Academia
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Our school holds career fairs, information
sessions, etc. Can someone from the PMF Program Office come speak
about the program?
- How can I be kept informed of new developments in
the PMF Program?
- Can colleges and universities post the PMF
application on their job sites?
- Which degree/disciplines will be most relevant or
required?
- When is the application period?
- Who is eligible to apply?
- Are current Finalists eligible to compete for the
next PMF application cycle?
- Are there opportunities for recent law
graduates?
- What documents are required for the PMF
application?
- Where can I find a general overview, application
instructions, the timeline, and tips for our students?
- How will the 2013 timeline and application
requirements differ from previous years?
- What will be the components of the
assessments?
- Are there materials provided to students to
prepare them for the application and assessment process?
- Will OPM provide information about the total
number of applicants and names of
Semi-Finalists/Finalists?
- How do Finalists learn about possible Federal
Agency PMF hiring opportunities? Where are the positions
located?
1. Our
school holds career fairs, information sessions, etc. Can someone
from the PMF Program Office come speak about the
program?
The PMF Program Office receives numerous requests to speak at
career fairs and information sessions throughout the year. In an
effort to maximize resources, and get timely updates to all
academia stakeholders, we leverage technology to deliver details
about the program.
Academia stakeholder meetings are conducted, via a webinar to
brief schools about the program and upcoming application timelines.
We also provide marketing and outreach materials for school usage.
We maintain a PMFCampus listserv for academia subscribers , partner
with several affinity organizations (e.g., HACU, HBCU, NACE,
NASPAA, PPS' Call to Serve) and conduct periodic webinars.
Depending on other OPM initiatives, we may visit select schools
and/or attend regional conferences to address as many schools as
possible.
2. How can
I be kept informed of new developments in the PMF
Program?
The PMF Program Office maintains a listserv called "PMFCampus."
This listserv is specifically for school staff to voluntarily
subscribe for updates to the program. To subscribe, go to the Academia\Getting
Info webpage. Everyone is encouraged to monitor the PMF
website's News and Events section for
announcements throughout the year.
3. Can
colleges and universities post the PMF application on their job
sites?
Once the annual PMF application period is announced, colleges
and universities may post dates and information. And once the
application launches, colleges and universities may post the link
to the announcement on their school job site. Eligible applicants
must follow the announcement instructions to apply. The official
announcement will be posted to USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov), with the keywords
"Presidential Management Fellows", along with a direct link on the
PMF website.
4. Which
degree/disciplines will be most relevant or required?
The PMF Program is open to all accredited advanced degree
(graduate or professional) students. The advanced degree from an
accredited institution makes Finalists eligible for the GS-09
grade/pay level. It does not necessarily mean the Finalists must
appoint into a position directly related to their degree. However,
some positions have positive education requirements where the
Finalists must meet certain education requirements. Effective with
the 2013 cycle, agencies have an increased need for those
disciplines in the STEM categories (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics).
5. When is
the application period?
Typically, the application launches annually in the
fall. Information about the annual PMF application, and
any known dates, can be found under the Become A
PMF\Application Process webpage.
6. Who is
eligible to apply?
Students who will meet all graduate degree requirements (even
though awaiting graduation), including the completion or successful
defense of any required thesis or dissertation, during the academic
year (as identified under the Become A PMF\Application
Process webpage), are eligible to apply.
Also, those who have obtained an advance degree from a
qualifying college or university within 2 (two) years prior to the
opening date of the announcement are eligible to apply.
More information can be found at Become A PMF\Application
Process.
7. Are
current Finalists eligible to compete for the next PMF application
cycle?
Yes, if the Finalist meets eligibility requirements. The
eligibility has been expanded to include those individuals who have
completed an advanced degree up to 2 years prior to the
announcement. However, if a current Finalist initiates an
application and the on-line assessment to the next class, his/her
current status as a Finalist will be forfeited.
8. Are
there opportunities for recent law graduates?
