In today’s rapidly evolving work landscape, federal employees face the ongoing challenge of identifying the essential knowledge and experiences needed for career advancement. Technological advancements are reshaping job roles, automating traditional functions, and simultaneously creating entirely new opportunities. This dynamic environment, driven by a “knowledge economy,” demands continuous skill development and the acquisition of new expertise. To navigate this complexity and empower the Federal Financial Management workforce, the CFO Council has launched a groundbreaking government-wide Career Development Tool: the Career Planning and Training Tool (CPTT).
This innovative CPTT is meticulously designed to streamline and enhance career planning for federal employees. It serves as a central hub, connecting individuals with vital training resources necessary to cultivate the skills and knowledge required to thrive amidst evolving professional demands. The CPTT represents a forward-thinking proof of concept, born from a unique public-private partnership. This framework enables a more agile and centralized approach to federal career planning, training, and professional development.
As an initial prototype, the CPTT’s core functionality is intentionally straightforward and user-friendly. However, the future potential for expanded features, enhanced functionality, and broader application across the entire federal workforce hinges on employee engagement and demonstrated need. Your active participation in this pilot program is crucial, allowing you to directly contribute to the enhancement of federal career planning and development resources.
If you recognize the value of such a resource and advocate for its expansion, you can actively demonstrate your support for this initiative by:
- Utilizing the CPTT to explore and enroll in courses offered by partner vendors.
- Sharing information about the CPTT with your colleagues and management, fostering wider adoption.
- Providing valuable feedback on your user experience and suggesting areas for improvement.
Your insights regarding the CPTT’s accessibility, usability, functionality, and outreach are highly valued. Please share your feedback by contacting [email protected].
The primary objective of this initial CPTT version is to provide an easily accessible and user-friendly career development tool for fundamental career planning. It simplifies the process of identifying relevant and timely training opportunities that are also cost-effective. Currently, as a proof of concept, the tool focuses on the four most prevalent job series within the financial management community. To begin utilizing the CPTT, simply apply filters based on your Job Series and GS Level. Once selected, virtual “cards” will appear, presenting tailored career guidance.
Each virtual card is dedicated to a specific and relevant “competency.” These cards provide a comprehensive overview, including a general description of the competency, associated behaviors, and expected proficiency levels. The information presented on these cards is the result of CFO Council consensus, reflecting the essential knowledge and skills for each GS-Level stage within each job series. Crucially, these competency cards also incorporate embedded links to courses offered by our partner vendors. These courses are specifically designed to help you master various aspects of each competency.
Our vetted partner vendors offer a diverse range of course types and learning modalities to suit different learning preferences and schedules. These include online courses, on-site training, hybrid options, micro-learning modules, cohort-style programs, and more. These valuable courses are readily available for purchase using government purchase cards (please note that government purchase card transactions are typically limited to $10,000, and most courses are priced well below this threshold). By clicking on the vendor links provided within the CPTT, you can explore their extensive and relevant training offerings in detail.
In total, the CPTT encompasses up to 54 competency variations that may be applicable to each job series, ensuring comprehensive coverage. The virtual card information dynamically adjusts within the career development tool based on the filters you select. The chosen GS-Level directly influences the proficiency and behavioral career planning and training guidance displayed on the cards. For instance, users selecting lower GS Levels (e.g., GS 7-9) will encounter cards presenting foundational information suitable for early-career stages. Conversely, more senior personnel (e.g., GS 14-15) will find cards offering advanced and specialized guidance.
Federal employees can leverage this career development tool in numerous ways to proactively manage their professional growth. After applying filters for their current job series and GS-level, employees can utilize the competency cards as a self-assessment checklist to evaluate their existing knowledge and identify areas for development. Furthermore, the CPTT empowers employees to research the recommended knowledge and skills necessary to excel in different job series or at higher GS levels. This feature is invaluable for those considering lateral career moves or seeking advancement opportunities. Supervisors can also utilize the tool to effectively pinpoint critical experience and training needs for their team members’ professional development.
Once a user identifies a specific knowledge gap through the CPTT, the embedded web links provide direct access to explore available external training options. When choosing a course to pursue, it is essential for users to adhere to their respective agency’s policies regarding training procurement.
Click here to access additional information about this initiative.
Within the CPTT initiative, we have partnered with several reputable training course providers (listed below). These providers offer vetted and competitively-selected courses that directly align with the specific career competencies outlined in the CPTT. As you navigate the tool and explore the available courses, you will gain deeper insights into their offerings. The document links below provide helpful information about each provider, typically including a summary of their course offerings, details about their purchasing process, and other relevant information to assist you in making informed purchase decisions.
For any feedback, questions, or concerns regarding this career development tool, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
