Survey Results — Career Development National Organization of

Survey Results - Career Development National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Frank B. Clearfield Social Sciences Team Leader East National Technology Support Center Greensboro, NC August 6, 2009

Presentation Outline I. III. IV. V. Design and methodology Background characteristics Findings What this survey tells us Recommendations

I. Design & Methodology

Survey Methodology Web survey; opened February 23, 2009 and closed April 17, 2009 l Organization sent e-mails/hyperlink to about 115 members, and 66 NOPHNRCSE responded for a 57% return rate l Also, placed survey’s hyperlink on organization’s web site l Approximately 95 responded to the survey l

Survey Design l Some questions were the same as previous surveys for comparison purposes l l Human Capital Survey Asian American/Pacific Islander Career Development Survey Black/African American Career Development Survey Native American/Alaskan Native Career Development Survey

References and Comparison l l l 1999 NRCS Employees Survey, (N=749) 2005 NRCS Human Capital Survey (N=7, 754) National Financial Center, various years

Likert Scale Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree 1 2 3 4 Strongly Disagree 5 A Likert scale is based on ordinal numbers; one number is relatively higher/lower than the next The lower the mean/average, the more positive the total response

How important is it to have a mentor help me with career development? Mean = 1. 92 83% positive

How satisfied are you with the opportunity to get a better job in NRCS? Mean = 2. 69 48% positive

II. Background Characteristics

Are you currently a member of the NOPHNRCSE Organization? N=84

Regional Breakdown N = 84

Work Location* N = 85 *NRCS employee data is from NFC (May, 2004)

Supervisory Status N = 85

Grade* N = 85 *NRCS employee data as of 9/30/05

Ethnicity/Race* N = 86 *NRCS employee data is from NFC, 2003

Gender N = 86

Years with Federal Government* N = 86 *NRCS employee data is from ICAMS and NFC (May, 2004)

How long before you plan on retiring?

III. Findings

Career Goals

Number of job levels you want to advance: Human Capital, 2005 % 20 Current Survey % 16 Ambitious (1 -3 levels) 61 46 Super-Ambitious (>4) 19 38 Contented

What leadership position would you be interested in attaining in the short term? l l l l STC’s ASTC or DSTC DC AC, area specialist, RC Technical specialists at various levels SAO, Budget, HR National Level positions (Chief, SES, Deputy Chief, etc. ) N = 76 4% 8% 26% 9% 18% 7% 4%

Activities to reach your career goal (three choices) N = 95 l l l l NRCS “detail” outside your state Leadership development program On-the-Job Training Formal training Serve as “acting” supervisor NRCS “detail” within your state Going to grad school to earn degree International assignment 46% 39% 28% 21% 19% 17%

Obstacles to Career Advancement

Number of times you applied for a job in NRCS and not been chosen?

Identify the biggest obstacles that hinder you from achieving career goals (three responses) l l l l Immobility due to dual careers w/ spouse No opportunity to serve on an NRCS “detail” outside state Leadership program unavailable Work/family balance Other (most were in list of responses) No opportunity to return to school to earn graduate degree I have no obstacles that hinder me Immobility due to personal situation (elderly parents, etc. ) N = 94 21% 19% 17% 17% 16% 14%

When asked an open-ended question on how the agency could overcome obstacles, respondents made several observations: Offer more educational opportunities (e. g. , reimburse employees for college courses) 2. More opportunities for details and acting positions 3. Selection process needs to provide feedback to unsuccessful job applicants, more interviews, greater number of in-house selections, less favoritism 4. If moving is required, agency should purchase house 1.

How the agency can overcome obstacles? (cont…) 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Continue to raise awareness regarding discrimination Offer more opportunities formal and OJT training Offer a variety of leadership development programs for different grade levels Assist spouses find jobs in relocation Acknowledge two career families; support telecommuting, as appropriate

Mobility

Number of times moved by the Federal Government because of a job change N = 91

How mobile are you? Mean: 2005 – 3. 3 Current – 2. 3

Extent of agreement with following: 2005, HC Current Survey Promotion-in-place should be rule 2. 8 2. 7 No change to “moving to get promoted” 3. 4 3. 0

Leadership and Mentoring

What is your status regarding participation in Leadership and Mentoring Programs:

