I’m 62 years old, my skills are still in demand and I’m still landing interim jobs as City Finance Director, earning a salary at the top of the range.  I say this only to remind younger people that hard work and preparation is key to start and finish strong in public service.

Today is November 7, 2025, I just finished an 8-month assignment as interim Finance Director with a City government.  I worked my butt off, consistently pushing project goals for the last 1,500 hours.  As I stand here at my desk, with a Bond Rating Press Release, hot off the press, in my hot little hands, I stand here satisfied that I achieved this capstone project, among several other accomplishments I planned to achieve.  I am proud to have done a good job for the City Manager and the organization that hired me.  You can only achieve goals like these if you work hard!  There is simply no substitute for hard work and preparation.  If you’re 32 or 42 years old today, see you yourself in 20 years, it will be here in a flash!  But enjoy the trip, life is not a destination, it is a journey.  In local government, plan your career and work your plan, to chart your future and the legacy you want to leave behind.  After 35 years in City government, I have no regrets, only pride that I have finished strong.  Yes, I believe I have earned bragging rights at this point in my career, you can do the same in 20 years, if you finish strong and build a legacy in public service.

Also, take time to think about how your government career could shape not only your future, but your community’s future too. Public service isn’t something that just happens to you; it’s something you build with purpose. Unlike many private-sector jobs, this path gives you a rare opportunity to achieve personal success while making a real, lasting difference in people’s lives. And here’s some good news: with nearly 54% of the public workforce expecting a major retirement wave in the coming years, you’re stepping into a moment full of possibilities. Doors that haven’t opened in decades are now wide open for you to step through.

But let’s be honest, the picture isn’t all rosy. Between March 2020 and March 2022, the public sector lost more than 300,000 jobs, leaving nearly half of local and state agencies understaffed. It sounds alarming, right? Yet hidden in this challenge is an incredible opportunity. When staffing is low, ambitious professionals like you can rise faster and make a bigger impact. With only 32% of governments having formal succession plans, this is your chance to become the kind of proactive leader your community needs. Someone who doesn’t just fill a role but transforms it.

The financial rewards deserve attention too. The U.S. government’s spending on temporary workers jumped from $323 million to $1.7 billion between 2008 and 2018. City Managers earn between $40,000 and $200,000+ annually – salary potential that varies dramatically based on your strategic career choices.

Your government position offers unique advantages. Think about it – where else can you build financial security while directly improving lives in your community? This article will show you how to navigate the public service landscape effectively, develop the skills and relationships that matter, and create a meaningful legacy that outlasts your career.

With decades of experience in municipal staffing and consulting, MuniTemps has been helping cities thrive by connecting them with skilled municipal professionals who provide the vital administrative support local governments need to succeed. Whether you’re managing city operations or serving the public directly, our mission has always been clear that is to help cities and their employees build a lasting legacy in public service.

This article is designed especially for local government and public-sector employees who want to create a long-term plan for achieving meaningful impact and career growth.

Are you ready to start strong and finish stronger? Let’s explore the practical steps that can secure your professional future while serving the public good.

Laying the Foundation: Starting Strong in Public Service

Your public service foundation starts with understanding a fundamental principle Thomas Jefferson established: “When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property”. This timeless concept shapes the ethical framework for all local government employees today.

But here’s what really matters: starting strong means establishing clear, measurable goals rather than vague aspirations. Public service work revolves around supporting communities and protecting public interests. This requires you to place loyalty to the Constitution and ethical principles above personal gain – a mindset shift that separates government service from corporate climbing.

Financial freedom starts with a solid foundation – just like you wouldn’t build a house on sand, you can’t build a meaningful government career without understanding your ethical obligations first. Your career isn’t just about an impressive beginning. Building momentum through small, consistent wins leads to lasting impact that extends far beyond your individual achievements.

Are you ready to lay the groundwork for a career that serves both your financial goals and your community’s needs?

Building Skills and Relationships That Last

Your foundation matters, but the skills you build on it determine how high your career climbs. Success in public service demands more than good intentions – it requires mastering critical competencies that separate average employees from influential leaders.

Critical thinking tops the list of career-ready skills needed across government roles. Without it, you’re just following procedures instead of solving problems. Analytical abilities enable you to tackle complex social issues by identifying problems, analyzing them methodically, and finding potential solutions. These aren’t just nice-to-have skills – they’re the tools that move you from clerk to decision-maker.

Communication skills become your secret weapon in an environment where trust runs thin. Only one-third of Americans trust the government, making your ability to connect with citizens and stakeholders absolutely crucial. Mastering communication facilitates clear information exchange, stakeholder engagement, and public trust are vital components for policy advocacy and service delivery.

Effective leadership accelerates your path to advancement in public policy and program implementation. The good news? You don’t have to figure this out alone. Coaching provides tailored support to improve these skills, with certified executive coaches guiding leaders to reflect on management styles and communicate more effectively with teams.

