U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Remarks by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
3^rd Annual Asian Pacific American Federal Career Advancement Summit
Washington, D.C.
Monday, May 10, 2004

Thank you, Ambassador [Julia Chang] Bloch. Thanks for being with us today.

Welcome, everyone, to the 3rd Annual Asian Pacific American Federal Career Advancement Summit.

When we started this summit three years ago, we filled the auditorium at the Department of Labor. Every year this event grows larger. There are almost 9OO participants here today!

I’m pleased to announce that the Departments of Justice, Agriculture, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development are among the federal government partners of the Summit this year.

We also have more exhibitors than ever before.

As you may have heard, President Bush has appointed more APA noncareer appointees to this Administration than in any previous Administration. Let me take a moment to recognize some of the Asian Pacific American appointees who are with us today:

• David Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
• Ed Moy, Special Assistant to the President and the White House Associate Director of Presidential Personnel
• Susan Ralston, Office of the Senior Advisor to the President
• Sichan Siv, Ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council
• Ben Wu, Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology and Technology Administration
• Sam Mok, Chief Financial Officer, Department of Labor
• Shinae Chun, Director of the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau
• Paul Jhin, Director of the Office of Planning, Policy and Analysis, the Peace Corps
• Chiling Tong, Associate Director of the Office of Legislation, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Angie Tang, Regional Representative in the New York area for the Department of Labor
• and Anna Hui, Special Assistant in the Office of Public Liaison, Department of Labor.

I would also like to thank Karen Czarnecki, Director of the Office of the 21^st Century Workforce at the Labor Department, her team, and everyone on the Planning Committee. They have worked very hard to make this summit a good experience for you.

And let’s not forget the more than 30 volunteers working today. Thank you!

This Summit would not run as smoothly without your help!

Last week, the Department of Labor held our own departmental celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We had a wonderful keynote speaker, Mr. Yann King, Director of Information Technology Center, who spoke in a humorous and touching way about his first days in America, the transition process and the miscommunications. We also announced the formation of the Department of Labor’s Asian Pacific American Council, which was officially recognized by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council in January of this year. The seedling for this idea arose 12 years ago and I want to take this opportunity to note the efforts of the following people who deserve the credit for making this volunteer organization a reality within the Department of Labor:

Surender Ahir, Sandra Dillon, Anna Hui, Lynn Kim and Karin Weng.

This idea for this Summit was launched three years ago by the Department of Labor to help Asian Pacific American federal employees access the training they wanted to advance to leadership positions within the federal government.

As many of you know, a record number of senior government managers will retire in the next few years. That means many new job opportunities will become available.

That’s what these Summits are all about!

To make these Summits more responsive and valuable to participants, we’ve solicited feedback after every Summit. Responding to requests and recommendations, this year’s Summit will have many interesting workshops to help attendees plan career development. We’re especially excited about the Executive Coaching sessions—a new feature on the program. At these coaching sessions, small groups of participants will be teamed with a senior manager who will be available to answer specific questions about advancement and career development based on their own experiences.

There are workshops in organizational success, managing conflict, cross-cultural communication, leadership skills and how to market yourself. There are also workshops on very practical skills like preparing competitive federal applications; knowing the executive core qualifications; and learning more about the Federal budget process. The program allows you to customize your day to fit your own special needs.

Today, I am also pleased to announce the release of a first-time ever, newly published Federal Career Guide. It has been compiled by the Department of Labor to help people and particularly Asian Pacific Americans, who want to enter and advance within federal government service.

This guide is also a roadmap for those just starting out in Federal service. The guide explains the structure of the Federal government. It explains the qualifications and skills required for certain jobs and the professional training available to further advance in one’s career. I hope you will have time to peruse this and share it with others who may be interested as well.

Of course, this federal career guide will be also be available on our Web site: www.dol.gov.

I hope all these initiatives will help you craft your own career path in the federal government.

