Career Development Program

Program Overview

The Career Development Program (CDP) offers an opportunity for eligible Library of Congress employees to enhance workplace skills, improve career management, develop leadership skills and deepen knowledge of the Library. Participants must be full-time Library of Congress staff members with a permanent, indefinite, or temporary appointment in grades GS or WG/WL/WS 2 through 9.

How to Register

• Review the 2020 CDP Schedule carefully to ensure you will be available for CDP classroom dates of the session you list as your preference.
• Familiarize yourself with the FAQs document. 
• Download the CDP Registration Form.
• Complete the form, being sure to fully address each field. (If you reach the text limit for any field, complete that field on a separate piece of paper. Please note that there is a suggested length for each field.)
• Save the form, print it out, sign the form, and ask your supervisor to sign it. 
• Scan the completed registration form with your signature and your supervisor’s signature.
• Send it by email to Program Manager Saundra Smith McBee at [email protected] OR deliver/mail signed hardcopies of the completed registration form to the Office of Workforce Performance and Development LM 654. (The WPD mailbox number is 2100.)
• The deadline for registration form is Friday, December 20, close of business. If you have questions, contact Ms. Smith McBee at 7-8166.

Structure

The CDP is managed by the Human Capital Directorate/Workforce Performance and Development (HCD/WPD). Throughout the program, participants will remain in their current positions and attend weekly sessions from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The 14-week program includes:

• completion of instructor-led courses
• completion of required online courses
• participation in group developmental activities and
• completion of individual work assignments  

Instructor-led courses will address topics such as teamwork/inclusion, presentation skills, workplace writing and career development. Other program sessions will specifically address the mission, services and resources of the Library of Congress.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the program, staff must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be a Library of Congress employee with a full-time permanent, indefinite, or temporary appointment in grades GS or WG/WL/WS 2 through 9
2. Have worked at the Library for at least 1 year by either of the CDP session start dates (March 5, or August 27, 2020)
3. Indefinite or temporary employees’ not-to-exceed date must be on or after December 24, 2020
4. Have no disciplinary actions for one year prior to either of the CDP session start dates (March 5 or August 27, 2020)

Program Objectives

At the completion of the program, participating staff members will:

• Become familiar with the Library’s Strategic Plan and how their role contributes to its success
• Learn about the Library’s service units, major programs and initiatives
• Self-assess professional strengths and areas for opportunity
• Identify and utilize training resources available to them at the Library
• Enhance oral and written communication skills
• Learn federal employment application best practices (e.g. writing KSAs and federal resumes, interviewing techniques)
• Learn workforce performance management best practices at the Library