Career pathing tool for SBA fosters professional growth through self-discovery

Empowering SBA careers

The Small Business Administration (SBA) relies on PowerTrain’s comprehensive, online Career Mapping System to support its agency’s career development needs. Built on PowerTrain’s Software as a Solution (SaaS), the Career Mapping System has been fully customized to SBA’s unique needs. It provides interactive career maps for each occupational series, as well as self-assessments to foster self-discovery, career planning, and professional growth.

Interactive online tool to foster career development

In an effort to develop an agile agency embodied by a professional workforce, the SBA needed a web-based career mapping tool offering interactive career development and planning resources.

PowerTrain developed a customized online Career Mapping System that features career maps that users can interact with in a number of ways, including viewing standard career progressions and position descriptions, comparing career progressions, identifying possible transitions between them, and creating personal career maps. Career maps for each occupational series outline the knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies, recommended training, and developmental activities necessary to progress from one position to another.

Comprehensive career development resources

Most recently, PowerTrain developed and integrated a Career Development Corner to provide additional career development resources for the SBA workforce. This toolkit features a comprehensive set of information and resources, to include:

• Resume Building – Tips for creating an effective resume and an online resume builder tool
• Interview Support – Tips and resources for preparing for interviews.
• Assessments – Various SBA job-specific competency self-assessments and generic career development self-assessments.
• Individual Development Plan (IDP) Guide – Templates and quick reference guides for completing the IDP.
• Competencies Information – Various resources outlining the competency proficiencies, fundamental competencies, and leadership qualifications.
• Coaching – Information on SBA’s coaching service.
• Leadership Learning Journeys (LLJs) – Information on SBA’s LLJs.

Increased initiative and goal-setting in the workforce

Agency feedback and completed IDPs indicate that the Career Mapping System is having a measurable positive impact on career planning and goal setting amongst SBA’s workforce. The success of this initiative underscores the importance of providing career management tools and resources to cultivate a culture of learning and development. The result is enhanced performance, greater initiative, and self-motivated professional development.

Promoting self-discovery

In an effort to promote self-discovery and professional growth, SBA asked PowerTrain to develop and integrate competency self-assessments for each occupational series found in the Career Mapping System. These role-specific competency self-assessments enable users to assess their proficiencies in the competencies necessary to be successful in a desired role and identify their strengths and opportunities for improvement.

SBA partners with PowerTrain to foster professional development

SBA’s successful partnership and collaboration with PowerTrain have resulted in a comprehensive, online career mapping tool that empowers SBA’s workforce to take charge of their career. The interactive career maps, self-assessments, and other resources effectively promote self-discovery, career development, goal setting, and career planning. PowerTrain is currently collaborating with the SBA to identify new and innovative tools and resources to enhance the Career Mapping System.