At the center of this event stood my colleague Amy DeWolf, who has planned and managed dozens of training events for us and had a birds-eye view ...]]> In late February, GovLoop hosted its first (what we hope to be “annual”) Virtual Government Career Fair. We had thousands of participants that took advantage of opportunities to drop off their resume and interact with agency representatives in virtual booths, attend educational webinars that taught attendees how to get ahead in government, and engage in live chats with government career experts.

At the center of this event stood my colleague Amy DeWolf, who has planned and managed dozens of training events for us and had a birds-eye view of our virtual career fair. I asked her to share some of her insights for prospective virtual career fair participants based on her unique vantage point. Below is Amy’s advice:

1. How can someone best prepare for a Virtual Career Fair? What are 2-3 actions a person can take in advance so that they’re ready for the event?

• It sounds simple but test your computer and have your resume (or multiple resumes) ready to upload and share with recruiters. You don’t want to waste time logging in or updating your resume when you could be talking to recruiters and gathering information.
• Know which organizations are going to be there and do your research ahead of time. The best way to impress agency representatives is to ask thoughtful questions, not the basics (i.e. What positions are available).
• Check your social media sites. Given the nature of the internet, recruiters can quickly search for your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles while talking to you. Privacy settings are your friend.

2. What are the people in the booths looking for based on your interactions with them in advance? How do you stand out from the crowd?

• Be enthusiastic. The best way to stand out is to express sincere interest in the agency/positions and knowledge of the organization. Be sure to share this with agency reps!
• Be responsive. Recruiters are busy and with the expected number of participants, they may have a hard time responding to everyone. To grab (and keep) their attention respond in a timely manner to chats, and be clear and concise in your questions and answers.
• Make the interaction meaningful. Stand out by asking “outside the box” questions and not standard questions where you could find answers on their website.
• Have a complete profile. Upload a photo or avatar, upload your resume, and have all your contact information listed.

3. The day of the event arrives. How can a participant ensure that they take full advantage of the many opportunities that are available – from educational sessions to live chats or booth interactions?

• Look at the schedule in advance and plan your day as you would an in-person conference.
• Prioritize agencies you want to visit first, then take advantage of other training sessions.
• Instead of reading resources during the virtual fair, download them and read agency information later.
• The most valuable part of a virtual career fair is interacting with agency reps - make time for direct engagement with agencies.

4. Are there any other tips or tricks that you learned as you observed the activities of the participants? Any do’s (or don’ts!) that you’d recommend?

• Remember that you are chatting with agency representatives (people in control of your future!) and not your best friend on g-chat. Don’t use abbreviations or slang and be sure to check your spelling.
• Upload your resume (can’t stress this enough)!
• If agency reps are taking a few minutes to respond to your question, don’t keep messaging the recruiters. They see your message and will respond to you when they can.
• Network! This is the perfect time to talk with people in your field. You can learn a lot from your peers and should network in the group chats. Take advantage of  the”who’s here” functionality in virtual shows.
• Plan to spend more than an hour in the virtual show. Between the educational components (when applicable) and the time with agency reps, you’d be surprised how quickly the time flies by!

What other questions do you have about the Virtual Career Fair?

Last year, we launched this site PathtoPMF.com as the “go-to” guide for prospective candidates to ace the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) application process.  The response to the website and guide was extremely ...]]> I’m very excited to announce the launch of the “Getting to Government: A Guide for High Achievers” brought to you by the Robertson Foundation for Government, a nonprofit family foundation dedicated to helping government meet its talent needs by identifying, educating, and motivating top U.S. graduate students to pursue federal government careers, and GovLoop, the leading knowledge network for government.

Last year, we launched this site PathtoPMF.com as the “go-to” guide for prospective candidates to ace the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) application process.  The response to the website and guide was extremely awesome with over 1,750 guide downloads, 220+ site comments, and 65,000 page views since its launch.
Through our research on the PMF guide and our work with Robertson Fellows, we found there was a large need for assisting high-achievers to get into government positions beyond programs like PMF.  In 2012, more than 9,000 individuals applied for only 628 PMF finalist spots. That leaves over 8,000 smart, young, passionate folks who would be a great asset to our government, and who have an obvious interest in a public sector career, with no clear direction where to turn next.

