Unit 3 Module Networking Goldberga
Unit 3 Module Networking Goldberga
Career options are broader than jobs. They are paths you can take to get to where you want to be.
Here is a resource that can assist you in determing:
https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/pathways.html
1) As you have gathered your data take the time to share and fully describe your top
four (4) possible career options. You want to be specific, as this creates a more
meaningful matrix. Describe each career with as much detail as possible. Consider
the following to be used in your 2-3 paragraph response per career option: career
field / organization / job-related responsibilities / opportunities for advancement /
future outlook of the career field. These responses need to demonstrate that you
have gathered your research and analyzed it, so there should be citations referencing
where you got your information, using APA standards. Remember to include why you
are choosing each career option.
a. Public Management and Administration Pathway – Falls under the career field of
Government and Public Administration, per the Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters
& Pathways (Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters & Pathways, 2023). The
occupation of Budget Analysts found in this path align with my goal of becoming
a Deputy Director for a Department at the executive level for the Federal
overseeing the day to day operations of the department and the strategic planning
providing guidance regarding duties and responsibilities, interview and hire the
efficient, and have strong attention to details. These strengths support my Kudor
using social influence, control, and traditional beliefs. I feel that this career will
department to success. Being a civil servant and working for the people will
in increasing team morale is also one way to achieve creativity. As a little girl I
A quick search using key words, “Deputy Director” yielded 281 job openings in
the USAJOBS website. If you filter down by full-time and permanent, the list is
reduced to 252 jobs. I reviewed a few of those jobs and it appears that I would
b. Regulation – This career field also falls under Government and Public
(Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters & Pathways, 2023). I chose this career
interesting; it’s the I in the Holland code for me: CEI. As a budget analyst, I am
data and investigate why we have an anomaly. Then once the anomaly is found, I
am able to find solutions that will help resolve the anomaly and presenting my
findings to leadership.
A Financial Examiner must posses the basic skills of communication with all sorts
of stakeholders, reading policy and guidance, ensuring compliance with laws and
regulations, and problem solving skills. Furthermore, the personality most suitable
would require leadership skills and the ability to make sound decisions based on
the findings. I then realized that my analytical thinking, integrity, and attention to
2023). As long as there is fraud, there will always be a need for financial
examiners.
c. Legal Services - This career field falls under Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and
Security, per the Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters & Pathways (Minnesota
Career Fields, Clusters & Pathways, 2023). Under legal services I noticed the job
of Lawyer. I am piqued because I enjoy reading laws and regulations and then
learning how to enforce them. This ties back to Conventional (C), Enterprising
Lawyers must collect information from different sources which can be public or
from personal records. Once the information is analyzed then they must make
decisions that will comply with current laws and regulations. Resolve conflicts by
through mass data and categorizing that data. Lastly, they must keep up-to-date
with new knowledge as laws change or are created (Minnesota Career Fields,
the Holland Code the second occupation name listed is Executive Secretaries and
occupation was listed and now this assignment has made me rethink my stand on
this occupation.
d. Planning - This career field also falls under Government and Public
(Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters & Pathways, 2023). In reviewing the Planning
path, I noticed that Economist was the top listed occupation. The skills required of
detecting changes. Once again this all speaks to my Holland code of CEI,
Now that you have determined these four options, take a step back and share a fifth
UNTHINKABLE (UT) career option, that you would never do, but are trained for
by what you have learned by earning your degree. Think about skills you have
acquired while earning your degree, which would be transferable to something
completely different.
consulting firm (Brasil, 2023). Their duties include collaborating with department
productivity. Although this type of occupation has a more flexible work schedule
that would allow me more time with my family, the lack of job security makes
2) Using the information you have gathered and shared above it is time to fill in your
Career Decision Matrix. You can find an example in Table 4.2 on page 93 of our
text. When you complete the matrix below, be sure to remove any unnecessary
labels.
a. Down the left hand side of the matrix, you will list your ten (10) life themes
from your thematic analysis. You can also add more that were not part of your
presentation as Theme 11 and so on.
b. Across the top of the page, you will list the five (5) career options you are
considering.
c. Next, fill in each cell with a high (h), medium (m), or low indication of the
match between that theme and the alternative under consideration.