The PMF Program is open to all advanced degrees, including
J.D.'s. However, attorney positions in the Federal Government are
hired under different appointing authorities and regulations.
Finalists cannot be appointed as attorneys in the PMF Program.
There are a number of non-attorney positions for which a law
degree is valuable. Examples include: Paralegal Specialist,
Hearings and Appeals Specialist, Contract Specialist, Labor
Relations Specialist, and Tax Examiner. Many Finalists with law
degrees are appointed in policy and acquisitions positions. Similar
information can be found under the Become a
PMF\Eligibility\Attorneys webpage.
9. What
documents are required for the PMF application?
All applicants are required to upload a resume and a school
transcript (unofficial is acceptable). Additional information about
these documents can be found under the Become A PMF\Application
Process\Application Tips webpage. Applicants who claim
veterans' preference and/or reasonable accommodations for the
assessment process are required to upload supporting documentation;
information about these can be found under the Become a
PMF webpage.
10. Where can I find a general overview,
application instructions, the timeline, and tips for our
students?
All of this information can be found on this website.
Information on eligibility requirements, application process,
timelines, and tips can all be found under the Become A PMF
webpage. General information and resources specific to academia can
be found under the Academia\Resources webpage.
11. How
will the 2013 timeline and application requirements differ from
previous years?
We have adjusted the 2013 application cycle to accommodate a new
Talent Acquisition System. Information about eligibility, how
to apply, and dates can be found under the Become a
PMF webpage.
The Pathways Programs regulations eliminated the formal
nomination process previously in place and have expanded
eligibility to include those individuals who completed an advanced
degree from an accredited institution up to 2 years prior to the
application launch.
We will still collect resumes and supporting documentation from
those applicants who claim veterans' preference and/or reasonable
accommodations for the assessment process. In addition, applicants
will be asked to upload a transcript. The transcript may be
official or unofficial. Transcripts will be used to help identify
eligibility, school accreditation, and agencies that need a copy
for making PMF job offers to Finalists.
12. What
will be the components of the assessments?
The assessment process for the PMF Program is broken into two
parts: an on-line assessment during the application process, and a
half-day in-person assessment for applicants selected as
Semi-Finalists. The in-person assessments will be conducted in six
locations nationwide. Applicants will be asked to identify their
preferred location if selected as a Semi-Finalist.
A detailed Assessments Preparation Guide can be found
on the Become A PMF\Assessment Process
webpage.
13. Are
there materials provided to students to prepare them for the
application and assessment process?
Yes. Applicants should thoroughly review the Become A PMF
section (including all the Frequently Asked Questions) and the
announcement when the application launches. An Assessment
Preparation Guide is also made available under the Become A
PMF\Assessment Process section.
14. Will
OPM provide information about the total number of applicants and
names of Semi-Finalists/Finalists?
We will provide this information on-line. For the past few
years, we have posted a list of names and their associated graduate
school for both Semi-Finalists and Finalists. We are presently
transitioning to a new Talent Acquisition System where our sort and
search options will change. When this new system is complete,
instructions will be made available.
15. How
do Finalists learn about possible Federal Agency PMF hiring
opportunities? Where are the positions located?
PMF positions are posted to an on-line job bank via this
website throughout the year. In addition, a Job Fair is conducted
exclusively for Finalists in the Washington, DC metro area shortly
after Finalists are notified. Federal Agency representatives attend
the Job Fair and discuss their hiring opportunities with Finalists
who attend. Finalists do not have to attend the Job Fair to secure
a PMF appointment; however, it is an excellent source of Federal
Agency contacts. Several Federal Agencies participate in the Job
Fair; others may elect other means to fill positions.
Most PMF appointments are located in the Washington, DC metro
area. Agencies will post available positions in the geographic
locations they have a need to fill.
Agencies post available positions throughout the year. Typically
a boost in the number of positions occurs shortly after the
beginning of a fiscal year (October) when agencies adjust their
staffing and budget forecasts.
UPDATED: 01-25-2013