We found that many people – not just PMF applicants – have a hard time understanding USAJOBS and other hiring and fellowship programs, so that’s why we partnered with the Robertson Foundation for Government to create this guide.

“Getting Into Government: A Guide for High Achievers” is a blend of succinct information and anecdotal insight from more than a dozen of the top career experts as well as current government employees who know how to navigate the government application process.  The High Achiever guide is a comprehensive resource for every stage of the application and hiring process, including:

• Understanding how to set up a search on USAJOBS.gov and filter out jobs that aren’t a good fit,
• Breaking down special hiring programs and lesser known international and intelligence jobs,
• Defining terms like grade and series, and offering insider tips on finding top opportunities
• Revealing a step-by-step explanation of what happens during the application review process,
• Sharing concrete tips for crafting a government-specific resume, and
• Giving insight on proactive network building and how to conduct an informational interview

To download the guide and get full details, please go to PathtoPMF.com/GetIntoGov - and please let us know any of your career questions (or your personal career search tips) by commenting below or emailing us at andrew at govloop.com

You didn’t make it this time around, but there are a lot of other ways to break into public service and GovLoop is here to help you. Here are three things you can do now:

1) Register for GovLoop’s Virtual Government Career Fair - GovLoop is hosting a free Virtual Career Fair on February 28, 2013 from 11a to 3:30p ET where participants will interact with government career ...]]> If you’re reading this post, we commend you for throwing your hat in the ring to become a PMF.

You didn’t make it this time around, but there are a lot of other ways to break into public service and GovLoop is here to help you. Here are three things you can do now:

1) Register for GovLoop’s Virtual Government Career Fair - GovLoop is hosting a free Virtual Career Fair on February 28, 2013 from 11a to 3:30p ET where participants will interact with government career experts and agency officials via virtual keynote sessions and live video chats. You will also be able to stop by virtual booths, pick up agency information and drop off your resume – helping you cut through the crowded field to land a position.

2) Sign Up for Alerts at Jobs.GovLoop.com – Each week, we hand-pick the best government jobs according to functional area (acquisition, auditing, budgeting, communications, HR, IT, etc.). By signing up to get our alerts, you can stay informed on the latest openings and receive other helpful information about the government jobs process.

3) Apply for the GovLoop Mentors Program - While you don’t want to use a mentors program solely for getting a job, you can learn a lot from someone who is already in government, You can also gain connections to other agency contacts in order to set up informational interviews, moving one step closer to finding the right place for you in government. Note: our program is a competitive selection process, so be sure to fill out your application as completely as possible. Due date = Feb 1, 2013.

Got other questions about how to get into government? Ask them below!

That means you emerged from thousands of resumes to get an opportunity to shine at the in-person assessment. You can get advice on how to approach that phase of the process here:

http://pathtopmf.com/pmf-in-person-assessment/

Got questions? Ask ‘em here or shoot us an email at andrew@govloop.com.

Resume Tips for Prospective PMFs

Hangout participants asked over 25 questions and the PMF Program Office (PMFPO) took the time to respond to all of them. I am grateful to Latonia Page, Rob Timmins and the entire PMFPO staff for working with us to get great answers for you. I ...]]> Earlier this week, GovLoop hosted a Google+ Hangout designed to help applicants to the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program in preparing their resumes. You can view the video recording and slides at this link:

Resume Tips for Prospective PMFs

Hangout participants asked over 25 questions and the PMF Program Office (PMFPO) took the time to respond to all of them. I am grateful to Latonia Page, Rob Timmins and the entire PMFPO staff for working with us to get great answers for you. I have organized them by the following categories:

• Education and Experience
• Format
• References
• Technical

If you have additional questions or need further clarification, you may submit them to pmfapplication@opm.gov or ask them in the comments below.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

1. As a PhD student in the biological sciences, I tried to “convert” my academic CV to more closely resemble the recommended Federal resume, but I’m finding it difficult to add things like “Key Accomplishments”. How imperative is it to include sections like “Key Accomplishments” and “Core Competencies” as a student with limited work experience, but over 10 years of research and teaching experience?

