Working for the government offers many advantages: great prospects for professional
growth, job security, an attractive array of benefits, and the op-por-tunity to help other
citizens-but it also presents unique challenges.
Managing Your Government Career gives current and future government
employees powerful advice for starting out and maneuvering through their entire career.
Based on the author's more than 32 years experience in civil service jobs, as well as his
inter-ac-tions with thousands of government employees, the book helps readers:
decide whether working for the government is right for them understand the
differences between federal, state, and local levels apply, interview for, and get the job
they want take advantage of the training offered understand the cul-ture become familiar
with local politics make themselves valuable develop the right mentors fluidly transition
up the ladder
Packed with indispensable guidance, this is a unique and highly strategic resource for
anyone working in government.
Stewart Liff (Saugus, CA) began his career with the federal government
in 1974. He is a winner of the President’s Council on Management Improvement Award and
the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service. His books include Managing Government
Employees (978-0-8144-0887-2).
Table of Contents
Pt. I Getting in (Arriving) 1
Ch. 1 Should I Work for the Government and if So, Where? 3
Ch. 2 How Do I Get In? 32
Pt. 2 Getting Off to a Good Start (Surviving) 57
Ch. 3 In the Beginning 59
Ch. 4 Your Relationship with Your Superiors 82
Ch. 5 Developing Perspective 114
Pt. 3 Plotting Your Career (Thriving) 139
Ch. 6 Looking Down the Road 141
Ch. 7 Management 165
Ch. 8 Balancing Your Work Life and Your Family Life 190
Ch. 9 Personal Development 213
Notes 231
Index 247
256 pages, Paperback