3) Now that you have determined these career options in relation to your life themes:
a. Reflect to what extent your Career Decision Matrix development process has
helped your career development decisions.
A few weeks ago, I was second guessing the decisions I have made so far in my
career. In completing the Career Decision Matrix, I came to realize that the decisions
I have made in the past 7 years have placed me on the right path to reach my
the confidence and the right tools for my future decisions because one of the most
important themes for me is balance, work satisfaction, and family. Working for the
federal government allows me to have a balance between my work life and family.
Looking at the matrix, I was not surprised to find that budget analyst scored the
highest. This is because I am already aware of how a budget analyst career path in the
federal government aligns with my themes. As I scored the other career options, I did
so from a perspective that these positions would be located in a federal agency. The
b. Share which career option(s) you feel would be worth researching more and
pursuing as you begin to think about your networking plan.
I was extremely surprised that Lawyer made it to the matrix. This is an occupation
that I thought about in my mid-20s. However, life had other plans for me. Seeing this
Additionally, a few weeks ago, my husband and I were disussing if I would continue
situation at work. I listened and then gave him a solution and told him which federal
money for a divorce lawyer. I went to low-cost paralegal for help. Before our fist
meeting, I read the California family laws and by the time I represented myself in the
court room, the judge was very impressed by my knowledge. When I worked for a
small logistics company, I created the rules and regulations for the company. Then on
two occasions, I had to represent the company at the labor court evaluation meeting.
Research on leadership development has demonstrated that people benefit from a variety of
developmental relationships, including short-term and long-term alliances with bosses, peers,
senior executives, coaches, subordinates, and family members, the more diversity and depth
there is in your developmental network, the better. Depending on our dominant learning tactics,
we are more or less likely to pay attention to the quality of our developmental network.
This assignment was adapted by Professor Kathy E. Kram from a worksheet developed by
Professor Deborah Kolb, Simmons Graduate School of Management. Adapted by permission.
1) As you think about the major changes that are likely to take place at your place of
work in the next few years, what major challenges and opportunities do you foresee
that you will need to deal with in the next 1-3 years?
Describe and explain why these are your top three (3) of Challenges here:
a. No available temporary assignments at the GS-14 level in my Department. This
means that all positions are filled and there is no need to back-fill a position. To
acquire a position as a GS-14, you must have at least one-year experience as the
competition.
b. No one is retiring or vacating a GS-14 level position. Just like “a” above, if all the
GS-14 positions are filled in our Department, I will have to search for a position
year and there have been years in which the training was not conducted due to
lack of participation.
Describe and explain why these are your top three (3) of Opportunities here:
d. Volunteering for special projects within the department. There are times when the
Chief Forester (head of the Forest Service) or Director of our department will task
network with other employees who might be sitting on the hiring panels or can
provide a reference statement when I apply for positions at the next level.
e. Attending all in-person meetings. Although our department offices are located in
D.C., about 95% of our department is remote. Once a year we have an in-person
meeting in D.C. Being available to attend these meetings will help me network
meetings but not everyone is required to turn-on their camera. In-person meetings,
we can see each other and we have the availability to sit with members from other
department will increase to twice its size. As employees are shifted, there will be
2) Given these challenges and opportunities, what type of help are you most likely to
need? Check one and explain why.
a. Help in getting the job done ______
b. Help in advancing my career ___X___
c. Emotional support ______
d. All of the above ______
For me to apply to temporary assignments, special projects, apply for leadership
academy, and/or attend in-person meetings requires the approval of my Supervisor. In each
situation, there is a requirement of written proof. The written proof must show that I have
discussed with my Supervisor my request and I have received their approval. An email
3) If your major challenge or opportunity is related to your work, how well positioned
are you to get information, advice, and resources about new opportunities and
possibilities? Check one and explain who can help you and why.