PMFPO: Applicants can submit any resume format, including an academic CV. For resume tips, please visit http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/application-process/application-tips.aspx.

2. As a PhD in the humanities, I have the same questions as Kristyn regarding converting a CV to a federal resume; I’d add a question about whether references must be included at this stage.

PMFPO: Yes, our resume tips suggest 2-3 references. For resume tips, please visit: http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/application-process/application-tips.aspx.

3. There were a couple of questions earlier about transitioning from an academic background to government service. Any tips on “interpreting” teaching experience to something Federal HR people would recognize and value?

PMFPO: In addition to our resume tips (found at http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/application-process/application-tips.aspx), Finalists will be able to personalize their resumes for the positions agencies advertise. A resume should reflect the qualifications, education, and skills the agency identifies in their announcement.

4. Should we specify on our resume if we already have security clearance?

PMFPO: Yes. Such applicants should state the level of their clearance and how current it is. Note that not all clearances are transferable between agencies. If the hiring agency has any additional requirements or questions, the Finalist will be contacted.

5. There were times when I worked two jobs, one full time and one part time. How would I include this so it would not be confusing?

PMFPO: Applicants should identify any and all work experience, covering at least the past 5 years. Depending on whether or not a security clearance is required, a background investigation may be need for the past 5 to 15 years.

6. One more question–I understand the importance of tailoring your resume to the position, but for something like PMF where you are applying for something more general (not a specific position), how can we tailor our experience to something broader?

PMFPO: Applicants should follow the resume tips advertised on our website at http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/application-process/application-tips.aspx. The PMF Program Office uses the applicant’s resume for a variety of reasons for eligibility in applying to the “program.” Those selected as Finalists may need to tailor their resume for the specific position advertised by the agency.

7. Should we include fellowships or scholarships?

PMFPO: Yes. Our resumes tips (found at http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/application-process/application-tips.aspx) suggest applicants identify all work and education experiences, awards, leadership activities, honors, etc. All of these may result from the applicant’s participation in such fellowships and scholarships.

8. How to handle dual citizenships?

PMFPO: You should list both. Though the PMF Program is open to non-U.S. citizens, such opportunities are extremely rare. The vast majority of agencies will only appoint U.S. citizens. Having dual citizenships may impact a security clearance, but the hiring agency will inform the Finalist if there are any concerns.

9. I had a question for Virginia. I am a biological scientist currently in a Ph.D. program, but I would like to utilize the PMF opportunity to influence public policy and scientific funding. When I am I writing my resume, should I focus my key words and phrases towards a biological scientist classification or public policy classification?

PMFPO: If you are selected as a Finalist, you should tailor your resume specific to the agency’s advertised PMF announcement.

10. Do you have tips for converting the resume of a law student (which tends to be litigation oriented) to a federal PMF style resume? I know more and more law students are applying and becoming finalists, but law students tend not to have policy/management experience.

PMFPO: In addition to our resume tips (found at http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/application-process/application-tips.aspx), many Finalists with law backgrounds are ideal for such positions; several accept positions in policy, contracting, claims, foreign affairs, and labor relations. Finalists should focus on the qualifications advertised by the agency.

FORMAT

11. I’ve heard that this year, the PMF resume should be tailored to a particular government occupational series or position – is this correct?

PMFPO: This is somewhat of a misconception. Both the President and OPM’s Hiring Reforms Initiatives promote applicants to utilize any resume format and optionally include a cover letter. What your question is referring to is that applicants (Finalists) should tailor their resume to the position being filled. If you have a financial background, for example, you may want to tailor your resume for a Budget Analyst position.

12. What is the modified chronological/outline format?

PMFPO: As long as the applicant provides a resume covering the items referenced in our resume tips (found at http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/application-process/application-tips.aspx), applicants should list their education and employment history in chronological order. However, applicants can create a resume in any format.

13. Can we just use the resume guideline in USAJobs or do we have to make a new resume.?

PMFPO: Applicants can use any resume format. Since the USAJOBS Resume Builder was the most popular at the time, agencies became accustomed to its design and layout. It also include items not typically found in private sector resumes (e.g., Selective Service, citizenship, veterans’ preference, etc.), which can be found in our resume tips at http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/application-process/application-tips.aspx.

