There is no mystery to networking. You don’t have to be a Competent
Toastmaster and feel at ease in groups to succeed at this task. It is a learned
skill that is simply communicating effectively with others that may have a
vested interest in your career. It isn’t an unobtainable skill that is only
successful for outgoing individuals who are good talkers. Networking works both
ways just like any communication where you are either the sender (talker) or
receiver (listener). One doesn’t work without the other. It doesn’t pay to
talk if no one is listening and visa versa.
Networking benefits both parties and if you understand this upfront it tends
to relieve some of the pressure when you start the process. Supervisors need
competent, qualified and motivated workers and they are always looking for those
who fit the bill. You are actually benefiting the organization when you
start your outreach efforts and supervisors need to know who the qualified and
interested employees are. This makes recruiting easier for supervisors since
they will have a list of current federal employees that she/he may be able to
pick up non-competitively.
When an agency initiates a recruit action it can take months to advertise,
interview and make a selection. However, if they have a list of qualified
federal employees they can make a non-competitive selection immediately. This
saves supervisors considerable effort and time and it saves the agency money and
resources. Current federal employees already know the system and their
orientation is minimal compared to what they have to do when they hire a new
employee off-the-street. You are actually doing the organization a favor by
calling and performing informational interviews plus it shows interest and
motivation on your part.
Another benefit is that supervisors can tailor an advertisement (job
vacancy) to fit your particular needs. For example, if you impress the
supervisor during an informational interview and they have a GS-343-9
Analyst position going out for bid, they can tailor the announcement
to include your level of competence. If you know that you would only qualify
for a GS-343-5 or possibly a GS-343-7 they can advertise the job at the
GS-343-5/7/9 so that you would be considered. Supervisors seek out motivated
workers and if you impress her/him in the interview they may take the entry
level federal employee applicant over an off-the-street applicant that has
no government experience. Networking can pay big dividends if used
properly.
Networking is ideally suited for federal employees that are exploring career
options in their organization or with other agencies. When networking
clicks in the federal sector you can be hired on-the-spot after personnel
reviews your application and qualifications. If you impress a potential employer
they can pick you up non-competitively for jobs you qualify for up to the
highest grade you held permanently. This entire book involves networking
techniques and you have already compiled lists of contacts in Chapter Two and
Six. Use the Key Contact Form in Chapter Six to annotate additional
contacts as they materialize.
Developing an IDP is half the battle but without networking the IDP may fall
on deaf ears. You have to look for worthwhile lateral details and seek out
experiences that will expand your knowledge. Networking is used not only
to find other jobs but to expand your horizons in all areas including improving
interpersonal skills and to complete your career development plan. Your
supervisor can direct you to resources but you must initiate the personal
contacts that you need to explore viable career options and potential vacancies.
The more contacts that you make the better off you will be and you need to
build on each new contact. Expand your Contact List and be sure to write
down their name, phone number, organization, and in the comments area note
the date of contact and other relevant information. One of the keys to
networking is the Informational Interview.
The first step is to call offices within your organization or other agencies
in the areas you desire to work and ask to talk with a supervisor who works in
your specialty, i.e.; administration, technical, computer operations, etc. If an
immediate supervisor isn’t willing to talk with you in person, ask to talk with
someone in the Human Resource department. Briefly explain to this individual
that you are exploring federal careers that you’ve identified in your IDP and
ask if he/she would be willing to spend ten minutes talking with you in person
about viable career paths with their agency.
Take Charge of Your Federal Career has a comprehensive networking
section that outlines the process for you, provides templates to follow,
suggested questions to ask, and
lists numerous resources to help you make a connection. Networking has mostly
been associated with the private sector but it has always been a factor in the
federal sector as well. Those who master these techniques can expand their
opportunities far beyond what they imagined. Early in my federal career I used
networking, it wasn’t called that back then, to explore a number of related
government occupations. Within two years of beginning my search I landed a
better job in a desirable occupation that eventually lead to a top management
position. On another occasion I and a number of fellow federal workers
organized a local Toastmasters club. One of our new members was a former
engineer from the Corp of Engineers. Through her affiliation with our group she
discovered that we had a job vacancy in her specialty and she landed the job.
Twenty-five years later she is at the top of her field and a manager of a large
government organization.
The Workbooks
are devoted to networking techniques and
informational interviews and provides the following additional information:
- Contacts
- Informational Interview Questions
- Making A Connection
- Personnel Information
- OPM and how to use it to your advantage