Very Well _X___ Okay ______ Need to Expand My Network ______
The people in our agency do a great job of emailing available new temporary or
permanent positions via the budget distribution list. Within the email, they provide the link to
the job listing that is posted in the U.S. Forest Service Employment Outreach and USAJOBS.
State Director of Business and Support Services for the Bureau of Land Management -
Arizona State Office. He has been in leadership for positions for the past 15 years.
Additionally, Gera is his boss and she is a great source on giving me advice when I ask her.
Most recently though, my current Supervisor Missy has been tasking me with being her
Acting (stand-in) while she is out on personal time off. This is major since I am the newest
5) If your challenge or opportunity means that you will need emotional support, to
what extent do you have people who can give you support? Check one and explain
who can help you and why.
All the people noted in #4. My husband is my number one because he has guided me
through my most difficult time in my life in the last three years. I was diagnosed with chronic
kidney disease that advance rapidly. No matter what actions the doctors took or how healthy
I ate, within less than two years my kidneys were functioning at 5% and I ended up on
dialysis. A year ago on November 7th of 2022, I received my kidney transplant. Ironically, I
was to start working for the Forest Service on November 6th of 2022! I immediately texted
my then new boss Missy. She called me immediately and was a source of emotional support
leadership she can provide me with tips and tricks on how to view situations from her level
of experience.
6) If your challenge or opportunity means that you will need help getting the job done,
advancing your career, or getting emotional support, do you have people in your
network who can fulfill these functions? Check one and explain who can help you
and why.
Yes __X____ No ______
The culture in our department is that of helping eachother at all times. I can reach out to
several people (Hector, Geizel, Reuben, Jessica, Scott, Reba, etc.) in several branches when I
have question or concern via Teams. Being new to the agency, if I make a mistake, they are
really kind in their feedback and encourage me to ask questions if I am unsure how to do a
job.
I prefer joint or share work, projects, and committees because I prefer order. Followed
than a social setting. For me I find that in certain social settings I tend to get nervous and
I would rather volunteer to help the hostess than to create relationships. My husband
laughs at me because I like meeting people but I don’t like the relationship part of it. I tell
him it takes too much work to be “peopleing” all the time. However, I have been making
a. Occasional phone calls or e-mails just to ask “how are you?” __X ______
b. Phone calls, e-mails, or visits with specific requests or questions _X__
c. Holiday cards and letters ______
d. Dropping in or calling when you’re in the neighborhood ______
e. Arranging in advance to get together at professional meetings _ ______
f. Relying on the chance that your paths will cross ______
g. Inviting people to join you for lunch, coffee, golf, and so on ______
h. Contacting people when you find some information, an article, or an opportunity that
might interest them ______
i. Other ______
I chose both A and B because it depends on personal or work preference. At work, unless
I have a relationship that we have built for years, then it is ok to contact me with “how are you?”
If we do not have a working relationship that was years in development, then please contact me
for a meeting to discuss specific topics. Although I appear friendly at work, I am very guarded
with my personal life.
9) Now turn your attention to the “Action Planning” part of the exercise (top of page 82).
Respond to the following questions:
My goal in developing a professional network is two fold. One begins with the network
that will help me develop my career and help me reach my goal of becoming a deputy director.
The second is that those same people in addition to a few new people, will be people who I can
lean on for when request for immediate action has come down from the Chief Forester or the
Congressional Team.
b. How will a well-developed network of contacts help you achieve your career goals?
exchange career information between myself, my co-workers, other employees, and my mentor.
The exchanging of information will help me grow my knowledge of the culture of the agency.
c. What are some of the characteristics of the people you are looking to include in your
network?
I would like to connect with people who are committed to self-improvement, and who are
aware of their own roles in our Agency’s purpose, core values, priorities, and the diversity of the
mission. This knowledge will help me have a better foot hold in what my purpose will be as a
Deputy Director.
d. Where might you come in contact with these people? How will you grow your network /
initiate contact with new potential networking contacts?
