Let’s talk careers this month. Although CIG focuses in public sector employment, career advice is somewhat agnostic. Advice regarding interviewing, resume writing, and career search methods are mostly applicable regardless of sector or profession.
In my eBook titled, Start Your Career in (IT) Information Technology, I cover all of these topics in appropriate depth providing examples, templates, and guidance. Yet over the past few weeks I was reminded of just how important the topics in the book really are. Specifically, I cover the most important element right in the first chapter titled, Are You Looking For A Job or A Career? This question, no matter how old you are or where you currently find yourself in the workplace, must and can only be answered by you.
A Career in Public Service
I love that this site and organization is titled Careers in Government (CIG) rather than Jobs in Government (JIG) and not just for the purposes of my articles. I spent the majority of my career in the private sector but the last six in local government. I am surrounded every day by workers in just about every discipline: accounting, information technology, engineering, healthcare, social work, law enforcement, and criminal justice. What I have found to be true is that public sector work, in my case local government, is and will continue to be extremely critical to our nation.
The decisions made daily in local governments have the greatest impact on our communities yet the least amount of involvement from the very public we serve. Unfortunatley, I have often felt we have not placed enough emphasis on the importance and magnitude of opportunity that can be found in public service. The greatest and most rewarding impact I have ever experienced in my entire career has most certainly been in the past few years in local government. Our Country experienced rapid change just in the last two decades probably more since its founding. Not to discredit any major challenges and progress of the past but most often this involved one major issue or two at best. In contrast with today, we live, work, and do life while surrounded by probably the most diversity in every respect you could imagine. Trending seems to point to these dynamics continuing which in turn will place governments and those we elect in increasingly challenging decision making roles.
The Government of Tomorrow
The public demand for efficiency, effectiveness, and drive toward government operating at a pace no different from the private sector will continue to increase in the years to come. Therefore, I see this playing out in much less of the status quo regardless of the bureaucratic systems we have in place at any level. Government organizations are increasingly expected to operate lean, timely, and offer the same service levels enjoyed in the private sector today. This can only mean opportunity for trained professionals in areas such as six sigma, business analysis, mathematics, information technology, security, and assurance to either transition or begin their careers in government.
Four Key Career Points
I would leave you as the reader with four key points in finding your true calling by avoiding the pitfalls of winding up in a dreaded J-O-B.
Never rule out your passion
Whatever you are passionate about I can almost guarantee there is a way to turn that into a meaningful career path. Some of the greatest minds of our times and most successful at that used negativity from others about what is impossible to fuel the possible.
Never follow someone else’s choice
Your entire family tree can consist of doctors, lawyers, or the family plumbing business but if your heart is not in it then you can forget it. Your choices in life become carry more consequences as you become older and you will face them whether negative or positive. Someone elses love for something just might end up being your greatest regret in life. Never do something that you could not see yourself doing even if you never received a dime in return.
Never chase the money
Money will come, I can assure you of that. No one starts out rich (unless there is a trust fund somewhere and if so congratulations). Passion will lead to happiness which in turn will lead to a very productive you. Add all of this up and you will eventually make all the money you need to live this life. After all, no amount of money will ever get you out of bed in the morning with sheer excitement to face the work that must be done that day.
Never give in
For me personally, I know I am headed down a great path is when everyone else is scared to travel it. By no means do I recommend you blindly accept this notion as your guide. However, anything in life worth doing will not come easy, there will be naysayers, and sacrifice is a definite component.
In closing, if you take away anything from this article I hope it is that whatever you choose to do in life; give it your all, do it with passion, and ultimately live on purpose. Although my recent eBook is titled, Start Your Career in IT, the materials and guidance are applicable to almost any profession. The templates and examples alone on research, interviews, resumes, cover letters, and finding your passion are worth the DISCOUNTED price alone. Thank you for reading!
