|
Return to NSPS Newsletter Archive Index Page
 |
Volume 5, Feb. 24th, 2009
Hello NSPS JO Writers,
Here is a second JO Article written from a vacancy announcement. This time I wrote the JOs for a Budget Analyst, PEO, Army, YA-2. Since
the last newsletter, I have received a few position descriptions that
were sent to me. I'm going to seleect a lucky volunteer PD to convert
the PD into 3 SMART JOs. I'm not going to use any employee names or
specific agencies (I will create a fictional, similar scenario)- to
protect privacy. But I want to create real JOs so that the writing
style can help you write your own SMART JOs. So stand by
for another newsletter with another draft.
Also, I am working on a new edition of the NSPS book with more JO samples in the book and CD-ROM.
This book will not be out until July15th, 2008. so for the time-being
use the current NSPS book and the self-assessment samples which do
include SMART JOs to help you with your 2009 Performance Plan writing. And
you will be receiving these newsletters with up-to-date ideas for
writing JOs and Self-Assessments with the right Performance Plan
keywords. Don't forget to refer to our NSPS Keyword Tree for the performance indicator and contributing factor keywords and descriptions. One of the most challenging parts of writing the SMART JOs
was going back to the mission over and over again and aligning the
objective elements to the mission. "How does this support the mission?"
I did discover that each of the JO elements does support the mission,
but it requires concentration on the JO = Supporting Mission.
If you have comments on this JO writing process or the JO written
here, please write to me . If you have insights about Measurable,
Aligned, Realistic, Timed elements of the SMART JO, please contribute
your strategies. Write to me: kathryn@resume-place.com by Kathryn Troutman
Co-author of Writing Your NSPS Self-Assessment
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Order the book here.
Available in eBook and softcopy. Includes CD-ROM.
More SMART job objective samples are in the case study samples!
Index of Samples (PDF)
Sample Self-Assessment, YA-0301-2
Testimonials
- "Thank You for doing everything that you could possibly do to help so
many people with this challenging chore!"
- "Thanks, you're very special. Note: We have this book at ACS, it is great."
- "The 'NSPS Keyword Tree' is awesome! Thanks for creating this!"
- "Now I can finally get a handle on the Contributing Factor keywords! I am using your keyword list."
- "Using ALL CAPS in the Self-Assessments is very helpful for a
supervisor such as myself. I can write better assessments when it's
easier to read."
| | |
Budget Analyst. Using a Vacancy Announcement
to Write 3 SMART JOs
I
received alot of email from you about your JOs and your position
descriptions and vacancy announcements. This is a topic that is of
GREAT interest. And many people seem to like this method. So, here it
goes again.
EASY:
It's easy to find 3 JOs in a position description or a vacancy
announcement. It's also pretty easy to identify the CF for each.
CHALLENGING:
It takes Critical Thinking and patience to create the SMART components.
It requires going back to the mission several times and thinking about
the true meaning of your job and how your work DOES contribute to the
mission.
Here
is an example for a Budget Analyst, YA-2. I am going to
show you how to analyze the job duties and specialized
experience and convert them into 3 SMART job objectives in
four steps:
Step 1. Find a vacancy announcement that is similar to your job
Even
if you cannot find one that is exactly like yours, if you can do this
exercise on a job objective relatively similar to your position, it
will help you with your own situation.
BUDGET ANALYST
SALARY RANGE: 49,354.00 - 113,007.00 USD USD per year
SERIES & GRADE: YA-0560-2/2
Department: Department Of The Army
Agency: PEO ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEMS, PM TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION SYSTEM, FORT BELVOIR, VA
Note: Your self-assessment accomplishments should demonstrate that you meet the mission.
Mission: (I found this online, not in the announcement):
PEO EIS is well-known as a systems acquisition, development and
integration center of excellence. Under the management of four
deputy program executive officers, five directorates and many
project/product managers, PEO EIS develops and fields a wide range of
products and services that support the Army. PEO EIS is dedicated
to supporting the war fighter and contributes to the global war on
terror and the war in Iraq. Through its diverse programs, PEO EIS
touches every Soldier, every day. PEO EIS continually finds ways
to serve the Army and the Department of Defense (DoD).
Step 2. Analyze the "Duties" and "Specialized Experience" section of the announcement. Create 3 short job objectives.
For
your first draft of the job objectives, we will group the major duties
into three major "buckets" with short titles to describe the buckets.
1.
Specific: BUDGET ADVISOR.
Advise the senior managers in budget management for specific funds,
Operations & Maintenance and Investment to support acquisition to
support the warfighters.
2.
Specific BUDGET ANALYST, AGENCY BUDGET. Formulating and justifying the agency budget.
3.