As you have heard, I have worked in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and I believe there are some common skill sets that are helpful to advancement:

First, possessing strong communications skills is helpful to one’s career advancement and becoming a leader. Our workforce comes from so many different backgrounds. Many in our workforce come from different cultures, different heritage backgrounds and different traditions. This is the true reflection of America’s diversity!

As manager or leader of a 21^st Century Workforce, one needs to develop the ability to understand these differences, to be tolerant of them and to help facilitate their interchange. And, that’s why effective communication skills are so important.

Many of us Asian Pacific Americans, because we come from a culture that emphasized attention to others, may sometimes think other people know or can anticipate what we think. We who live in such a sensitive culture that places such importance on anticipating the needs of others, watching their body language and reading their true feelings sometimes need to be reminded that most people in Western culture do not think that way. This is the culture that says: “I’ve got to be me.” “Let me make my own mistakes.” “Tell me what you want.” It’s important to communicate clearly what you want, what you expect and what outcome is desired.

Second, let me say a few words about teamwork. Teamwork is how most groups work these days in a large organization. That calls into focus the need to communicate clearly and possess strong interpersonal skills. Teamwork requires working with others who may think very differently. This means learning how to express contrary opinions in a non-threatening way so others are not afraid to speak up.

It also means learning how to lead and motivate a diverse group of people, both peers, subordinates and managers.

To be an effective team leader, it’s important to make clear the goals of the group’s project, take time to check on periodic progress and not micromanage. Part of teamwork is also about expressing appreciation to team members. A few words of kindness and appreciation will go a long way.

Third, let me say that with today’s workforce and workplace changing so rapidly, it is important that continuous learning be a hallmark of your career development. For one’s own career development, it’s important to continually learn and keep up to date with the latest developments in your field.

This is especially important for government employees who serve the public.

We can’t serve the public effectively if we don’t know what the issues and challenges are in non-governmental workplaces.

Outside of attending training sessions, there are other ways to hone these skills on a daily basis.

1. Don’t be afraid or shy to speak up. Everyone else does! So, try to practice every day. Try to push beyond your own comfort zone in terms of active engagement in meetings.
2. Try to push yourself to face new situations and challenges.
3. Participate in a volunteer organization or activity. Participating in a volunteer activity is an effective yet low-risk way to learn about mainstream culture. This setting also offers opportunities to practice communications and leadership skills.

Finally, after having said all this, let me say that there is no one path to advancement. That’s the brilliance of this country. Everyone can blaze their own paths, custom design their careers in a reflection of their interests and wishes. I hope what this Summit offers today will give you the ideas and tools with which to craft your own career path.

In the meantime, don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Most mistakes in this country are not fatal. We are a tolerant and indulgent country. We appreciate good intentions and earnestness. Persistence and perseverance go a long way.

When I started out in the private sector almost 25 years ago, there were not many Asian Pacific Americans. I remember going to my first interview dressed in what I thought was my very best polyester outfit and the fashionable clunky shoes of that day. I didn’t get the job. There were lots of reasons. But, what’s important is that other opportunities opened up.

I remember what a challenge it was for me to adapt to the boisterous displays at United Way. The rallies were loud, boisterous. People wore silly costumes, made fools of themselves. It was all for a good cause to raise money. But, I, who was brought up to be reserved and dignified, found it difficult at first to adapt.

But one of the greatest strengths of the human spirit is our ability to learn and adapt. As we do, I also want to stress that as Asian Pacific Americans, we are the beneficiaries of a culture that represents some of the most valuable core assets for advancement and happiness: strong families, an appreciation for higher education and a dedicated work ethic.

We should be very proud of these qualities and share them with others in mainstream America. These qualities are a strong foundation upon which to build a career path in the federal government—or anywhere else.

Lastly, we should also be grateful—gratitude for the freedom, opportunities and blessings that America offers. You are all so fortunate because you are serving our country in serving our people. How many others can claim this special mission?

And I am dedicated to helping to ensure that your journey in public service is a fulfilling and successful one.

So, enjoy your lunch and have a terrific day!

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