Louie Chapman, Jr.

City Manager
Delray Beach, Florida
chapman@mydelraybeach.com

 In seeking that first job, the recent graduate should consider what first attracted him or her to local government. A graduate who can match those embers that lit the flame of interest in seeking a career in government will find the search to be easier.

People who are good communicators are an asset to most organizations seeking entry-level employees. This includes verbal, written, and computer skills, as these are the abilities sought by local government human resources personnel.

A graduate’s resume should emphasize the skills that have been obtained and will contribute to better communications between the government and its residents.

Be somewhat flexible how the skill set is presented to a prospective employer, because what may interest an employer in a particular graduate may not be the same factor that an individual thinks is his or her strongest asset.

Rebecca Vance, ICMA-CM

City Manager
Cayce, South Carolina
rvance@cityofcayce-SC.gov

Be willing to accept such positions as internships, entry-level planner, research analyst special-project coordinator, and jobs in small communities in order to gain experience.

The public sector is just like the private sector in the fact that you have to work your way up. There is no shortcut to the top.

Do the tasks, projects, or initiatives that no one else wants to do because you will have gained the knowledge that no one else in your organization was willing to gain.

Be like a sponge and absorb all of the information you can on as many diverse projects as you can get. To be a manager, you need to be a jack of all trades.

You will be faced with a wider and more varied range of things then you could ever imagine in your wildest dreams, and you never know when you will be able to use that one nugget of information you learned when doing that one task or taking that one position that no one else wanted.

Ron Mattiussi

City Manager
Kelowna, BC, Canada
rmattiussi@kelowna.ca

My advice to a recent graduate would be to start by getting as much information as possible about the local government. Most local governments are open and transparent, so the graduate should have every opportunity to do the necessary research.

Employers are impressed by someone who has taken the time to find out about their organizations. Set up an appointment to speak to someone about career opportunities. Be persistent but respectful, and recognize that these are busy people who you are asking to share their time.

Ask if you can visit to introduce yourself. Be flexible and also recognize you might need to consider a different community and accept a junior position to get into the system.

April Lynch

City Manager
Ferndale, Michigan
alynch@ferndalemi.com

The face of local government is changing so quickly that the traditional track of becoming a city or county manager has taken multiple detours.

I would encourage new grads to stay open to their career path. So many look in one direction—being a city manager—that they don’t see other opportunities.

Be creative; look for unique positions or internships that give your resume depth. Becoming an assistant manager isn’t the only route to a dream job. If you can’t find an internship or position that suits your interests, call a local government and offer your talents.

Working for free won’t pay the bills, but it will help you pave a path for your future career.