Society of American Indian Government Employees SAIGE 16

Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) 16 th Annual Training Program “Where Do You Want to Be in the Next Five Years and How Do You Get There? ” Tuesday, June 11, 2019 1: 45 pm – 3: 00 pm Presented by: Cynthia D. Dunn, Director Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division (TEGE) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

About Me • Cynthia “Cin-dee” D. Dunn, Director, IRS, TE/GE, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) • Longest-serving EEO/EDI Director for IRS • Direct Report to the TEGE Commissioner • 39+ Years Federal Government Service • Tribal Affiliation = Crow and Blackfeet • EEO/ Diversity/Civil Rights Field since 1992 • Life Member of SAIGE • SAIGE Workshop Presenter since 2006 • Hold Life Memberships with: BIG, FEW, FAPAC • Member of Most IRS EOs & ERGs • 2018 Recipient of the FEW “Champion of Diversity” Award • 2018 Recipient of the National IMAGE, Inc. “Woman of the Year” Award • Proud Mother and Grandmother

My Federal Government Career 1980 – 1983 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (GS-1 to GS-3) 1984 – 1991 Department of Defense (Do. D), Department of the Army (GS-3 to GS-5) 1991 – 1998 USDA (GS-5 to GS-12) 1998 – 2000 Export-Import Bank of the U. S. (GS-13) 2000 – Present Internal Revenue Service (GS-13, GS-14, GS-15 to IR-01 Senior Manager IR-01)

2019 SAIGE Theme: “Honoring Our Nations: Building Strength Through Understanding” Building Strength Through Broaden your knowledge Take the next step Understanding Mastering your skill Knowing the culture of your organization

Where Do You Want To be in the Next Five Years? Experience? Career Development? Monetary Gain? Leadership Opportunities?

Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years? (How to answer in an interview) • What you want to get out of the job and where you want it to take you • Be honest about your goals but make sure they align with the job and the agency/company ALWAYS… • Show ambition • Align your goals with the agency’s goal • Be creative, but realistic • Show your passion toward the path ahead of you

Self Assessment: How Do You Plan to Get There? - Exercise • Ask yourself these questions… – – – Are you happy with life decisions you’ve made? (If the answer is no, what have you done to change it? ) Are you happy with your current position? (Please explain your answer) How does your job effect your home life? What is your ideal job? Have you taken steps towards achieving it? Are the goals you have set for yourself realistic? Where do you see yourself in 5 -10 years?

Barriers that may prevent you from moving forward in your career • • • Mobility Afraid of Change Lack of training Education Political Savvy Work From Home What barriers are preventing you from reaching your ultimate career goals?

Strategies to Overcome Barriers Mobility Lack of Training Afraid of Change Education • Don’t limit yourself (Change Your thought Process) • Gain confidence • Keep up with changing times • Pursue higher education Political Savvy • Preparation • Networking! Work From Home • People need to see you Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Assistance

The Importance of Asking “What are my Career Goals and Aspirations? People tend to lose sight of their career path as the years go by. Before you know it, you would have worked 20 years in the federal government and then you look back and say…I wish I would have developed a career plan. It’s never too late to develop your career plan and to list your career aspirations

Types of Career Aspirations • Employee’s career aspirations can be divided into a limited number of categories. The following are five examples of career aspirations: – Traditional Career Success – Security – Expertise – Freedom – Balance

What are your Career Aspirations? Ask Yourself these questions… • What are your career aspirations? Describe in detail. • What would you like to achieve in five or ten years from now? • What are your short and long term career aspirations?

Quotes “The difference between a job and a career is the difference between forty and sixty hours a week. ” - Robert Frost

It is only when a person has a clear thought about their career goals and objectives that they get ultimate satisfaction from their job and therefore progress faster.

Career Goals and Objectives • Dissatisfied with current job – Do not like their work schedules – Do not like a particular colleague in the office – Do not like their manager However, these vague reasons actually serve as a cover for the underlying reasons of all dissatisfaction with jobs – most times, the employee is unaware of or has not given thought to his or her career goals and objectives

Career Pitfalls…Beware! v. He said/She said v. Jokes v. Favoritism v. Yelling/Raising Your Voice v. Not Being Inclusive of Others

My Motto is: When they go low, I go high! - Former First Lady Michelle Obama

First Things First… Develop a Career Goal Statement (Short and Long Term) • Define your short term and long term vision of your career. • What would you like to achieve at any given time frame? • You should set up a time limit and check/assess your career statements as corner stones.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Developing Your Career Statement • Who are you and what do you want to achieve in life? • Why are you interested in this career? • What are your values? • Why does this career fit you? • What do you expect to achieve from this career in the long run? • Describe your achievements, experience and qualifications for this career. • What do you intend to do in the future?