Specific: BUDGET ANALYST, MAJOR COMMAND. Analyst for the major command.
MAJOR DUTIES:
One
of the largest field organizations, is responsible for the total budget
program, which supports overall operations, or major substantive
programs or projects. Provides financial advisory services for a segment of the agency budget OR as a senior analyst at a major command, provides financial advisory services for a major segment of the command budget or for a total budget for one or more funds (i.e., O&M, DBOF, revolving, investment, FMS, etc.). At the agency level,
is responsible for formulating and justifying a segment of the agency
budget OR as a senior analyst at a major command, is responsible for
formulating and justifying a major segment of the command budget or a total budget for one or more funds.
Note: The Measurable and Aligned components of the objectives will reflect the specialized experience.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:Knowledge of budgeting for the following:
specific funds, Operations & Maintenance, Investment, etc. Ability
to formulate and justify assigned budget. Ability to conduct studies,
analyzes data, develop alternatives, and make recommendations to
resolve budget problems. Ability to negotiate. Knowledge of single-year
appropriations and their characteristics. Knowledge of program
evaluation factors and techniques.
Step 3. Make sure your draft job objectives meet your organization's mission
Analyze
and compare your organization's mission against the draft Job
Objectives and ask yourself whether these "buckets" of work contribute
to the mission of your organization.
In this example, the draft
objectives clearly meet the Agency and Command mission of the
organization as above. The Program managers cannot meet the
mission without this expert Budget Advisory and Budget Analyst work.
Step 4. Finalize Your SMART Job Objectives
To
create your job objectives, you can use the SMART format to write job
objectives that are specific, measurable, aligned, realistic, and
timed. Remember that you are writing about what you are GOING to do, so
use present tense and an active voice. Finally, select the Contributing
Factor that best describes how you are going to fulfill your job
objective.
JO1:
Specific: BUDGET
ADVISOR. Advise the senior managers in budget management for specific
funds, Operations & Maintenance and Investment to support
acquisition to support the warfighters.
Note: Add measurable advisement services to multiple managers on multiple budgets.
Measurable:
Meet with 5 PEO senior managers on a daily basis for multiple, complex
budgets meeting joint service and Army war fighters' information
systems.
Note: Write about how you support the organization's commitment to
being a premier acquisition serivce meeting warfighter needs.
Aligned:
Provide financial advisory services to the command budget of one or
more funds (O&M, DBOF, resolving, investment, FMS) meeting
agency commitments to warfighters and Joint Services.
Note for writer: R should show that you will effectively manage the budgets assuming that input from managers is provided.
Realistic: With available information and expert projects, provide budget advice supporting important decisions for multiple budgets.
Note: T should cover the timeframe for production of work, that you perform your work within various timeframes.
Timed: Produce sound advisory services within hours of requests.
Note for writer: Selecting your CF should be based on the skills in the JO.
Recommended Contributing Factor: Critical Thinking
JO2:
Specific: AGENCY BUDGET ANALYST
Measurable:-- Produce 5 quarterly and annual budgets to meet purchasing and planning programs.
Realistic: Necessary statements are reports are available. Adequate budget and time available for number of consultations required.
Aligned: Gather
budget information from 5 programs managers and create new budgets to
meet the Ability to conduct studies, analyze data, develop
alternatives, and make recommendations to resolve budget problems.
Negotiate budget justifications.
Reasonable: Budgets are an important documents to support decision-making for planning of resources and reports for senior managers.
Timed: Consistently meet program manager's demands, Congressional demands and inquiries from the American Public.
Recommended Contributing Factor: Technical Credibility
JO3:
Specific: BUDGET ANALYST, MAJOR COMMAND
Measurable:
Produce 5 major budgets for the year for one of the largest field
organizations. Manage the total budget program, which supports overall
operations.
Aligned:
Formulate and justify a major segment of the command budget. Analyze
single-year appropriations and their characteristics.
Reasonable: Produce budgets within planneddeadlines gathering information from multiple sources.
Timed: Meet multiple and complex deadlines throughout the year.
Recommended Contributing Factor: Communications
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS - Talk to your Supervisor:
Talk
to your supervisor about your 2009 Performance Plan Job Objectives.
Make an appointment to talk for 20 minutes! Add this to your calendar.
Review them periodically during the performance cycle to make sure that
they continue to be target.
+++++++++
Examples of other easy to understand, on-target JOs are included in Writing Your NSPS Self-Assessment by Kathryn Troutman and Nancy Segal, available at www.resume-place.com | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 The Resume Place, IncDedicated to your federal career The Books are in our warehouse - order now!89 Mellor Ave. Baltimore, Maryland 21228 The Resume Place, Inc. (410) 744 4324  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|