Resource Information for Classified Employees
Strictly Classified
An Informational Bulletin Published by the Personnel Commission
Tips for Career Advancement in the
New Year
As the new year approaches, many of us are setting goals for what we’d like to accomplish in 2007. Whether
motivated by the desire for a new challenge or a salary increase, career advancement is often high on the list of
goals to be accomplished. As employees of the Los Angeles Community College District, there are many
benefits that you can take advantage of to facilitate career growth.
Determine You Goals
In order to achieve success, it is important to set realistic goals. Some questions to consider are:
• What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
• Are you content in your current department and at your current campus? Or are you seeking change in office and/or campus location?
• Do you want to stay within classified service? Or are you hoping to advance to academic service?
The Planning Stage
The Personnel Commission has several resources available to classified employees to assist with planning career advancement. Among those resources are:
• The Personnel Commission Website — At http://www.laccd.edu/PersComm/personnelcommission.htm
you can find a list of job descriptions, job openings, and upcoming exam dates. The job descriptions detail
the minimum requirements needed to qualify to take an exam for a position. This information is useful in
terms of determining what additional education and experience you will need to acquire to qualify for your
desired position. It will also inform you of upcoming opportunities.
• The Internal Job Opportunities Webpage — At http://albacore.laccd.edu/PersComm/classified_employees/
internal_opportunities.asp you can view temporary, provisional, and transfer opportunities. When seeking
advancement, it is important to consider temporary and provisional opportunities as they have the potential
to provide additional experience. It is also important to consider switching to a different department or
campus that may have more promotional opportunities in the field you are interested in.
• The Career Ladders Guide — The Career Ladders Guide is a Personnel Commission publication detailing
the requirements and general responsibilities of every classified position in the District. The Guide provides information on career advancement in the District. It is available in your campus’ personnel office, as
MEMBERS OF THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION
James A. Srott, Chair
December 2006
David Iwata
Calvin W. Hall, Ed.D.
Karen Martin, Personnel Director
(213) 891-2333
•
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well as in the office of Vice President of Administrative Services.
Personnel Commission Service Representatives — Each District location is assigned a Personnel Commission Service Representative to provide support to classified employees. Your representative can schedule a
career counseling session with you to help you determine a promotional path. She can also inform you of
current job opportunities and review the Career Ladders Guide with you.
Academic Service — Visit http://www.laccd.edu/district_resources/employment.htm if you are interested
in a career in teaching or administration. This webpage lists current openings, minimum requirements, and
internship information.
Making Your Goals Reality
Once you have established your goals and what you will need to accomplish them, get to work.
• If you need additional education, talk to your union representative about tuition reimbursement, as well as
retraining and study leaves.
• If you need additional experience, determine if your current position will provide the experience you need.
If not, look into lateral position changes, in addition to temporary and provisional opportunities.
• Prepare for examinations by obtaining study guides at local libraries or bookstores. There are civil service
test prep guides available for a wide-variety of positions. They offer valuable information on the types of
questions that might asked, as well as strategies for completing exams.
• Seek advice from a mentor. If you know someone who is in or has been in a position you are interested in,
talk to him/her about the day-to-day responsibilities of the job and what prepared him/her best for the position.
• Develop a good reputation. Having a reputation for being dependable, responsible, approachable, and
dedicated will increase your chances of being promoted.
The beginning of the new year is an excellent time to set goals and plan for career advancement. With proper
research, realistic expectations for the amount of time and effort that will be required to promote, and a willingness to take advantage of the many benefits the District has to offer, career advancement is certainly tangible. Best of luck in the new year!