14. How critical is it that resume heading sections match the USA Jobs headings exactly? Currently I have: Eligibility, Qualifications, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Coursework, Awards, Selected Presentations, Publications, Computer Skills, Languages, and References

PMFPO: These are not critical, but follow a logical approach. As mentioned in a previous question, many agencies are accustomed to the design and layout of the USAJOBS resume builder. Applicants should make sure to cover the basics.

15. Could you clarify examples of the “sections” as well as the “sub-sections”? Perhaps in a way that is generally applicable to different positions and experiences?

PMFPO: Not sure of the question.

16. Any recommendations on how to fit employer location, supervisor contact info, and salary for each work experience? This is completely new from a standard resume.

PMFPO: You can identify this information for each entry in any format, including the “standard” resume.

17. I’m a little confused about the layout of the resume. Do you have sections like Project Management and then listing out accomplishments? If so, how are you tying accomplishments/duties to the actual jobs that were held?

PMFPO: You can list your accomplishments that way or in any way that shows all of your accomplishments. The accomplishments should relate to the position needing to be filled when agencies post PMF announcements.

18. Is there a way to transfer the USA Jobs Resume to the PMF application site?

PMFPO: You can print and fax in your USAJOBS resumes. You can print to an Adobe file format and upload. You can cut-and-paste to a word processor and upload.

19. To clarify, the resume can be longer than one page? I missed the beginning due to technical difficulties.

PMFPO: There is no limit to the resume; however, there is a file size limit of 3MB. There is a lot of advice saying to limit your resume to 1-2 pages. Some agencies will specify if there is a limit. The focus should be to identify all relevant employment, education, awards, etc., that address the qualifications the agency is requiring.

20. So you are saying “professional work experience” should come before “Education” correct?

PMFPO: As long as the resume captures both, there’s no mandatory order.

REFERENCES

21. With regard to references–2 or 3? All professional, or academic as well?

PMFPO: References can be from either, including personal.

22. Should references be from the most recent experience, or go further back in our professional history?

PMFPO: Typically the newest entries are the ones agencies will call for references. But the agency may ask for additional references if needed.

23. Should references be different from supervisors, whose contact info you list with each experience under USAJOBS?

PMFPO: Not necessarily. The agency will ask for others if needed.

24. Are we including a list of references on our resume?

PMFPO: We suggest all applicants identify 2-3 references.

TECHNICAL

25. Can the transcript for the application be copied and pasted and saved as a word document? The PMF website says that it can be an unofficial version.

PMFPO: The transcript should be legible and include all common elements found in a transcript (e.g., full school name, address, contact information, degree program, courses, etc.).

26. Also, in looking over the discussion board on the Path to PMF site I noticed that you (Andrew) said you completed the assessment on a Mac using Firefox but on page 5 of the 2013 PMF assessment guide it only says you can use a Mac if you’re on a dual boot machine. It also specifically says only to use Internet Explorer version 7 or 8 ONLY…just curious what is the correct system to use. Thanks!

PMFPO: The Guide references those system requirements that have been confirmed as fully compatible. If an applicant encounters a problem using a browser or system not referenced, he/she may need to find alternative means to use those identified in the Guide.

I wanted to be sure and share the recording and slide deck for those who missed it (or those who want to review it again):

SLIDES

If you have more questions, please submit them to pmfapplication@opm.gov or post them at The PMF Application: OPEN THREAD

Use this open thread as a place to: -Share your experience -Ask a question -Or maybe just to vent

While I am not eligible to apply (finished grad school many moons ago!), I wanted to have an even better sense of the experience of a ...]]> In a previous post, I summarized the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Class of 2013 PMF Assessment Prep Guide, excerpting key segments of their advice and embedding the document for your convenience. They’ve really put together an excellent resource there and I’m impressed overall with the work of the new group that’s leading the charge. Props to the PMF team.

