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HBCU Careers Magazine
92
REDI Roadmap To Address Attracting & Retaining A New Federal Workforce
By: John Bersentes
REDI Roadmap To Address Attracting & Retaining A New Federal Workforce.
Change comes from within and often requires us to take a fresh look at how we do things.
In the talent management space for the public sector many believe that it is high time we re-think how
Recruitment, Engagement Diversity & Inclusion should work. The Obama Administration has been quite
vocal and sought to enact real legislation and mandates to encourage agencies to change how we attract
and retain talent. As the public workforce seeks to build “Americas Workforce” as evidenced by the
Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s actions in line with the Presidential Management
Agenda relating to a cross-agency cutting objective known under the catch phase People & Culture.
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Link to
http://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-director/americas-workforce/>
At no other time over that past three decades havewe seen a better time for efforts that can address the
lack of representation by key segments of our society in the leadership
ranks of the public sector.
As more students face moving home in with
their parents due to a lack of jobs for our young people, as you represent
a small and notable percentage of students that have struggled to be
accepted and attend the university the rise and the road ahead for “the
best and brightest” so often can be informed by those that sought a path
leading from a proud legacy and tradition of grassroots organizing to a
digital engagement approach; whereupon I would urge you to consider
the benefits of seeking out information about the prospects of launching
your career with a government job.
Adecadeor twoagotheremayhavebeensomecredenceinmisperceptions
that existed about career paths being laid out too narrowly for diverse
candidates. Some would even chastise that most jobs promoted on niche
job boards were relegated to call center, telemarketing or began with a
government postal service roles or a military career was needed from
which initial employment started at the enlisted ranks of the military, not
the civilian sector. Nobody wants to start in an administrative role that
was nothing more than a glorified office clerical type of position. As a
diversity minded recruiter, I would have told you “do not settle” and do
not go quiet into that good night; but today I would encourage you to
consider the series of positions and learning opportunities that can await
you when you dedicate yourself not to just a role per se, but to a mission
that a career in public service can provide to you. Why?
Career Development & Fast Track Programs
The point of developing a STEAM lab is to increase the depth and
complexity of student work, while reaching students who traditionally
do not engage in math or science such as women and minorities.
Consider your HBCU a STEAM lab and how can your school tap into