GovernmentExecutive.com

ktroutman@govexec.com

Federal employees who attend my workshops frequently ask whether, when writing about their work experience, they should follow a position description or write about what their jobs really entail. This is a common dilemma, because the position description has been a standard guide for job performance and writing career materials for a long time.

Nonetheless, you should write about what you really do. I've seen position descriptions (PDs) that look like they were written in the 1960s. Your PD has probably not been updated in at least three to five years. It's almost impossible to keep your position description up-to-date with your changing job duties and projects. Review the PD, but don't depend on it solely to write your new resume.

Here's an example of what a person can do change their own PD and job - without being reclassified, promoted or formally trained. This reader skipped lunch and changed her job. Here's what she did:

Hi Kathy,

I just had to write to you again to let you know of a strategy I used to improve my information technology skills and help streamline a reporting process in my office.

Recently, my supervisor informed our staff that rewards will be given to those who do projects outside of their jobs. With this in mind, I started to ponder any products, services or processes that didn't exist or needed improvement that I could do and at the same time improve my IT skills.

I noticed that for three years we were using an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of staff work. Hmmmm, seemed like a great candidate for reinvention! So, I proactively borrowed a couple of MS Access for Dummies books from my Institute's lT library and started reading them during my free time. After reading them, I realized I could use MS Access to develop a relational database for staff projects. I could also create a form and post it to the intranet for easy access for customers.

I presented my research and benefits of the database at a staff meeting and my supervisor thought it was a great idea. In turn, she presented the idea to her boss, the associate director for innovation and evaluation. She loved it so much that I have now been given the responsibility of designing a new database for the Institute to use in tracking the progress of new initiatives!

Isn't that something? Not bad for someone who sacrificed a week of lunch breaks to learn a new skill! Now, I will be taking several database courses at no cost to my boss! Please share this with your readers. There's always a way to create new opportunities for yourself.

K. H., Management Analyst, Department of Health and Human Services

Thanks K.H., for sharing your great idea and your success! I know that your career will change because of your interest and energy in learning something new. You took a risk in learning the new software and it paid off.

Career Tidbits

Last week's column, "Recruitment Sabotage", was about making vacancy announcements more user-friendly. The Office of Personnel Management responded to my rewrite of an 18-page, 159-question, Form C vacancy announcement. Here's what they said:
"We're re-vamping vacancy announcements...and replacing the Form C with Teleform, but expect its demise over time as Web application becomes the preferred medium."

In my opinion, most vacancy announcements are too long, difficult to understand, and not readable. The focus is on personnel information, rather than the job to be filled. Do you agree or disagree? Write and let me know. I need your help in encouraging human resources personnel to rewrite and redesign vacancy announcements.

My Electronic Federal Resume Guidebook is growing and the list for people who want to know when it's available is growing, too. I'm learning more about the electronic resume (and the Resumix resume) every workshop I teach. Send me an e-mail if you want to be on the list.

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