which allow user data entry. The data in each will be analyzed using at least two Excel functions. Information resulting from each analysis will be presented in both bar and pie charts.”  With the revised goal, the specific Excel skills desired have been identified.  When you are personally able to successfully create four such spreadsheets, on your own, the goal has been met.

Attainable

A goal like education might be easy enough to measure, but admittedly difficult and challenging to attain.  Many factors enter into whether or not a goal is attainable.  For our education example, here are just a few; other goals will likely have additional or completely different factors.

• Time.  Can I carve out the class and study time necessary to complete the degree?
• Finances. Do I have or can I obtain the necessary funds to pay for my education?  Are resources available through my employer, union, government, or the college financial aid office?
• Support System.  Is my spouse, significant other, family, and/or employer supportive in this goal? Or, will they put up obstacles at every turn?
• Ability.  Not everyone is necessarily prepared to tackle certain college degree programs.  For example, it is unlikely an individual with zero natural art talent would do well in a graphic arts program.  Also, not everyone has the ability to make it through difficult or heavily math-oriented degree programs, such as those requiring calculus or physics.

If you discover factors do exist which make goal attainment difficult, you should not simply give up. Instead, recognize you are being smart and realistic, and therefore won’t be blindsided by these issues later on. If you really want the goal, focus on finding creative ways to overcome the challenges so it is attainable.

Relevant

Strange as it may seem, people sometimes really do pursue activities which are only marginally related to their goal.  But, who has time, money, and energy to waste?  Make sure to direct your resources only toward those things directly related to the actual goal.

Let's go back to our example of needing a bachelor’s degree in a particular major. Perhaps you are thinking about first obtaining an associate degree from a local community college and then later transferring to a four-year university to complete the required bachelor’s degree. Is pursuing the associate degree a relevant activity?

It depends. Suppose many of the credit hours from the associate degree cannot be transferred to the four-year university or the courses would not be applicable. If true, you would need extra time and money later to take the additional courses necessary for the bachelor’s degree. Clearly, in this case, pursuing an associate degree would not be relevant.

However, suppose the community college credits are transferable. In this situation, taking at least some carefully-selected courses at the local college might make sense. Perhaps the local college is more convenient (saves time) and has a lower cost (saves money). If attending the local college saves resources and contributes directly to the goal, it would be relevant.

It might also be possible the associate degree somehow fits into your career goal in the short run. Perhaps having the associate degree would enable you to advance to a new position at work while you continue to pursue the bachelor’s degree. If so, obtaining an associate degree could be relevant.

The key is to consider the relevance of your planned actions up front. In this way, you will avoid wasting resources on activities which do not directly contribute toward attainment of your goal.

Time-Based

A goal which is not time-based or time-sensitive is often put off until “someday.”  As you might suspect, “someday” usually never comes.  A deadline helps to keep you on track and lets you know where you stand regarding goal completion (aids in measurement).  Continuing with the education example, let’s say you have completed some college but do not yet have near enough credit hours to graduate. Consider the following two goals:

“I will complete my college degree”

“I will complete my college degree within 5 years from today”

These are two entirely different goals!  The first goal merely suggests “someday I will get a degree” and the other identifies a specific, self-imposed deadline.  A deadline will help you determine how many courses must be taken each semester so as to achieve the goal within the target time frame.  As stated in the SMART table above, longer-term goals should be broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces.   Establish a series of smaller “milestone” targets (with dates) as you move along the path toward goal completion.

Be SMART

Regardless of the nature of your career goals, think them through in a SMART way.  Currently developing your goals?  As you do, make sure each is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.  Already have goals in place and working on them right now?  Pause for just a moment to look at them again from the SMART perspective. You just may be surprised at what you find and how the goals can be improved to enhance your chances for success!

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Have you ever thought about government employment as a career path? I suppose unless the IRS or FBI is chasing you down you may not regularly think about government agencies. To the average person, the federal, state, and local governments probably appear to simply operate in the background. Their services are pretty much taken for granted. Most people likely don’t even think about them on a daily basis. So, it should not come as a big surprise that government employment as a career path is often overlooked. Perhaps simply out of sight, out of mind. Besides, every time you watch the news on TV or online, it seems as though the government is in chaos. Fighting between and within political parties. Campaign mudslinging. Scandals involving leaders and staffers at all levels. Wow! No wonder the thought of working for the government may not seem appealing!

That’s too bad.  Having worked in government a few years, I know it offers great opportunities in almost every career field.  Plus, working as a “civil servant” can be a personally rewarding and fulfilling experience.  You can serve your city, county, state, or even the federal government in important ways, all while getting paid.  It’s true; government pay scales are often not as lucrative as those found in the private sector.  However, they’re not too shabby either, especially if you advance to a senior level or management position.

More Stable Work?

