Monthly Archives: June 2012

Interested in a Career in International Affairs, Foreign Relations, Trade Promotion and Commercial Diplomacy?

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The U.S. Commercial Service is looking for dedicated professionals to add to its complement of nearly 250 Foreign Service Officers serving in Embassies and Consulates around the globe and has announced that it will accept applications for Foreign Service Officer positions in August, 2012.

To be considered, candidates must:

  • Posessess a BA or BS degree and have three years of specialized trade promotion experience or a MA or MS Degree or other graduate degree and two years of specialized trade promotion experience.
  • Be a US Citizen.
  • Be between the ages of 21 and 59.
  • Be available for a worldwide assignment and be willing to relocate approximately every 3-4 years.
  • Be able to obtain Medical and Top Secret Security clearances and pass a drug test.

To read a detailed description of the position and application process, express your interest and sign up to recieve alerts, please visit http://www.trade.gov/cs/employment.asp or email CSCareers@trade.gov

Submitted by Ally Newman

Student Staff Spotlight: Courtney Crosby

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The MPA Program Office welcomes Courtney Crosby as a new Peer Career Consultant.  Please say “hi” when you see her! We asked Courtney a few things to get to know her.  Let’s see what we have in common…

Why did you become an MPA student?
I became an MPA student because I knew I wanted to enter the forensic accounting field. I was able to recruit for an internship in fraud by emphasizing my MPA education.
Why did you become a PCC?
I became a PCC because I wanted to interact with other MPA students and help keep our program number one in recruiters’ eyes.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Outside of school, I like to do karate. I did it for five years in junior high and high school and earned my black belt. I don’t keep up with it as rigorously now, but I still like to try out different styles around Austin.
Do you have any pets?
I have two horses, Rio and Mesa, that my parents take care of. I wish they could live in West Campus with me!
If you weren’t at work right now, what would you be doing?
If I was not at work now, I would probably be making jewelry. I like to create pieces and sell them at wholesale shows at the Dallas Market Center.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
My favorite hero of fiction is Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities.
If you won the lottery, what would you buy first?
I would pay off student loans and go to Harry Potter World in Orlando.

Submitted by
Ting Qu

Find Circular References in Excel

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 Generally, if you have a circular reference (when a formula or function references itself), you’ll get an error message warning you about it. But the message doesn’t tell you where your circular reference is. And if you click Cancel on the message, it leaves the circular reference in the spreadsheet. So the question becomes, how do you find a circular reference in Excel?

Learn how: http://blogs.mccombs.utexas.edu/the-most/2012/06/22/find-circular-references-in-excel/

 Posted by Alesi Gerthe

Training Team Blog: Use the Notes Feature in Outlook

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Many of us find that our desks and offices are covered in sticky notes. Short notes like this are a great opportunity for the Notes feature in Outlook. It is often overlooked, but very useful. It allows you to easily access bits of information you don’t want to write on a sticky note or save to a Word doc. Learn more…

Submitted by Madeline Chauvin

ASWA Austin Chapter Meeting

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What:  American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA) Austin Chapter meeting for networking, dinner, and CPE
When:  Tuesday, June 19, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where:  Brick Oven–10710 Research Blvd (Braker & Jollyville by HEB)
Cost:  $21 to $35
Speaker:  Nancy Walker, M.A., AMBIS President
Topic:  “Getting your Ducks in a Row”–Understanding end of life decisions and advance directives

For more information, call (512) 217-1679 or go to www.aswaaustin.org to register.

Submitted by Lindsey Braentner

Program Support Assistant Position

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The USDA, Forest Service, TEAMS Enterprise Unit, plans to advertise and fill one or more PFT Program Support Assistant position.  Incumbent will provide technical expertise and clerical support to administrative and/or resource program areas for content analysis and project record assistance.  Incumbent will:

  • Independently complete special research requests.
  • Exchanges and develop information, resolve discrepancies, and make recommendations about conflicting program-related materials.
  • Receive, process, and file a full range of correspondence and reports.
  • Analyze difficult materials by subject matter content, and perform extensive searches of historical records, determining which of several indexes to search, retrieve the data, and also determine which records are appropriate for a project record.
  • Utilize Visual Basics, Microsoft Access, and Word in managing the data.
  • Provide technical expertise to ensure accurate identification and analysis of public concerns within a resource management framework, and consistency and standardization of public comment analysis.
  • Review field material to determine if such material should be consolidated, be assigned new classifications, or be retired.
  • Devise and implement and automated/electronic system for project records, which meets agency and litigation requirements, and allows for quick retrieval of documents.
  • Receive and process documents and reports in accordance with established procedures to meet agency and litigation requirements for both project records and content analysis.
  • Ensure accurate identification and analysis of public concerns based on resource management law, regulation and policy, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and Administrative Procedures Act (APA).
  • Participate in the development and/or implementation of clerical or administrative procedures for application within the organization.

Additional Contacts:

For additional information contact

Patty Beyer, TEAMS PLO Support/Projects Supervisor, at (906) 226-1499, (559) 920-8137, or pbeyer@fs.fed.us. You may also contact Yolanda Schultz, TEAMS Administrative Specialist, at (559) 781-5959 or yschultz@fs.fed.us.

Read more about this position here.

Submitted by Francisco Loredo

Management & Program Analyst Position

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The TEAMS Enterprise Team, organizationally located directly under the Washington D.C. Office, Business Operations, Enterprise Program, plans to advertise and fill one or more PFT Management & Program Analyst (Business Analyst) positions, with a duty station of Porterville, CA.  Incumbent will:

 GS-7 Level

  • Perform as a trainee and receive guidance and direction from higher graded employee
  • Be responsible for increasing knowledge, skills, and abilities in the occupation.
  • Research regulations and other pertinent directives for answers to questions prior to consulting with the supervisor or a higher-grade employee. 
  • Solve routine problems in performing a variety of duties related to special projects involving administrative or program issues.

GS-9 Level

  • Provide support and assistance in the investigation of organizational improvements.
  • Oversee execution of funding for routine programs. 
  • Assist and participate in developing the annual budget formulation and execution process.
  • Conduct special studies, such as cost-benefit analyses, and estimate costs related to budget development and execution
  • Enter budgetary information on related forms and reports to the supervisor for consolidation into the overall budget.
  • Adjust or revise budget estimates to accommodate variations in funding requirements
  • Provide support and assist in review and coordination of accounting documents and appointments, allocations and operating budgets.
  • Identify differences between current spending and the projected estimate – - recommends adjustments to accommodate future needs.
  • Completes and oversees the internal and external agreement process.
  • Maintains a records management program for a well-established records system.

Additional Contacts:

For additional information contact Remedios (Emmy) Adona, TEAMS Mgmt & Program Analyst, at (707) 532- 8718, (559) 359-7465 or radona@fs.fed.us. You may also contact Yolanda Schultz, TEAMS Admin, at (559) 781-5959 or  yschultz@fs.fed.us.

Read more about this position here.

Submitted by Francisco Loredo