As a federal employee, navigating your career path and identifying the necessary skills for advancement can be a complex undertaking. The rapid pace of technological innovation continuously reshapes the professional landscape. Automation transforms roles, and entirely new functions emerge, demanding a workforce that is adaptable and forward-thinking. In this evolving “knowledge economy,” the demand for advanced skills and specialized knowledge is greater than ever.
Recognizing these challenges, the CFO Council has launched the government-wide Career Planning and Training Tool (CPTT). This resource is specifically designed to streamline and enhance career planning for federal employees. The CPTT serves as a central hub, connecting individuals with crucial training opportunities to cultivate the skills and knowledge required to thrive amidst evolving demands.
The CPTT represents an innovative proof of concept, built upon a unique public-private partnership. This framework enables a more agile and centralized approach to federal career planning, training, and professional development. Initially launched as a prototype, the CPTT’s foundational functionality is intentionally straightforward. However, the future expansion and enhancement of the CPTT are directly tied to federal employee engagement. Increased interest, demand, and active utilization will demonstrate the critical need for this tool, potentially unlocking further funding to broaden its features, functionality, and accessibility across diverse sectors of the federal workforce.
Your active participation in this pilot program is vital. By engaging with the CPTT, you contribute to a crucial initiative aimed at revolutionizing federal career planning and development. If you recognize the value of such resources and advocate for their expansion, you can demonstrate your support by: (1) utilizing the CPTT to enroll in courses offered by partner vendors, (2) promoting awareness among your colleagues and management, and (3) sharing your valuable feedback on user experience and potential improvements. Your insights regarding the CPTT’s accessibility, usability, functionality, and outreach are highly encouraged. Please direct your feedback to: [email protected].
The primary objective of this initial CPTT version is to provide a user-friendly platform for fundamental career planning and to facilitate seamless access to relevant, timely, and cost-effective training opportunities.
As a starting point, this proof of concept is focused on the four most prevalent job series within the financial management community. To begin exploring the tool, simply utilize the “Job Series” and “GS Level” filters. Personalized career guidance, presented as virtual “cards,” will then be displayed on the screen.
Each virtual card is dedicated to a specific, relevant “competency,” offering a comprehensive description, outlining key behaviors associated with that competency, and defining proficiency levels. The information within these cards reflects the CFO Council’s expert consensus on the essential knowledge and skills required at each GS-Level stage for each job series. Crucially, these cards also incorporate embedded links to vendor-provided courses, specifically designed to help you master various aspects of each competency. Our carefully selected partner vendors offer a diverse range of course formats and learning methods, including online modules, on-site sessions, hybrid programs, micro-learning options, cohort-based learning, and more. These courses are readily available for purchase using government purchase cards (note that government purchase card transactions are typically limited to $10,000, and most courses fall well below this threshold). By simply clicking on the vendor links, you can explore their extensive and relevant training offerings.
In total, up to 54 distinct competency variations (cards) may be applicable to each job series, ensuring a comprehensive and tailored approach. Within the CPTT, the virtual card information dynamically adjusts based on your selected filters. The chosen GS-Level directly influences the proficiency and behavioral career planning and training guidance presented on the cards. For instance, users selecting entry-level GS Levels (e.g., GS 7-9) will encounter foundational information, while those at more advanced GS Levels (e.g., GS 14-15) will access more specialized and advanced content.
Federal employees can leverage this career planning tool in numerous ways to enhance their professional journeys. After applying filters for their current job series and GS-level, employees can utilize the competency information on the cards as a valuable checklist to assess their current knowledge base and identify potential skill gaps. Furthermore, the tool empowers employees to proactively research recommended knowledge and skills necessary for proficiency in different job series or GS levels. This feature is particularly beneficial for those considering lateral career moves or aiming for upward advancement. Supervisors can also utilize the CPTT as a strategic resource to pinpoint critical experience and training needs for the professional development of their team members.
Once a user identifies a specific knowledge gap, the embedded web links provide direct access to explore available external training options. When selecting a course, it is essential for users to adhere to their respective agency’s established policy for training procurement.
Click here to access additional information about this initiative.
The CPTT initiative has partnered with several reputable training course providers (listed below). These providers offer vetted and competitively-selected courses that directly align with specific CPTT career competencies. As you explore the tool and the linked courses, you will gain deeper insights into their offerings. The document links provided below offer additional helpful information about each provider, generally summarizing their course scope, detailing their purchasing processes, and offering other pertinent details to inform your purchase decisions.
For any feedback, questions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