Develop a Career Goal Statement (Short term and Long term) • When developing a career goal statement, keep in mind of these things: – Comprehensive Growth – Management – Possessing a Backup – Owning Your Own Business – Gaining Expertise

Employee Career Learning Plan (CLP) • Developmental Goals (want/need short term – one year and long term 2 -3 years) • Learning and Developmental Activities (time required and target completion date) • Education and Training • Job Assignments Progress is assessed at both the mid-year and year-end performance review. At these points, the plan can be altered to reflect changes in career goals if necessary.

Career Development…Things to Consider • • Market your knowledge, skills, and abilities Find a Coach/Mentor(s) Develop a Career Learning Plan Seek out details and job shadowing opportunities • Join internal/external employee organizations (i. e. , SAIGE, BIG, FEW, FAPAC, Di. G, Next. GEN) • Don’t be afraid to ask…

IRS-Association for the Improvements of Minorities (AIM) Career Assistance Mentoring Program (CAMP) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. CAMP Objectives Month 1: Self-Assessment Month 2: Self-Awareness Month 3: Self-Development Month 4: Time Management Skills Month 5: Presentation Skills Month 6: Shadowing Assignment Month 7: Networking Skills Month 8: Job Application Writing Skills Month 9: Interviewing Skills

Example of a Career Goal Statement for the Next 5 Years: – To become an expert consultant in the Information Technology (IT) field. Accomplished: – Served on a 120 day detail in the Information Technology (IT) division. – Gained an experience in IT networking components and products. Means: – I intend to work 5 years at a challenging, cutting edge technology position where I can enhance my skills and knowledge. During the next 5 years I plan to get there by: – Taking new perspectives and eventually manage/influence others. – Communicating with the MITS leaders and senior managers to develop my network. – Learning the business management for establishing my business in consulting after these 5 years. After 5 years: – Retire with benefits from the federal government and become an IT consultant

Career Goal Statement Exercise Career Goal Statement for the Next 5 Years: – Accomplished: – Means: – During the next 5 years I plan to get there by – – – After 5 years: –

Quote on Career Goals “People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine. ” Brian Tracy

Job Categories • Great Workers…. WORK! • Great Managers…MANAGE! • Great Leaders…LEAD! Which category are you currently in? I hope you all desire to be a leader!

Focus on Leadership… 10 Tips on How to Become a Good Leader • • • Keep Your Word Be Fair and Respectable to All Be a Good Communicator Be Flexible Be Organized Delegate Set an Example Be Consistent Give Praise Ask for Help

How Can You Acquire Leadership Skills? • Enroll in your agency’s Leadership Courses (ELMS, FLRP, SLRP, XR, XD) • Include Leadership Activities in your CDP (ask for developmental details, shadowing assignments, identify a Leadership course) • Lead 24 x 7 (Books 24 x 7) • Seek Mentoring Programs • Tuition Assistance Programs (TAP)

My Top 5 Lessons Learned in my Career

1. Be True to Yourself

2. Volunteer for Tasks! • Don’t sit back and wait for assignments; ask for work • Understand the task; if you have questions, ask • Learn your agency’s business! • Volunteer your services to others if your manager doesn’t have anything for you to do (seek approval from manager first) • Show an interest in the work that you do Knowledge is power!

3. Continue to Climb

4. When you come across a barrier, it is only an excuse!

5. Create Your Plan… Put Your Plan into Action!

Are You ready to Plan Your Career and Take the Steps to Get There?

Contact Information Cynthia D. Dunn, Director, EDI Internal Revenue Service, TE/GE 999 N. Capital Street, N. E. Washington, DC 20003 Office (202) 317 -8651 Blackberry (202) 360 -0867 Best Way to reach me is by email: Cynthia. D. Dunn@irs. gov

Questions