While I am not eligible to apply (finished grad school many moons ago!), I wanted to have an even better sense of the experience of a potential PMF candidate so that I can give good advice in our PathtoPMF.com forums. As a result, I spent a couple hours yesterday walking through the PMF Application and Online Assessment. Below is what I learned.

Please Note: What I share here does not in any way reveal specifics about the content of the application and assessment – only logistical considerations so that you can plan accordingly. You’ll see why I am so diligent in stating this plainly based on my first recommendation.

1. What happens in the assessment stays in the assessment. Within the first couple pages, OPM asks an applicant to “certify that he or she will protect any information contained in these instruments or assessment data from release to any other party. This duty to safeguard the information contained in these documents is a continuing personal, ethical, and legal obligation that is not terminated or otherwise modified by change of jobs or employer.” A candidate must sign this Non-Disclosure agreement and risks disqualification if they discuss it in any form (orally; in writing; in any internet “chat room,” message board, or forum; or otherwise). As you can see, I am heeding that agreement carefully with this blog post and I would strongly recommend that all candidates honor it as well…even to the extent of not talking at all about it with their colleagues or friends.

2. Be sure you’re using the right browser. I started the application using Chrome and discovered that it was not supported by the system. The system prompted me, but OPM has also made it clear on pages 4-7 of the assessment prep guide which Operating Systems and Browsers are compatible (Hint: Internet Explorer 7/8 or Firefox 3.0 or later). I switched to the most recent version of Firefox and had no problems….but I’d hate to be coming down to the wire and realize that I needed to download the right browser to complete the application (another reason to not wait until a few hours before the deadline!).

3. Start at the very beginning (it’s a very good place to start). I could not complete the application all in one sitting, so I needed to stop and start a bit. I learned that every time I logged back in, it took me to the very beginning of the application – not to the place where I left off. It’s moderately annoying only because you are used to software like TurboTax which allows you to jump to the place where you left off. Just know that you will need to click through a few pages if you complete the process in stages. Don’t let it stress you out.

4. Read everything carefully. I know we live in a fast-paced world where we breeze through information – especially if that information is presented in dense paragraphs. Resist the temptation to skip over the instructions quickly and think you’ve got it. Take your time and understand what’s being asked of you. I would advise the same for each of the assessment portion (both video and questionnaire). If you watch a video or read a question and you feel like you missed something, re-watch or re-read it. The application and assessment are untimed, so there’s no need to rush.

5. Are you saved or not? While I was going through the video and questionnaire assessments, there was no place that I could hit “Save.” I worried that I might exit the module and lose my answers. What I found, however, was that every time I logged on and logged back in (which I did deliberately a few times to test this theory) it saved my work. If you’re worried about that for any reason, please see my bonus tip below.

6. When you’re done, you’re done. Once I completed the video portion of the assessment, it looks like I cannot access it again. You can start and stop and your responses will be saved. You can also navigate forward and backward when you are in the video and questionnaire portions, BUT when you are finished responding to all of the questions and hit submit, that’s it. No do overs. I have not finished the questionnaire, but my assumption is that it will follow the same pattern. I’ll post an update on that soon…

7. Deliberate on (but don’t distribute!) the essays. Over on PathtoPMF.com, one of the forum questions was, “Can anyone go ahead and upload the essay prompts here? I don’t have time to finish the other sections but I would like to starting thinking about the essays…” For the first part, please see #1 above. Don’t do it. Don’t share the essays or any other portion of the assessment with anyone. What you can do, however, is skip the online assessment and complete or contemplate the essay questions first, if you’d like. Sometimes our subconscious has a way of percolating and sparking creative answers if we have the material in the back of our minds. That might not be a bad idea to ruminate on the questions or work up a draft and sit with it a few days before submitting the application package.

BONUS: OPM tells you that it could take up to 3 hours to complete the entire application. They weren’t lying. I tried to do it between my other work projects and it definitely had me at 1.5 hours without finishing the questionnaire and essays. Take that time seriously. They also suggest that you do it all in one sitting. I’d second that notion as well. Block out 2-3 hours in a quiet place without interruptions so that you can focus. You’ll be glad you did it that way and I think you’ll end up with a stronger application.

Get more advice and ask questions in our PathtoPMF.com forums.