Don’t underestimate the power of mentorship in government service. These relationships create lasting professional connections that benefit both parties. Government agencies that implement mentorship programs report reduced employee turnover and increased engagement. Think of mentorship as your personalized roadmap for career advancement – something that shows you the shortcuts and helps you avoid the pitfalls.

Above all, developing empathy allows you to understand diverse citizen needs. This skill isn’t just something you’re born with – it can be cultivated through practice, reflection, and training. When you truly understand the people you serve, your work transforms from completing tasks to changing lives.

Keep your long-term vision sharp. Tools like career vision boards help you maintain focus on where you want your public service journey to lead. Remember: building a career that lasts means continuously developing skills and relationships that withstand changing political landscapes. Your network becomes your net worth, and your skills become your security.

Turning Experience into Legacy

Building a career matters, but creating a lasting legacy determines your true impact in public service. Think of your accumulated experience as the cornerstone of something far greater than a single tenure – it becomes the foundation upon which future generations will build. Public records serve as important business assets with continuing value in protecting rights, holding officials accountable, and documenting our nation’s history. Your work today becomes tomorrow’s institutional memory.

Document your public service impact through statements that demonstrate how your efforts make a difference in people’s lives, communities, and the environment. These aren’t just performance reviews – they’re the blueprint of your professional legacy. Each project you complete, each system you improve, each life you touch becomes part of a larger story that extends far beyond your government service.

Mentorship represents your most powerful legacy-building tool. Research from the Wharton School reveals retention rates were much higher for mentees (72%) and mentors (69%) than for employees who did not participate in mentoring programs (49%). Mentors experienced lower anxiety levels and described their jobs as more meaningful. When you guide others, you’re not just sharing knowledge – you’re multiplying your impact across generations of public servants.

Knowledge transfer becomes critical as agencies face evolving missions. Consider embedding yourself in work units to coach junior employees. Organizations thrive when continuity is intentional and institutional knowledge passes to the next generation. Your expertise shouldn’t walk out the door when you retire – it should remain as part of the agency’s DNA.

The true meaning of “start strong, finish stronger” becomes evident when you create systems that outlast your tenure. Collaborate across traditional boundaries, simplify complex processes, and implement practices that challenge fragmentation in public service delivery. Your legacy isn’t just what you accomplished – it’s what continues to accomplish great things because of the groundwork you laid.

Remember that your government career represents more than personal advancement. It’s about building something lasting that serves communities long after you’ve moved on.

Building Your Public Service Legacy

Public service careers offer something most workers never experience – the chance to build both personal success and lasting community impact. Your journey through this article has revealed the strategic advantages available to government employees ready to seize unprecedented opportunities.

The foundation you build early determines everything that follows. Just like you wouldn’t construct a building on shaky ground, your public service career needs solid principles from day one. Thomas Jefferson understood this when he said public servants should consider themselves “public property” – dedicated to community well-being above personal gain.

Your career trajectory depends on more than good intentions. Critical thinking, effective communication, and genuine empathy for diverse citizen needs form the bedrock of advancement. The relationships you build through mentorship and coaching don’t just help your career – they create the professional network that sustains you through changing political landscapes.

But here’s what sets government work apart: the legacy you create extends far beyond your paycheck. Knowledge transfer isn’t just sharing information – it’s ensuring the systems you improve continue serving communities long after you’ve moved on. Mentorship becomes your lasting contribution to public service excellence. Research from the Wharton School shows retention rates hit 72% for mentees and 69% for mentors, compared to just 49% for employees without mentoring relationships.

The path ahead requires both vision and action. Your government position hands you unique tools for building meaningful change that private sector employees simply don’t have. Each day presents new opportunities to address real community needs while advancing your professional goals.

Starting strong sets your direction, but finishing stronger creates the lasting change that defines true public service careers. The challenges you’ll face make the journey worthwhile – every obstacle overcome strengthens both your skills and your impact on the communities you serve.

Your legacy in public service isn’t just about what you accomplish – it’s about the systems you create, the people you mentor, and the positive changes that continue long after your career ends. That’s the real meaning of starting strong and finishing stronger in government work.

In line with the ideas shared in this article, John Herrera, CPA, President and CEO of MuniTemps, encourages all government employees to set clear, purpose-driven goals for building their legacy in public service. Doing so ensures you’re not only advancing your own career but also contributing to the long-term strength and sustainability of your community.

Contact our team at jobs@munitemps.com or visit www.munitemps.com to explore how MuniTemps can support your career journey.

Remember, MuniTemps is your trusted expert in all things municipal, from staffing and recruiting to creating career opportunities for professionals passionate about serving in local government.

For more practical insights, visit our MuniTemps CitySpeak YouTube channel and check out past video blogs on conservative, long-term financial planning — timeless strategies that can guide your decisions throughout your public service career. You may also enjoy watching “What Recession Feels Like at City Hall” which offers real-world lessons for navigating economic challenges in local government.

Thank you for joining us today and remember: when you start strong, you can always finish stronger.