Would you be interested in participating in Leadership and Mentoring Programs:

How important is the following: l l l Mean 1. 92 Mentor help me with career development Having a Mentoring Program sponsored by 2. 14 the NOPHNRCSE Mentor help me at my current position 2. 39 Mentor that reflects my ethnicity/race 2. 86 Mentor that reflects my gender 3. 05

Working Environment

Extent of agreement with the following statements about promotions and performance l l l Performance appraisal is fair reflection of my performance In most recent appraisal, I understood how to be rated at different performance level My supervisor helps me overcome constraints that hinder from work goals Mean 2. 31 2. 34 2. 51

Extent of agreement with the following statements about job skills & improvement l l l Mean 1. 96 I am comfortable with the skills I have to perform my job I am given a real opportunity to improve my 2. 33 skills in NRCS Supervisors work well with employees of 2. 68 different backgrounds

How satisfied are you with the following: l l Involvement in decisions that affect your work Opportunity to get a better job in NRCS Mean 2. 52 2. 69

Agreement or disagreement with the following: l l Mean Employees in NRCS sometimes make comments regarding race, national origin, gender, age, disabilities, religion, marital 2. 93 status or sexual orientation that might be considered offensive or inappropriate NRCS provides adequate programs to promote cultural understanding, and 2. 5 appreciation for differences, including differences between races and gender

(1) Comments about race, gender… are Offensive (2) NRCS provides adequate Programs to… Comments: 39% agreement Programs: 62% agreement

IV. What the survey says…

The survey says…. l l l Respondents are a highly mobile, young, higher graded, Hispanics, and generally an ambitious group. 40% can be classified as super-ambitious Top preferred activities to reach career goals are “details” outside the state, Leadership Development Program, and training (both OJT & formal) ¼ have applied for jobs over 7 times and not been chosen l l Over 3/4’s unsuccessfully applied for jobs in NRCS Top agency obstacles are: low opportunity to serve on out-of-state details, unavailability of leadership program, and lack of formal educational opportunities

The survey says…. Respondents have high positive attitudes toward mobility than other groups l If offered, well over half the respondents would participate in a LDP and a Mentoring program during the next 2 years l l High support for NOPHNRCSE sponsorship of a mentoring program with career development as its goal

The survey says…. l l l Mediocre support for the performance appraisal system, the supervisor’s help in overcoming career obstacles, and whether supervisors work well with people of diverse backgrounds Respondents are comfortable with their own skills, but some don’t feel they are given an opportunity to improve them Medium satisfaction with involvement in work decisions and opportunities for a better job

The survey says…. Discrimination seems to be felt, witnessed or perceived by half the respondents on a personal level l Respondents give the Department/Agency an above average score in its efforts to address cultural understanding and diversity l

V. Recommendations

Recommendations 1. 2. 3. Career development programs should be offered at national AND state levels The agency needs to provide adequate resources for LDP at different grade levels The agency should provide appropriate resources for mentoring programs at the state level a. NOPHNRCSE should help coordinate mentorship programs by matching mentors with employees from their organization (including retirees)

Recommendations 4. 5. 6. The agency should establish and formalize employee CAREER development plans in addition to IDPs The agency should devote adequate resources for OJT and formal training NRCS should support “details, ” “acting assignments, ” and shadowing a) These opportunities should be open to lower grades as well as higher grades

Recommendations 7. 8. 9. 10. The agency should devote resources for tuition reimbursement and graduate studies program The agency should set up a formal feedback mechanism to unsuccessful job applicants Agency should provide training to employees on the best way to construct and package a job application The Department/Agency should continue to provide training and awareness programs that promote cultural understanding and diversity

Access Results l l The results are listed at the following web site: ftp: //ftpfc. sc. egov. usda. gov/ENTSC/sst/ Results will be listed on the NOPHNRCSE’s web site through the above hyperlink 1. 2. 3. Executive Summary This Power. Point Percentile responses for each question and “means”

Next Steps l l l Summarize the results of all four employee group surveys Meet with the President’s of the employee groups to refine the recommendations Employee group presidents meet with Chief and Human Resources to request appropriate resources

Questions or Comments Contact Frank Clearfield, Social Sciences Team Leader, Greensboro, NC Ø Ø frank. clearfield@gnb. usda. gov 336 -370 -3336