I would also invite you to RSVP for our online “Resume Tips for Prospective PMFs” event, happening next Tuesday, November 13 at 11a ET.

As November 5 approaches (yes, there is something else happening other than the election that week), the opportunity for prospective Presidential Management Fellows (PMFs) to apply for one of government’s most prestigious programs looms large on the horizon.

Knowing that PMFs likely have a lot of questions about the process, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management released its new 2013 Assessment Preparation Guide (embedded here for your convenience).

While it’s only a 9-page document and should be a quick review, I ...]]>  

As November 5 approaches (yes, there is something else happening other than the election that week), the opportunity for prospective Presidential Management Fellows (PMFs) to apply for one of government’s most prestigious programs looms large on the horizon.

Knowing that PMFs likely have a lot of questions about the process, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management released its new 2013 Assessment Preparation Guide (embedded here for your convenience).

While it’s only a 9-page document and should be a quick review, I wanted to pluck out a few of the practical tips that they share in it:

1) There are 7 competencies that they are looking for in an ideal candidate – keep these in mind with everything you do – from your resume to your responses on the questionnaire:

• Adaptability
• Personal Accountability
• Motivation to Serve
• Problem Solving
• Interpersonal Skills
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication

OPM offers more detail on each competency in the guide.

2. OnLine Assessment – Part 1: Situation Judgment Assessment

• you will watch a series of videos that reflect situations found in a typical office environment that illustrate interpersonal scenarios PMFs could encounter on the job.
• you will be asked to choose the most effective course of action and the least effective course of action out of four possible courses of action for that particular scenario.
• Choose a particular course of action based on (a) experiences you may have had in your current or previous jobs, in school, or in social, athletic, or volunteer organizations, and (b) what you consider the best for a particular scenario AFTER watching the video and reading through the four courses of action.
• Select the course of action you consider the best, not the course of action you think others might select, or the course of action you think is expected of you.

3. Online Assessment – Part 2: Questionnaire

• The questionnaire is designed to assess the competencies required for success in professional, managerial, and leadership roles based upon extensive research exploring the skills required to be successful in today’s economy and business climate.
• You will be presented with short behavioral statements that ask about your interests and work preferences and rate each behavioral statement on a five-point scale ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree.
• Read each statement carefully, decide which of the five possible responses most accurately describes you, and then click on that response.
• Be careful about which end of the scale is Agree and which is Disagree!

4. Online Assessment – Part 3: Essay Questions

• You will answer three essay questions about your accomplishments and experiences.
• Keep your essays between 200 and 300 words or 2,000 to 3,000 characters each.
• Don’t worry about how the questions are related to your potential as a PMF.
• Do not get hung up on one or two questions – it is not the individual items that are important, it is the whole person represented by measured characteristics that the assessment evaluates.
• Don’t worry about the characteristics the questions are measuring are measuring.
• Don’t guess at a “right” answer; just be candid and honest in your responses to all assessment questions.
• Try to finish in one sitting, if you can.
• Check out their system requirements for your computer in advance – read them carefully and make sure you’re okay.

5. In-Person Assessment

• This is an immersion experience that simulates a day in the life of a PMF.
• You will participate in a series of 4 timed exercises structured around issues relevant to the Federal Government today: Group Exercise, Press Conference, Behavioral Interview, and a Writing Exercise.
• A panel of trained Federal employees will evaluate the degree to which you demonstrate the PMF critical competencies assessed in each exercise.
• It will last approximately five hours and is designed to be a challenging, highly engaging experience – two short breaks, and very little “downtime”.
• Don’t forget your invitation email – that’s your ticket to get in.
• Don’t be late: you will not be allowed to participate if you are!
• Don’t forget a form ID like driver’s license or passport (C’mon, it’s the government. If you want that cool official ID one day, better start getttting used to it now
• Don’t bring food, drinks, purses, briefcases, backpacks, notebooks, books, cell phones, or any other electronic devices into the classroom
• Give it back: they want you to turn in assessment materials, including scratch paper, when you’re done.

Do you have any questions? Ask below.

Want more? – Check out our Guide to the 2013 PMF Application Process