This session is sponsored by the

Federal Acquisition Institute

The primary organization providing knowledge and support to the federal civilian acquisition

workforce.

For more information about FAI, please visit our website at www.fai.gov

Career Management – Broadening Your Horizons

Joanie F. Newhart, CPCMSenior Advisor for Acquisition Workforce

General Services Administration

GSA Training Conference

and Expo 2010

• Introduction

• Have You Covered the Basics?

• How Do You Rise to the Top in the Competition for a Job?

• Three Skills to Cultivate

• Five Lessons I’ve Learned

• Conclusion

Agenda

Have You Covered the Basics?

What Is Your Goal?•Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer, Team Leader, Deputy, Director and/or SES?•Operational Contracting or Policy?•Small agency, Large agency, or Industry?

Follow your Heart and Go Where It Leads You

Things to Consider – the Basics

•Are you up to speed on the latest contracting ideas and issues?•How many types of contracting have you done in your career: construction, IT, supplies, services?•Have you done performance-based, simplified, commercial, and negotiated acquisitions?•Are your credentials competitive?•Do you have a Master’s Degree?

Things to Consider

•Are you certified: FAC-C, NCMA or NIGP?•Is your training up-to-date? •Do you attend contracting association meetings?•Do you volunteer for cross-agency groups?•Do you share your knowledge, i.e., write articles or give presentations on acquisition?•Do you have a mentor?

Build Your Career Path

•Analyze Where You Are Today•Figure Out Where You Want to be in Five or even Ten Years•Then, Build Your Path!•Don’t Forget: Build Your Network As You Go

•How Do You Get to the Next Level in Your Career?•Three Skills to Cultivate•Five Lessons I’ve Learned

Three Skills to CultivateSkill #1: Internet Research• What is available for your career development?• What jobs are available?• What is happening in federal acquisition?• Market research for your procurements• Samples

Know how to get information FAST!

Three Skills to CultivateSkill #2: Lifelong Learning• Remember that place called “the library?”• “Attitude is Everything” by Keith Harrell• “The First 90 Days in Government” by Peter Daly

and Michael Watkins• “Going to the Top” by Carol Gallagher• There are many conferences to choose from

– IRMCO ******– Executive Leadership Conference

Three Skills to CultivateSkill #3: Interpersonal Skills

• Two recent jobs – technical competence was equal

• Communicate Effectively

• Be Responsive

• Engage!

Peter Drucker said:

“Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things.”

So, how do you become an effective leader?

Five Lessons I’ve Learned#1: Time Management is Critical• Quantity of incoming e-mail is

outrageous!• Accept meetings thoughtfully• As you move up the ladder, you

have to do things more quickly• Unless you’re a good planner, you

don’t get your top priorities done!

Five Lessons I’ve Learned#2: You Must Learn to Delegate• At the higher levels, you cannot be

the “go to” person anymore• You’re still responsible!• Tell them what, not how (sound

familiar?)• The short term investment in time

will pay off in the long term

Five Lessons I’ve Learned#3: Surround Yourself with the

Best and Empower Them• Share information• Take the time to hire the best• Check references!!• Foster an open environment• Allow errors

Five Lessons I’ve Learned#4: Communicate,

Communicate, Communicate and then Communicate Some More

• Jack Welch’s rule: Leaders make sure people not only see the vision, they live and breathe it

Five Lessons I’ve Learned#5: Collaborate and Network• Problems are easier to solve

when you have take time to build relationships

• You need the other CXO functions to succeed

• We’re all in this together!

Closing Thought

Muhammad Ali said:

“Don’t Count the Days, Make the Days Count!”