Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
PART 1 Getting In
(Arriving) 1
Chapter 1 Should I Work for the Government and if So,
Where? 3
Is the Government Right for You? 4
Federal Versus State and Local 25
Conclusion 31
Chapter 2 How Do I Get In? 32
How to Get a Government Job 33
Scanning Job Announcements 35
Your Application 45
Submitting Your Application 48
The Interview 53
PART 2 Getting Off to a Good Start
(Surviving) 57
Chapter 3 In the Beginning 59
Making a Good First Impression 59
Fitting In 69
Office Romance 74
Personal Business 75
Should You Join the Union? 79
Chapter 4 Your Relationship with Your Superiors 82
Understanding Your Supervisor 83
Building a Good Relationship 98
Working for a Difficult Boss 106
Chapter 5 Developing Perspective 114
Understanding What Is Really Going On 114
Familiarize Yourself with the Local Politics and Strategy 118
Develop a Cadre of Mentors 121
Build a Network 126
Act Appropriately 128
How to Complain 135
PART 3 Plotting Your Career
(Thriving) 139
Chapter 6 Looking Down the Road 141
Where Do I Want to Be in Five Years? Ten Years? Twenty Years? 141
Do Not Focus Exclusively on One Career Path 145
Going Into Management/Getting Exposure to Multiple Fields 147
Headquarters or the Field? 149
Staff or Line? 152
What About More Education? 155
Switching Between the Public and Private Sectors 158
Find Your Niche: Learn How to Think Creatively and Competitively 161
Chapter 7 Management 165
Is Management for Me? 165
Preparing to Go Into Management 174
How to Become a Supervisor 179
Getting Into Upper Management 181
The Challenges of Upper-Level Management 184
Chapter 8 Balancing Your Work Life and Your Family Life 190
It's a Job 191
Don't Treat the Job as if It's Life and Death 197
Follow Your Passion 200
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle 201
When Things Are Not Going Well at Work 204
Are You Willing to Move? 206
When and How to Retire 209
Chapter 9 Personal Development 213
Engage in Growth Activities 213
Study the Lives of Successful People 221
Who Is Going to Define You? 225
Smell the Roses 228
Notes 231
Index 247
