If you are graduating from Sept. 1, 2010 through Aug. 31, 2011, now is the time to apply for the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF), a prestigious, 2-year post-graduate paid position in federal government paying from $51,630.00 - $97,333.00 per year. To apply, you must first go to USAJobs and apply online. The deadline for the online application is Oct. 15 (11:59 p.m. EASTERN time), but don't wait for the deadline to apply. You will need to fill out a fairly thorough resume through the resume builder on USAJobs and then link it to your application. You need to read the directions and fine print carefully. If you are applying for the PMF, you should consider attending our "Writing your Federal Resume" workshop on Wed., Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m. in the Parrington Hall Forum.
Once you apply online, you also need to request to be nominated by the Evans School (students who are not nominated will not have their applications considered for the program). To do this, you must submit the following four documents to Heather Krasna, director of career services at the Evans School, in Parrington Hall room 109 (or email them to hkrasna@uw.edu) by no later than 5 p.m. on Oct. 15:
1. Form OPM 1300 (which will be generated after you apply online).
2. Your resume
3. Your unofficial transcript
4. A 500-word essay on why you are interested in being a Presidential Management Fellow and serving in federal government; your breadth and quality of accomplishments; capacity for leadership, and demonstrated commitment to a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs.You can read more about the program on last year's blog post.
Note that a few things have changed in the PMF assessment process this year. In particular, the PMF program is going to re-introduce an in-person assessment process that they have not used since 2005. We are hoping to tap into the collective wisdom of our alumni to help current students succeed in this assessment. Stay tuned for details. In addition, because the in-person assessment is going to be held in only four cities around the nation, we are also hoping to ask our alumni to consider helping current students to find housing options during the assessment to help defray travel expenses.
Last but not least, students should be aware that the PMF, while one of the most prestigious fellowships in federal government, is not the only fellowship opportunity available. Many agencies have their own fellowship program, including the EPA, Homeland Security, Government Accountability Office (they are presenting at the Evans School on Oct. 14 at 1:30 p.m. in the Forum), and many others. To find a comprehensive list of post-graduate fellowship programs in federal, state and local government, nonprofit organizations and NGOs, and corporations, look in the Handouts and Resources section of EvansJobs.
Many federal agencies also offer a "Federal Career Intern Program," a two-year, paid post-graduate job which turns into a permanent federal position. These positions typically arise on an ad-hoc basis, are often not advertised on USAJobs, and are found through networking, looking on EvansJobs, or attending career fairs (like the upcoming Business Career Fair, Tue., October 12, 2010, 2 - 6 p.m., Bank of America Arena; Science & Engineering Career Fair, Wed., October 27, 2010, 12 - 5 p.m., Bank of America Arena; Computer Science & Engineering Career Fair, Thurs. Oct. 28, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Paul Allen Commons; iSchool Employer Connections Fair, Jan. 12 1:30-4:30 p.m., MGH Commons and more).
Published on October 1, 2010
