The Results-Oriented Government Workplace

Government jobs, whether in the courts, police or sanitation, are involved in a lot of detail. When government people are so engrossed in the details of their jobs, it's easy for them, for anyone actually, to lose sight of the job's major contribution.

A Results-Oriented Government Job Description is different from a traditional job description because it focuses an employee on the several job results that answer the question: What results must this government affairs job accomplish for the organization?

Government Job Standards added to job expectations tighten management controls by clarifying how well and when results must be accomplished.

Government Job Objectives establish management and employee plans by highlighting important current and future results needed.

Job-specific Government Employee Management Forms maintain consistent and legally sound management actions by basing manager-employee interactions on job results.

The Purpose of Government Jobs

Stated in a results-oriented, three-line style, government affairs jobs--

PROVIDES GOVERNMENT SERVICES FOR CITIZENS by

studying changing needs; evaluating service options; coordinating and cooperating with other units of government; meeting with citizens and advisory groups; providing safety and infrastructure; reaching out to resolve concerns; settling disputes.

Types of Government Jobs

Some government jobs ensure citizen safety by taking preventive measures, enforcing laws and codes, conducting inspections, providing disaster relief services and national defense, and capturing and punishing criminals. Other jobs provide an infrastructure, maintain roads, and study traffic patterns.

Still other jobs test drivers, study economic conditions, manage elections, and inspect elevators. Somebody needs to fight fires, drive ambulances, and prepare bills for services. And, of course, somebody has to manage and supervise the government people and processes.

Government Job Management Tools

Here are actual job examples of how government affairs job actions can be focused on results and kept on track using each of our job management tools:

Results-Oriented Government Job Descriptions form the foundation of all job management tools. Our uniquely structured job descriptions focus on the result to be accomplished first and prominently, followed by the duties performed in order to accomplish the result. For example,

RECOMMENDS GOVERNMENT ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Government Job Standards sharpen employee attention and management control by defining and communicating how well the government affairs results must be accomplished and what benchmarks will be used to measure job results. For example, for the job result above, the job standards might be:

• Government situations are correctly understood.
• All options are identified and evaluated.
• Government recommendations are ready when needed.

Government Job Objectives point the direction for employee actions by focusing job efforts on current and future government affairs issues. Job objectives are written in the three-line, results-oriented structure. For example, for the job result above, a job objective might be:

SPEED-UP DECISION MAKING by

reducing time to deliver government affairs recommendations by 10% by (date).

Government Employee Management Forms tied specifically to each government affairs job description are more helpful (and legal) than generic forms used for all different kinds of jobs. Job-specific forms are used to state job qualifications, guide job interview questions, orient new employees, plan job training, and appraise job performance.

Government Job Qualifications are stated in the same terms used in the job description. They are not translated into generic (typically behavioral) terms. For example:

RECOMMENDS GOVERNMENT ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Government Job Interview guide questions are inserted directly below each job result in the job description: For example:

• "What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?"
• "Where did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "When did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?"
• "What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?"
• "In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?"
• "How did you overcome the challenges?"

The Government Job Orientation guide reformats the job description sequence so that job explanations, policies, protocols, processes, and procedures are logical and complete and can easily be checked off. For example:

RECOMMENDS GOVERNMENT ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Here's the procedure and format we use to analyze and present government affairs recommendations."

The Government Job Training plan guides a thorough examination of actual job knowledge, skills, and abilities as described in the job description that need improvement or that might be enhanced. For example:

RECOMMENDS GOVERNMENT ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Analytical skills would be improved by enrolling in a statistical analysis class."

The Government Job Performance Appraisal guide is a job-specific form. It is not a universal form used for all jobs. The guide adds an appraisal scale below each job result in the job description so that attention can be drawn to each job requirement and expectation. For example:

RECOMMENDS GOVERNMENT ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

__ Great! Just want we wanted.
__ We have a problem.
__ Improvement is needed.
__ Much, much more than we asked for.

Comments: _________________

Government Résumé Template

Potential employers want to know what a job applicant has accomplished in his/her government affairs work career. They don't want to be bored with minor details. Our Résumé Template provides:

• an outline to help assemble personal background information.
• a Results-Oriented Job Description to provide the government affairs job language-focused on results-needed to write an effective résumé.
• Government Job Objectives to orient thinking in terms of accomplishments.
• instructions on how to use a Results-Oriented Government Job Description and Government Job Objectives to express job accomplishments.

Use the government affairs job description responsibility statement as a base:

RECOMMENDS GOVERNMENT ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Select the government affairs job objective that fits your experience:

REDUCE COSTS 10% by

improving government affairs processes.

Combine the two into a résumé statement:

Reduced costs 10% by analyzing, identifying, and recommending new government affairs system controls.

Government Career Links

Careers in Government

Government and public sector employee associations the provide training, resources and networking opportunities for members and non-members alike.

Partnership for Public Service

The Partnership for Public Service works to revitalize our federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works.

Federal Jobs Resources

The career center helps federal government job hunters find, apply for, and land government jobs.

U.S. Department of State, Careers Representing America

General information, career options, student information, career resources, opportunities.

eThemes, Government and Public Administration

Age-appropriate resources organized around specific themes for educators to use in their classrooms.