National Career Development Newsletter

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¡Hola!

Welcome to the new H.I.R.E National Career Development Newsletter (CDN) The CDN is available to help you develop yourself and others, personally and professionally.

 The Spotlight on...

 Our First Permanent section is called "The Spotlight on..."

In this section we will feature interesting and committed individuals who have served our organization tremendously and have developed themselves in a way that we can aspire to follow. Role models in terms of Career Development and life.

I am proud to have as our first person in this section, Ms. Rose Pruneda, current National Vice President and former National President of H.I.R.E. National, Inc.

       Rose Pruneda

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.

• I started with the IRS as a GS-03 data transcriber at the Austin Campus. In 1986 I moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area accepting a job as a Tax Auditor. Since then I spent time as a Tax Auditor Quality Review, Tax Auditor Group Manager, Taxpayer Advocate Service Group Manager, Area Program & Management Analyst, Business Modernization - Business Systems Program Analyst and I am currently the TAS Business Modernization - Business Systems Planning Director.
  

Q. What is your length in Government Service and your education?

• I have been with the IRS for a little over 30 years. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management.

Q. What is your role as "Director, Business Systems Planning" at TAS?

• My role is to oversee the day to day technology operations for TAS. We serve as liaisons between TAS and IRS Information Technology. I am responsible for the deployment of Service wide initiatives like Convergence, Printer Fleet Initiative, Control-D, Internet Explorer 11, Win7, etc. I am also responsible for the overshight of developing requirements, training, governance and deployment of new technology projects like Taxpayer Digital Communication (TDC). I am also responsible for the oversight of the day to day operation and maintenance of systems like Taxpayer Advocate Management Information System (TAMIS), Systemic Advocacy Management Systems II SAMSII), TAS Account Management System(AMS) application, etc. My team is also responisble for ensuring TAS has the technology equipment needed to allow TAS employees successfully meet their day to day technology needs.

Q. What about your hometown and childhood?

• I was born and raised in South Central Texas, in a small town about 60 miles south of San Antonio, Texas. I graduated from Karnes City High School. I played clarinet in the band for 7 years.

Q. What would people never guess you do in your current role?

• My team conducts testing and determines the impact of IRS Service Side technology to our TAS employees.

Q. What's your favorite part of the job?

• The ability to advocate and negotiate system changes to systems and databases used by TAS employees on a day-to-day basis. I also enjoy working with the employees of IRS Information Technology.

Q.  What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

• I love to crochet and bake. I also like to spend time on the internet learning about new technology and new SharePoint functionality I have not tried before.

Q. What is one thing you could not live without and why?

• The internet, specifically Google. Google has so much information available to the public. I find myself surfing the internet for ainformation constantly whether for my job or for personal reasons.

Q. Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?

• I was a switch board operator where I answered phone calls coming into my company and redirecting calls. I was responsible for answering 5 lines and directing the calls to various areas of the company.

Q. What is your favorite movie and book?

• Movie - Urban Cowboy. It clearly provides you with a reason how pride can be damagin if you allow it. Don't really have a favorite book.

Q. How many years have you being part of the H.I.R.E. familia?

• I have been with the H.I.R.E. organization since 1997. I have served as a Chapter officer (Secretary and Chapter Officer), Area Representative, National Vice President and National President.

Q. Tell us about your experience at the H.I.R.E. familia?

• I have had so much support when I have needed it. I have a network of friends who I call my extended family that I can reach out to when I need help wiht something, no matter what the reason. I have mentors and role models who I look up to and have provided me with lots of good sound career advice. I enjoy helping with fundraisers, helping my community.

Q. What would you recommend/advice to a H.I.R.E. member in order to advance in his/her career within the agency?

• You need to start with short term goals you can accomplish within a year or two. When you accomplish these goals it will motivate you to take the next step. Always stay with goals you can reach in one or two years at a time. If you start with your long term goal you can easily get discouraged if you don't reach it soon enough.

Q. If you had a year off with pay, what would you do?

• I would first travel to Europe and see the places I have never seen before. Then I would do some volunteer work in the community. I enjoy helping my community. I truly believe in paying it forward and helping all of our members with mock interview.

Leadership Competencies

So You think you can lead?

By Aimée Molien

1. Personal Leadership
2. Leading Others
3. Leading Improvement
4. Business Results

Career Tips

Contributor, Karin Howar, recently came across an article by Jessie Kwak that caught her attention. It is called- "WHAT THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS OF 5 CEOS CAN TEACH US." Jessie Kwak analyzes the interview questions of 5 prominent CEOs use and deciphers what hiring managers are aiming to learn about you.

Guest Writer

My Story: Customer Service

by Grace Tang

I am a Contact Service Representative at Accounts Management. In my role as a Customer Service Rep and as a front-line employee I interact with taxpayers. I encounter and handle various types of tax issues via phone contacts and correspondence. I at times refer taxpayers to other departments when their case requires special handling by other business unit such as the Underreported unit, Examination, Appeals, Collections, Offer-In-Compromise, etc.

As a member of H.I.R.E. at the Brookhaven Campus, I gain a better understanding of what other departments do by networking with HIRE members on campus.  I recently attended a workshop entitled Power of Engagement sponsored by Brookhaven H.I.R.E. Chapter. It was led by Labor Relation Specialist Cindy Reyes and the Chairperson Ada Cortés. The workshop was very interesting and information on how one can exercise emotional intelligent in the workplace was shared. The networking opportunities H.I.R.E. offers on campus through events such as this help me in my day to day role as a Customer Service Rep. Furthermore, being part of this organization helps with my professional development, allowing me to reach the career goals I establish for myself.

Moving On Up!

We are pleased to announce the following H.I.R.E. members who have received new jobs, temporary duties, promotions, details, and other great career achievements and advancement opportunities.

Austin, Texas
Melinda L. Estrada – GS-14 Lead Program Evaluation & Risk Analyst in NHQ of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Central California
Mayra Zarate – Promoted to GS-9 Case Advocate in TAS

Utah
Joe Jacquez—Technical Advisor to DPO
Nicole Salazar—Entity Manager
Melynda Parsons—Detail as Exam Manager
Audrey Martínez—Detail to HCO Supervisory HR Specialist
Garee Davis—SOI Department Manager

Send in promotion announcements to cdn_chair@hire.org.

Thank you all for your continued service and congratulations on a job well done!

H.I.R.E. National Mock Interview Team

Our Mock Interview Team is here to help you go higher with H.I.R.E.!

Contact your local chapter or National Area Representative to find out how can you can prepare for your next position with a mock interview. We ensure your mock interview will be conducted by an IRS manager, analyst or executive with a vast amount of experience, highly effective interviewing skills, and a knack for providing useful feedback. 

Elizabeth Flores-Velasquez, Contributor

If you would like to join the CDN Committee, contact Ismael F. Torres, Chairperson at cdn_chair@hire.org.

VISIT US AGAIN IN AUGUST FOR THE NEXT EDITION!