Table of Contents

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