Life: The End or Just the Beginning?
Life. Is it the end of just the beginning? I went to a funeral yesterday. I have gone to a lot of funerals over the last 12 years of people who expected to be going to mine. It reminded me again of how we can all be so busy living, we forget about dying. We want to...
What Is An International Development Master’s Program?
International development masters programs are ideal for those interested in all aspects of eliminating global poverty, including improving health and education services, creating a sustainable food supply, developing economic institutions, and promoting safety, human...
Education Innovation: The CAPS Model
I am a public-sector entrepreneur. I must help people with my work; it is my oxygen. My personal mission statement is: “To help people make connections that help them live their dreams.” That is why I feel blessed to be the new Executive Director of the Blue Valley...
Public Sector Employment: 5 Common Misconceptions
While many occupations carry stereotypes – think lawyer, professor, NFL player – few are less understood than those in state and local government. Media hype and outdated perceptions have led to several misconceptions about people who work in the public sector – from...
Scotland Will Vote “NO”
To CIG’s American readers; it is no exaggeration to say that this coming September 18th has the potential to directly affect your life. And for those in Europe; the day certainly will. The United Kingdom’s relationship with both the USA and the European Union will...
Public Health: Public-Private Partnerships
A couple of months of ago I began writing about Public-Private Partnerships, also known as 3Ps, and the diversity of their utilization within various projects and programs. 3Ps may be most well-known to some for their application in infrastructure projects. However,...
Adult Education: 8 Tips for Mature Students
How do you juggle studying as a mature student in adult education while holding down a day job? Continuing professional development (CPD) helps to maintain and build your employability throughout your career. However, it can be a bit of a shock if you've been out of...
Office Games
When people talk about their managers and co-workers playing games at the office, they usually aren’t talking about Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Cut the Rope, Monopoly, or Scrabble. They are instead talking about people engaging in excessively political behavior,...
Interviewing Tips for the Introvert
If you’re an introvert, going out on job interviews and charming employers might not be your strong point. In fact you may dread interviews and stress about it for days, or even weeks before. Some of the common complaints given by employers related to introverts are:...
Public Service: A New Season
There is a special time of the year when the early mornings and late afternoons become oddly familiar to us. A cool breeze that accompanies a rising sun or the subtle tones of the early evening as the stars begin to appear: It is indeed a sight and setting that in...
The Gift of Life
A variety of routes exist that will take you from anonymity to being noteworthy. Most will travel by way of exceptional achievements in business or politics or sport or entertainment. In my case, the route was a little different. It selected me, rather than I choose...
Master of Legal Studies: Career Options
For many students and professionals interested in working in the government, a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree is a useful credential to have in order to advance in their education and career — and it only takes 12 months to earn the degree. A one-year MLS...
Maintaining Employee Motivation Within the Public Sector
It is not a secret that employee engagement has a significant impact on organizational outcomes. It also is not a surprise that what motivates public sector employees is different from those within the private sector. Employee engagement can vary between individuals...
U.S. and U.K.: Why Local Government Isn’t Working
Giving ‘power to the people’ has a popular ring to it. But what power, and to which people? That question demands a clear but detailed answer in order to achieve effective and efficient local government: as a Councillor in Devon, England, I’ve been fortunate enough to...
From Active Military Duty To Active Employee
The experience embedded into you by the military - order and discipline, once key to a successful mission, can now also hurt you. Yes sir, no sir, and parade rest are commands hard to be abandoned by a seasoned member of the Armed Forces. That mindset unfortunately...
Managing Your Federal Job Search Campaign
Can you think of ways you might conduct a campaign – any kind of campaign? Three styles immediately come to mind: political, advertising, and fundraising. Your federal job search can be understood this way: In a political campaign, someone is selected based on...
MPA: The Challenges of Obtaining Your Degree
Many citizens in this country are advocates for change in their society and communities. Are you that person and that wants to grow your professional career by obtaining a degree in Public Administration? Whether you are an entry-level student with internship...
The New Candidate Driven Marketplace
In what has shifted to a very clear candidate-driven market, candidates have more opportunity for choice among the offers they are fielding. At a quick glance, this is great news for those who have been slogging through a difficult last few years. Since the recession...