Carolina MPA Career Digest March 2022
Good Afternoon,

Happy end of March and spring (at least it is spring in NC). With spring weather brings renewed excitement for races, being outside, and just generally running. But it also brings the feeling of wanting to do everything or do it all! It is important in running and also your professional development journey to be willing to say no, evaluate the purpose something has and then say yes or no. In running it may be saying yes or no to an extra training run, or race that wasn't on the schedule. Realizing that you can't run every single event every weekend (even though there is an event every weekend)! The same is true with your professional development. You may be thinking, but you tell me all the things I can do, and encourage me to do them all, but what is even more important is figuring out which things make the most sense for you in your career journey and selecting those. Otherwise you run the risk of burnout. Intentionally doing things that promote your professional development is a way to not burnout, not say yes to everything and still feel prepared to make your next step (like you would with training, you can't do it all, but you can do what is necessary to be prepared!).

Your Professional Development Plan is one way to be intentional about your professional development journey, considering all the options but then determining what makes the most sense for you, in that particular term/month/day/year. So don't feel like you have to do it all, it is okay to say no, but also be intentional about doing things to get the most out of what you do!

In this Career Digest, I will share a few professional development opportunities, which will include conferences and workshops, upcoming events, and a few resources.

I am always available to discuss your career goals, help with your Professional Development Plan, and/or review your resume/cover letter, help with your job search, and/or help as you negotiate a job offer. Wherever you are in the program or in your professional journey, I'd love to connect and help you develop your plan for next steps!

Lastly, don't forget to connect to the Microsoft Teams Career Services and Professional Development Team - access teams through Heelmail. We encourage you all to engage in the conversation in the teams group, ask questions, answer questions, share resources, etc. In addition to the team group, I am available for individual chat through MS teams - chat me anytime.

Allison
Professional Development Opportunities
Complimentary ICMA Coaching Program webinars give local government professionals of all career stages the opportunity to bolster skills and learn about new and leading practices, strategies, tactics, developing issues, and trends in the profession of local government management.
ALL WEBINARS BEGIN AT 1:30PM EASTERN
  • Thursday, April 14 Community Engagement: The Art of Doing it Well
  • Wednesday May 18 Managing Council/Staff Relationships in an Election Year
  • Thursday June 16 The Generational Workforce: Why it's Important to Know the Work/Lifestyles of your Teammates
  • Thursday September 8 Organizational Culture: Use the Return to Work to Attract and Retain Talent
  • Thursday October 20 Alternatives to Silos: Leadership at Every Level
  • Thursday November 17 Everyone Has Personal Challenges: How to Balance Personal Requirements and Organizational Demands
How to Negotiate a Job Offer
Location: Knapp Sanders 2603 & via Zoom
Date: April 6th @ 12:15 – 1:15pm

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the gender inequality gap starts at the beginning of a graduate’s career. Whether you have a job offer or are preparing for the job market or are preparing for an annual review, you need to have the confidence to speak up and ask for what you are worth.

Join us for an interactive panel discussion that will allow you to learn how to navigate conversations related to salary increase, start date, benefits package, etc. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Teshanee Williams with guest speakers from UNC University HR and alumni currently working in Nonprofit and Local Government positions.
The Graduate School Event

April 1st, 12-1PM online
Internships or practicums can help you gain direct linear work experience, hone your skills, and give you a competitive edge if you know how to strategically leverage your opportunities.

Register now for the State of NC Virtual Entry-Level Career Expo! This is a great opportunity to network with state agencies and university recruiters and learn more about positions with the state of NC. Please review the registration page for additional details. 
As you all may know, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been a pillar in the MPA Strategic Plan. We are in the process of developing strategies around our DEI goals and welcome any feedback you have on this.

One DEI-related suggestion that came from students was to create structured identity groups for underrepresented students of similar identities to have a space to connect. After input from various student leaders, faculty and staff of the MPA program, and the Graduate School here at UNC we would like to announce Identity Groups and Interest Groups in the MPA Program. 


The identity and Interest Groups are a great way to make connections, build social capital, and engage with others who have similar identities/interests as yourself. We encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities!
Professional Organizations
Join ELGL - Free
  • As an SOG faculty, staff, or student, you can join our ELGL membership at no cost!
  • ELGL Memberships - Add A New Member - email at the top of form should be foster@sog.unc.edu
  • If you've joined in the past your membership should renew

ELGL Benefits:
  • Jobs Newsletter, join ELGL to get curated jobs from all over the country in your mailbox!

ASPA’s goal, particularly with our student members, is to help you find the resources you need to connect with others, provide you with a clear picture of the public administration profession and help you learn how to start on their career path. ASPA’s resources—especially for students—are an invaluable starting point, potentially for the rest of your careers.

Access a PDF of the membership application here (https://www.aspanet.org/ASPADocs/membership/ASPAMembershipApplication.pdf); students also can apply online at www.aspanet.org/membership.
MPA and SOG Resources

As much of the country settles into another cold weekend, I know you all are looking for a cozy read! Look no further than the many topics and resources on the Career Section of the Intranet! Happy Exploring.
Career Resources
Find PWE Opportunities through this dashboard, check back often as new experiences are always being added!
Job Opportunities - emailed directly to you each week!
Connect with classmates, colleagues across formats, and stay connected on Career and Professional Development news and opportunities
The MPA Intranet has many resources for your entire time in the program. These pages serve as a great resource for where to start when thinking about your career development, how to write a resume, interview prep, how to network, etc.
Professional Development Plan
  • Email Allison (binkley@sog.unc.edu) to meet to discuss your Professional Development Plan.
  • While the job market has begun to really hit its stride, and you most likely have your pick of organization, it is still important to make sure you have positioned yourself best for positions. I'm here to help you do that!
Carolina MPA | UNC School of Government | carolinampa.sog.unc.edu | Website
The Carolina MPA Intranet houses information and resources for students during the program.