Introduction
Most Federal Employees dream of a better life, higher pay, and a challenging position with responsibility? Learn how to turn your dreams into reality and find the ideal federal job.
Self Assessment
The Assessment Process featured here utilizes the tools that are readily available to all Federal Employees and culminate in the development of a comprehensive Individual Development Plan (IDP).
Explore Opportunities
Match your skills, education, work experiences, and interests to specific job series. Explore all of your options and review the associated Classification Standards and Position Descriptions to match your assessment results with that occupation.
Individual Development Plans
Individual Development Plans (IDPs) are tailored to your special needs and circumstances. They help improve current job performance, focus on career development for your future career goals, and they can be used to enhance personal development.
Apply For Jobs
Tailor your application to the job vacancy announcement to improve your chances. Applicants who tailor their applications to the job announcement are typically rated higher and are more likely to be referred to the selecting official for interviews. .
Federal Employee's Career Development Center
GROW YOUR CAREER
Federal employees, learn how to turn your dreams into reality and be one of the thousands each year that are promoted or attain higher level government jobs.
BUILT FOR SUCCESS
Complete an assessment, explore opportunities, prepare a comprehensive Individual Development Plan (IDP), and apply for targeted position jobs.
COMPLETE AN IDP
Develop realistic and viable Individual Development Plans (IDPs) in concert with your supervisor that will get you to where you want to be, with agency support and resources!
APPLY FOR JOBS
Complete a professional application and learn how to tailor your application and federal style resume to the core duties and responsibilities listed in the job announcement.
Take Charge of Your Federal Career
Introduction
Welcome to the Federal Employee’s Career Development Center. This site assists federal government civil service employees to develop realistic Individual Development Plans (IDPs). Federal employees have attractive career development and upward mobility opportunities available to them. This site can also be used by federal job seekers that aren’t sure what federal occupation best matches their knowledge, skills, and abilities.
What separates those who want to progress in their careers from those who actually achieve success? The fact is that it’s not enough to dream about promotions, great new jobs, and higher pay, you have to plan a course of action to achieve those goals. The factors that will determine whether or not you succeed are motivation, personal initiative, and taking the steps (ACTIONS) necessary to make your dreams come true.
If you’re not satisfied with your current job or if you’ve been bypassed for a promotion don’t despair, help is out there if you know where to look. You have many options and career paths to pursue in the federal sector. Even if you lack the required education or experience there are ways to obtain the training and skills needed to reach your career goals. Use our comprehensive Federal Employee’s Career Development Checklist and Sitemap to guide you through the process.
Constructive supervisory feedback, often so feared, is actually good for you. You just need to know how to handle it and not take it as a personal attack. Success is built on many failures, and those who are not willing to try, and possibly fail, will never succeed.
Featured Agencies & Careers
The following articles are posted on our Federal Career Blog. We feature different agencies and occupations each month and interview key personnel in a diverse cross section of occupations. Locate specific careers and agencies of interest on our Blog Index.
| NASA Careers | Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) Careers | Veterans Administration (VA) Careers |
FAST TRACK MENU
FREE (Current Year) Leave Record & Schedule Excel Chart
- Self Assessment
- What’s Needed to Refine or Achieve Your Goal – KSAs
- Explore Job Opportunities
- Prepare an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Supervisory & Management IDPs
- Networking
- Preparing For Job Interviews
- Completing Your Application
- Applying For Jobs
- Locating Job Announcements
2023 GS Pay Scales- Preparing Your Application
- Federal Style Resumes
Additional Resources
- FREE (Current Year) Federal Employee’s Excel Leave Chart
- Career Planning Checklist
- This Career Development Checklist walks you through the IDP process, start to finish. It links you to key sections and needed forms to complete assessments, research careers, prepare IDPs, complete applications, apply for jobs, prepare for interviews, and follow-up.
- Federal Occupations List
- Career Development Charts
- Training Analysis & Course Recommendations
- Federal Employee Retirement Planning
- Federal Employee Benefits
- Federal Job Search
- Workbooks & Career Guides
| A good reason to prepare an IDP, especially for federal employee’s that are in their mid to late careers, is to increase their high three average salary for retirement. A promotion can significantly increase your retirement annuity. This is also a good time to start planning your retirement so you and your family will understand what you will have to live on, when you will be eligible, and the best time for you to leave. Visit www.federalretirement.net for comprehensive FERS and CSRS retirement planning guidance. |
KEYS TO SUCCESS
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
A famous quote from Confucius
"Desire! That's the one secret of every man's career. Not education. Not being born with hidden talents. Desire."
A famous quote from Johnny Carson
"The best way to predict the future is to create it."
A famous quote from Abraham Lincoln
"Failure doesn't mean you are a failure it just means you haven't succeeded yet."
A famous quote from Robert H. Schuller
"You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do."
A famous quote from Confucius
"For the man (or woman) who doesn’t know what harbor to sail for, no wind is the right wind"
A famous quote from An ancient Roman proverb
Related Services
Custom Services for Federal Employees and For Those Seeking Federal Employment.
Visit our Federal Career Center to discover what jobs are available and explore opportunities nationwide and overseas. Locate job announcements, prepare federal style resumes, and review qualification standards.
Federal Careers & Jobs Blog
Our Career Exploration and Jobs Blog provides insightful in-depth articles from our staff writers. Our writers include Dennis Damp with 35 years federal service, Betty Boyd with 30 years of Government service, and John Henry Weiss, author of OPERATION JOB SEARCH, A Guide for Military Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Careers, and others.
Federal Retirement Planning Guide
Our Retirement Planning Guide Helps federal employees and annuitants understand their benefits and make the transition from active federal employee to an informed, financially secure, and involved retiree. You will also find employment opportunities for retirees seeking to earn extra income or to simply remain active in retirement.
Federal Retirement Planning Blog
Learn about current issues and trends on our Federal Retirement Planning Blog that impact federal employees and annuitants. This site covers benefits, the Thrift Savings Plan, Social Security, Medicare, lifestyle and travel.
Benefits Review and Analysis
Request a Federal Retirement Report that will assist Federal and Postal employees prepare for retirement. It provides retirement advice for CSRS and FERS retirement plans, (FEGLI) Federal Employees Group Life Insurance, TSP, Survivor’s Benefit Planning, and other areas.
Have a Question?
Ask our Experts: We have Human Resources and Benefits, Lifestyle, Hearing Loss, Divorce, and Travel Forums featured on our retirement planning site. Visit the Ask the Experts page to read more about this service and to contact one of the forum hosts. Host publish articles on our retirement planning blog and provide site content for their service areas.