It's time to start thinking about end of year activities.  One of the key,

end of year activities for many Department of Defense employees is the

preparation of their NSPS self assessment for rating year 2009 and the

development of effective and relevant job objectives for rating year 2010.

As you think about your 2009 NSPS self assessment, you need to review your

current job objectives, and your interim self assessment and rating, as well as

your organization's mission and goals and the information you have been

gathering throughout the year to document your performance. 

Make sure you have specific, detailed examples of your accomplishments and

start thinking about how you can address the measure in your job objectives and

frame your accomplishments in an interesting and compelling way. 

We recommend using the CCAR method to demonstrate your results and tell your

story:

Start by stating that you achieved your job objective and back up your

statement by writing about the Context of your accomplishment,

the Challenge you faced, the Action you took

and the Result you achieved. 

Don't forget to review the performance indicators and benchmark descriptors

(as well as our useful Key Word Tree) for language to help you describe your

accomplishments to the pay pool. 

And, most importantly, be sure to address how your accomplishments helped

your agency achieve their mission; your pay pool is definitely looking for this

connection between your accomplishments and the agency's mission.

Remember, your audience for your NSPS self assessment is not only your

supervisor but also the pay pool members; the members of the pay pool may or may

not know you and your work personally.  As such, it is critical that

you tell your story in a clear, concise and convincing

manner.  The pay pool has many NSPS self assessments and ratings to

review.  You want to make your contributions obvious and easy to

read.  Using CCAR is a simple and effective approach!

Part 2 of

this article explores creating relevant job objectives for

2010.

About the Author

Nancy Segal, a retired federal human resources specialist with 30 years

experience, is the co-author of href="http://www.resume-place.com/afini/?id=2646f9aebfb86ffd1b6e270bdb846c0f"

target=_blank>Writing Your NSPS Self-Assessment and works with The

Resume Place. Inc. as a training instructor and author.  Samples, keywords,

personal empowerment writing style, and instruction for writing accomplishments

are available in the newly revised, second edition of this book -- snd this

second edition of the book is in PAA 3.0 format.  href="http://www.resume-place.com/afini/?id=2646f9aebfb86ffd1b6e270bdb846c0f"

target=_blank>Click here for more information on Writing Your href="http://www.resume-place.com/afini/?id=2646f9aebfb86ffd1b6e270bdb846c0f"

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