Releasing New Resources For Government Tech Hires: Skills Wiki & Gap Analysis

The Aspen Tech Policy Hub is thrilled to release a new resource: Skills Wiki for New Government Tech Employees, which includes a parallel Gap Analysis.

This Wiki consolidates government onboarding resources, which are currently dispersed throughout separate agency websites, into a single accessible location to help ease the transition of technologists into government. It draws from existing onboarding guides developed by federal agencies for new employees unfamiliar with the public sector. The Wiki helps guide new hires through topics from demystifying the budget process and navigating procurement, to understanding government terminology and finding professional development resources. Though this guide is geared towards new tech hires coming into government from the private sector, many of the included resources would benefit any new government employee. This guide was developed by the Hub as part of the USofTech collective. 

The Skills Wiki has four sections: Government Systems (e.g. navigating budget processes or procurement), Government Norms (e.g. understanding government acronyms), Professional Development (e.g. management and leadership resources), and Tech in Government (e.g design and software development resources). These sections are interactive and educational, providing actionable information and skill-building to assist in the assimilation and success of new government hires.

The Wiki also includes a Gap Analysis for resources that do not yet, but should, exist. To help onboard new govtech employees, we suggest that organizations or agencies develop resources that cover government norms and language that are specific to technologists; access to networking and mentorship; important laws that affect the way government employees get things done, such as the Paperwork Reduction Act; and onboarding documents for new technologists.

Whether you are a new government hire, a government agency, or a nonprofit organization that works closely with government technologists, we encourage you to view the Wiki and Gap Analysis here.