There are several places that I have the opportunity to create or grow my network. The
first would be to seek out and sign up for budget training classes. Second, build and foster
relationships with those people who have offered their knowledge as I assimilated to the new
agency. Third is to enroll in the forest service national mentoring program for aspiring leaders.
Lastly number four and the biggest step, is to apply for acceptance to the President's
e. Who in your network are you looking to enhance your relationship with? How will you go
about enhancing these relationships?
We currently have three Deputy Directors in our Department. In our last in-person
meeting, I met with Joe and Jessica; the third was unable to attend. Lucky for me, Joe was
assigned to the same table group as me. I had the opportunity to speak with him on a multitude of
work and non-work related issues. During several of our breakout groups, I had the opportunity
to be in the same group as Jessica. At the end of the week long meeting, they both were very
kind if letting me know that if I ever have questions, to feel free to reach out to them.
With that knowledge, I believe that if I reach out for a meeting to interview them
separately, they would be willing. That would give me an opportunity to ask questions regarding
their duties and show them that I am serious about moving my career forward. Additionally,
f. How can you leverage your existing network? Might some of your existing networking
contacts know others who you should be in contact with?
network of would help to reduce that disadvantage. There are several people in our department
who are content to stay in their current position and have no desire for advancement. The key to
some of these individuals is that because they have been in their current position for some time,
other people look at them as the subject matter experts. When they speak, their words of your
carry weight in our agency. Failure to acknowledge their importance has led to some individuals
failing to achieve advancement in our agency. It is the old adage, “it’s who you know.”
Develop a clear and detailed SMART plan, with facilitating goals and steps/actions required
to accomplish your selected goals. It should be evident, by looking at the format and structure
of your plan, that you have developed some significant skills respect to project management.
Include Gantt charts or other visual project representations as you see fit, and be sure to address
your approach to tracking/measuring your progress.
a. Specific (provide details about the goal) – My goal is to become a Deputy Director (GS-
15) in a federal agency or for my current department the Strategic Planning, Budget, and
b. Measurable (explain how you’ll measure your progress or completion) - I will attempt to
reach my goal within the next 5 years. In year one, I will graduate from ASU with a BA.
Between year two and three, I plan to apply for temporary assignments withing the
agency that are Supervisory. In year three and four I will apply for a permanent position
as a Branch Chief (GS-14) to gain knowledge and experience at the GS-14 level. As I
come to the one year anniversary of being a GS-14, I will begin applying to a GS-15
level.
c. Attainable (explain why this is possible) – For the last seven years I have been making
experience and the completion of my Bachelor’s degree, I have become a solid candidate
d. Relevant (explain why this matters to you) – Reaching this goal signifies that I have
achieved a dream of mine since I was a child. I dreamt of being in a leadership position
and gain a better foot hold in what my purpose will be as a Deputy Director.
(Insert your Networking Goal above and provide short answers below describing your
goal in terms of the SMART model. Finally, provide a Gantt chart using the tools
provided).
a. S – The network that will help me develop my career and help me reach my goal
few new people, will be people who I can lean on for when request for immediate
action has come down from the Chief Forester or the Congressional Team.
b. M – The network goal begins with signing up for additional budget training
classes, build and foster relationships with those people who have offered their
knowledge as I assimilated to the new agency, enroll in the forest service national
mentoring program for aspiring leaders, and lastly, apply for acceptance to the
c. A – This is achieved through research of what programs are available through the
agency and throughout the federal government that will help you create
community. Therefor, if their agency has a job opening, they can notify me before
it is advertised.
e. T
References
Brasil, L. (2023, May 25). 5 Career Paths In Organizational Leadership. Retrieved from JobConvo.com:
https://jobconvo.com/blog/en/5-career-paths-organizational-leadership/
Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters & Pathways. (2023). Retrieved from Minnesota State CareerWise:
https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/aboutclusters.html