On ThE JOB
What Employers Want
excellent SkillS
“In general, most government employers
are looking for strong academic skills,” says
cindy miller, a former police officer and now a
program/project coordinator and educator at
the university of north Texas in denton. “That
means good grades in science, engineering,
and math courses, as well as strong written
and oral communications. classes in
S

ervice
government are an obvious choice.
“students should consider career and
technical education courses,” adds miller.
“They give students both the academics and a
broad variety of authentic experiences useful
for entering government service.”
Careers
teAmWork
“In government, employees must work well
with teams—they must be flexible and
get along with others,” says mike reissig,
oPPortunitieS
“I planned the whole position of the
ship from eight minutes after launch to
associate deputy comptroller for the Texas
comptroller’s office, the state’s bookkeeper
AbounD in Government
landing,” he explains. “So most days, about
20 percent of the time, I was in meetings
and tax collection agency. “employees must
& Public Administration. to hear about what tasks needed to be
see the big picture, because things may not
accomplished and how the ship’s orientation
turn out the way they would like.
“The policies of a government agency
also can change,” he adds, pointing out
W
hile working his way through college would affect them. A third of the day I would
at the University of Texas in Austin as be in the lab, developing mathematical
a Volvo mechanic, Bryan Kelly kept models [to ensure that the ship would be
that elections often bring in new leadership.
his eyes on his ultimate goal. in the correct position at the correct time],
“Those who have longevity in government
“I want to be a rocket scientist,” he would reading over a coworker’s plan, or having
are the people who are flexible enough
tell friends bluntly, wiping him or her double-check my work. Another
to work with new people with
engine grease from his hands. third of the day, I’d do simulations on the
different ideas.”
One year after receiving his console—lots of practice—to make sure I
bachelor’s degree in aerospace had it right.”
confiDence
engineering in 1994, Kelly
“I need people who are confident
was contracted as an attitude and improving Efficiency
in their abilities,” says bryan kelly,
pointing officer with the National Other Government & Public Administration
guidance and propulsion systems
Aeronautics and Space Administration careers involve strong communication skills.
manager for united space
(NASA), sitting at a console at the When Bill Kuntz, with degrees in finance and
alliance, a major contractor
Johnson Space Center in Houston business administration, began his career,
working with nasa’s space
telling astronauts where to fly the he expected to be a “number cruncher,”
program. during space shuttle
space shuttle. but he finds management and marketing
missions, decisions have to be
communications skills are more important as
made quickly.
Working as a Team executive director of the Texas Department
“There’s a one-in-200 chance of
Kelly’s job was just one of the of Licensing and Regulation in Austin, which
catastrophic engine failure and a one-in-
many opportunities available regulates licensing for dozens of professions,
270 chance of the ship being hit by space
in Government & Public including electrician and cosmetology.
debris,” he says, “every time the spacecraft
Administration, which includes “My position is providing vision and
launches. we have to be able to make a
diverse fields from astronautics to leadership to the agency,” says Kuntz
decision under immense pressure to keep the
zoology. As with many positions enthusiastically. “Sometimes I wake up at 2
crew safe.”
in government, his job requires a in the morning thinking of new ways to
lot of teamwork. improve efficiency.
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