Experiential Learning for New Emergency Managers

Valerie Lucus has a blog posting on my recent article in Emergency Management Magazine about Cultivating Emergency Managers.

In it she shares her experience with one intern who worked for her for a summer. A great example of what we can accomplish when we work together, student and practitioner, to make for learning experiences that can last a lifetime.

Way to go Valerie!

Cultivating Emergency Managers

See my latest Eric's Corner Column in Emergency Management Magazine. This is in their January-February Emergency Management Edition that is available on line now.

The topic is Cultivating Emergency Managers and specifically addresses the need to have the existing and aging leadership create opportunities and mentoring for the next generation of emergency managers.

While this is easily said, getting emergency managers from across the nation to bring in educated, but younger and less experienced staff can be a challenge. It is one of the reasons many who have gotten their emergency management degrees have been unable to find work in government.

Don't give up! The prize belongs to the person who is persistent--and maybe willing to move.

Survey Says: Government Jobs Desirable

A Career Builder Survey of 2,900 workers showed:

• 88% of survey respondents were interested in government jobs
• 47% said they were interested in state or local government jobs.
• 21% cited job stability as an attractive part of government jobs.
• 16% cited training opportunities
• 13% cited a chance to make a difference

What is your reason for either working for government now, or being interested in working in government?

I always say that if you want to be an emergency manager, you need to be a "true believer" not just think of it as a job.

The survey information above came from American City and County.