Some people feel government work may be more stable than other types of jobs.  As long as you are not in a temporary or grant-funded position, this is probably true.  Jobs in the private sector may come or go suddenly for many reasons. For example, a drop in last quarter’s sales figures might result in cutbacks. A sudden decline in profits might result in closing entire factories or branch offices. Thus, for many types of jobs, government work is perhaps more stable because “sales” and “profits” are non-issues.  Also, government entities must provide certain essential services and perform many tasks which are mandated by law. Thus, the function of government must continue regardless of the current business economic climate.

What Types of Workers Are Hired by the Government?

If you think the government doesn’t hire people in your trade or profession, think again.  You might not even realize government agencies hire nurses, teachers, computer programmers, engineers, plumbers, electricians, welders, and mechanics. Also, purchasing agents, writers, communications specialists, analysts, and photographers. Don’t forget accountants, chemists, artists, social workers, and law enforcement officers. Even doctors, dentists, and lawyers are needed. And those lists just scratch the surface! I could go on and on.

Could I Really Get a Job?

Sure. In fact, depending on your background and situation, you might have an advantage when it comes to landing a government job.  For example, the Federal Government has programs which assist or provide a hiring preference for certain groups.  Such groups might include veterans, military spouses, disabled individuals, Native Americans, and others.  Check out usajobs.gov for a wealth of information about finding and applying for positions with the United States government.

In addition to Federal jobs, don’t forget your local city, county, and state governments also need qualified people!  Be sure to check their websites for job openings and instructions on how to apply for open positions. These governmental entities may also have special hiring programs for which you might possibly qualify.

Government and Your Career Path

From a career path perspective, government employment can work for you in two ways.  If you go into government first, it might help open the door for private sector employment later on.  This is especially true if you are in a field where having been a “government insider” with knowledge of how government operates is valued.  Your government experience could give you an advantage over other applicants who do not have such valuable insight.

For example, suppose your new employer is considering selling products or services to the government.  Governments typically have complex purchasing processes requiring piles of paperwork and forms. If you have government experience, you may already know how this all works, making you very desirable as an employee. Additionally, you probably know exactly who to contact, in which agency, to get results.  To outsiders, the government can appear as a hopelessly confusing labyrinth of bureaucracies.

On the flip side, suppose you have private sector employment experience first and wish to later move into government employment.   You may be an attractive candidate to agencies wishing to bring new knowledge and experience into their organizations.  They are often interested in adapting and implementing many of the best practices found in the private sector.  This makes your skills and experience all the more desirable.

The Government Workplace

So, am I suggesting government employment is all roses and greener grass?  You’re kidding, right? Show me a workplace that is! In reality, it depends for whom you work and the type of work you do.  Just like private sector companies, government agencies each have different cultures and levels of employee satisfaction.

I have talked to many individuals in state government who have switched their employment between various agencies.  They all tell me the same thing. Every agency has its own unique personality, culture, and atmosphere.  Even within the same state, some individual agencies are considered to be wonderful places to work while others are not.

It is true “politics” impacts the government work environment.  No, I’m not referring to your personal political beliefs or party affiliation.  I’m talking about politics as it relates to legislative decisions and approval or non-approval of budget bills, etc. Depending on who gets elected, drastic changes in the focus and direction of work may occur. Still, as you already know, the issue of internal politics is certainly not limited to government and is commonplace in the private sector as well!

Government agencies often tend to be “by the book” employers.  So, expect lots of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and numbered forms to fill out.  But, that’s not necessarily all bad or limited to government. For example; athletes must follow certain rules in order to play and win in their particular sports. It’s simple; if the rules aren’t followed, you can’t play or expect to win. Similarly, government workers who run into problems are often those who are either unable or unwilling to learn and follow the rules.  If you learn the rules well and know how to interpret and apply them skillfully, you may likely do great in government employment!

The Outlook for Government Employment

A quick look at government employment projections shows modest and mixed changes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a slight decrease in Federal government employment of -0.2% for the period 2016 to 2026, while state and local government employment is expected to increase by 0.4% during the same period.

I believe that although government job sectors are not expecting new or expanded growth, there will still be an increase in job openings for existing positions. Why? Because baby boomers are aging. According to an article by the Pew Research Center, from the years 2011 to 2030, 10,000 baby boomers per day will reach the age of 65.

Of course, most will not retire at exactly age 65. In fact, the trend is for many to continue working later and later for a number of reasons. According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 41% of nonretirees plan to retire at age 66 or older.

Still, just the rising age of these workers suggests a massive exodus from the government workplace is imminent at some point. According to the Washington Post, there is growing concern about the “brain drain” such impending departures will cause.  The 82,000-plus federal employees who retired in 2013 alone took 2 million years of experience with them!

Clearly, in order to carry on, government agencies need to pass the torch to someone in the next generation of workers.  That someone might just be you!

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Featured image courtesy of Baldur93-Pixabay.