Tips for Learning and Navigating Your Career in Government

By Tamekia Cooper, RCIC, PMP, ITIL

Working in government offers unique opportunities for learning and professional development. In fact, continuous learning is essential to staying relevant and making a meaningful impact. From keeping up with AI trends to completing PDUs for credentials or certifications, or even just understanding the current political climate or landscape, a commitment to learning is necessary to help you navigate and grow in your career. There is a big shift happening in the workplace, and AI is at the forefront. So how can you make the best use of your time while staying committed to continuous learning?

Here are some tips to help you navigate learning opportunities and grow your career in government:

Collaboration and Engagement

As a new government employee, one of my biggest learnings was taking a secondment in another department to work as a project coordinator. This provided an opportunity to learn about an enterprise project from the inside. It allowed me to gain new skill sets in areas that were not part of my current role, and it validated my commitment to continuous learning while increasing my professional impact.

By sharing knowledge and expertise with your colleagues, you can enhance team productivity and effectiveness. There is certainly a lot to learn by engaging with other team members and collaborating on projects. Active listening is a key skill when it comes to learning. By being open to hearing what other members of the team have to say, you may induce provocative thoughts or curiosity, opening a way to learn more about what’s going on in the organization or a particular industry. You can participate in outreach events, representing your local government in community interactions that can open a whole spectrum of learning about your community and the impact of your contributions as a government employee.

Creating a Learning Culture

Another key element of learning is that you need to have a culture for learning. If it doesn’t exist, advocate for it or create your own culture for learning by intentionally setting aside some time weekly to engage in learning. Most organizations offer a range of training programs, including leadership development, project management, or other courses. Explore learning management systems (LMS) and online platforms that your organization provides and enroll in courses that align with your career goals. As we enter this new era of AI and machine learning, keeping up with digital skills and trends is important as it can support innovative processes that are human-centred and may even yield cost savings for your organization. You can also consider other e-learning platforms, webinars, and virtual conferences, which are very convenient ways to acquire new skills. Platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and professional organizations such as PMI offer training tools that can help you stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices.

Learning from the Future

At the beginning of the year, my team engaged in a futures thinking workshop. We were tasked with coming up with different futures based on a particular scenario. A very thought-provoking, interesting, and innovative way to problem-solve. It is evident that exploring plausible futures can facilitate decision-making. Futures thinking, or more formally known as strategic foresight, is not new. In fact, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) utilizes strategic foresight, particularly through Project Evergreen, to proactively anticipate and prepare for future challenges by examining trends and drivers of change to create potential future scenarios and develop strategies to respond to them. Here is an interesting article on how the US Coast Guard applies strategic foresight.

Futures thinking provides perspectives and opens your mind to different what-if scenarios that can help you feel unstuck and motivated to explore different avenues that you have never thought of before. Apply a strategic foresight lens to your career by visualizing different futures and identifying the skills and experiences you need. Then use the insights to develop a roadmap to get you to where you want to be or to ensure that you are prepared regardless of what the future holds.

Seek Mentorship and Coaching

If you were a professional athlete, would you rely solely on yourself to prepare to compete? If not, this is why having a trusted ally, a coach, or a mentor can be crucial in navigating your career in government. The government environment can be complex, and having a mentor can provide valuable guidance and feedback that can help you grow professionally. Seek out mentors who have experience in your field of interest and consider participating in formal mentorship programs. Additionally, coaching services may be available to help refine your leadership and decision-making skills, which may be available in your organization.

A Few Additional Tips:

1. Be intentional - set aside time in your calendar for learning.

2. Network - connect with like-minded individuals inside and outside of your organization.

3. Journal - document your quick wins and failures; this will allow you to effectively apply what works and what doesn’t.

4. Celebrate - share your achievements with your team and network.

5. Strategize - define your career objectives and create a plan that aligns with your career goals.

In summary, learning in government is a continuous journey. By proactively seeking out opportunities, leveraging available resources, and staying adaptable, you can grow in your career and contribute effectively to public service. Investing in your learning today will position you for greater impact and leadership opportunities in the future.