PMF Guide: Managing the Application Process

1
Introduction
You are about to embark on an extraordinary journey if you are contemplating the submission of an application
to the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program.
Before you move down the road too far, it’s important to thank 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. The Robertson Foundation
commissioned this Class of 2013 Presidential Management Fellows Application Guide, seeking the technical
assistance of GovLoop, the leading knowledge network for public sector professionals. Below is a bit more
background on the Robertson Foundation.
Established by the family of the late philanthropists Charles and Marie Robertson, and named in their honor,
the Robertson Foundation for Government pursues a mission that was central to Mr. and Mrs. Robertson’s
philanthropic activities: strengthening the United States government and increasing its ability and
determination to defend and extend freedom throughout the world by improving the training and education
of men and women for government service. The PMF Program is one such elite entryway into government
service that the Robertson Foundation is pleased to support. Helping qualified and deserving recent graduates
become PMFs is important to the Robertson Foundation, and one of many ways they are living out their
stated mission to improve the United States government.
Through this guide, a vast wealth of information from various sources is brought together into one easy-to-use
resource. It taps into an unprecedented collection of more than 60 PMF Program alumni, 10 university career
advisors, and 10 government agency PMF program coordinators who contributed their definitive knowledge
on how to successfully navigate the application process. A great deal of credit for this guide goes to these
talented professionals. We hope that their valuable understanding of the PMF selection process will help you
make the most of your own application, and will give you the best shot at reaching your goal of becoming
a Presidential Management Fellow. We also provide a place for you to learn more, watch videos, read blog
updates and interact with others involved in the process at PathtoPMF.com
Please note that this is not an official resource endorsed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
or the Executive Office of the President (EOP), but represents a trusted source of valuable information about
the PMF program. While we will strive to post changes as soon as we see them, please regularly check http://
www.pmf.gov for official information and updates.
The Robertson Foundation for Government is grateful to the contributions of GovLoop for their role in
helping to prepare this guide. Together we are proud to provide this comprehensive resource to the next
generation of government leaders.
Applicants, start your public service engines...and good luck!
Guide to The Presidential Management Fellows Program

2
Managing the Application Process
SECTION 1: THE PROGRAM 5
SECTION 2: WHY BE A PMF 8
SECTION 3: THE APPLICATION 10
SECTION 4: THE ONLINE ASSESSMENT 11
SECTION 5: THE IN-PERSON ASSESSMENT 13
SECTION 6: THE JOB FAIR 18
SECTION 7: THE JOB 23
SECTION 8: WHAT’S NEXT 25
SECTION 9: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 26

3
Andrew Card
Dean of the Bush School of
Government and Public Service
Texas A&M University
Former White House Chief of
Staff under President George
W. Bush
“As the PMF application process undergoes revisions and
as the standards for acceptance evolve, it’s our job to make
sure that applicants are equipped with the best, most current
information about the process. PathtoPMF.com, the product
of an unprecedented partnership between the Robertson
Foundation for Government and GovLoop, breaks down the
barriers that deterred applicants from pursuing one of the
most prestigious fellowships our government has to offer. It
will be an invaluable resource to every future applicant.”
PAUL LIGHT
Paulette Goddard Professor of
Public Service
Founding Principal
Investigator of the Global
Center for Public Service
New York University
“The PMF is the premier federal program for recruiting the
nation’s most talented students into the public service. It has
undergone substantial revision in recent years and students
often struggle understanding the process. That’s why I’m
excited about PathtoPMF.com. The Robertson Foundation
for Government has teamed up with social networking site
GovLoop to create PathtoPMF.com as the “go-to” guide,
helping prospective applicants navigate the PMF process
from application to placement.
James b.
Steinberg
Dean of the Maxwell School of
Syracuse University,
and University Professor of
Social Science, International
Affairs, and Law
“The Guide to Managing the Application Process is an
invaluable tool for any student interested in the PMF
program, one of the most exciting paths to a career in
public service. Draw on the experience and insights of those
who know the program best – from former PMFs, college
career advisors and government managers, the Guide helps
prospective applicants understand what it takes to become a
PMF. With this guide, the Robertson Foundation has made an
extraordinary contribution by helping to attract the brightest
and most committed young men and women to service to the
nation.”
PathtoPMF.com and the accompanying guide gives the PMF program the boost it needs to reignite student interest.
If the federal government is to meet the many future challenges it faces, it must have the very best leaders. The
PMF Program is the gateway. PathtoPMF.com is your tour guide through the gateway and beyond.”

Managing the Application Process 4
PETER F. COWHEY
Deal of the School of
International Relations and
Pacific Studies
Qualcomm Endowed Chair in
Communications and Technology
Policy
University of California, San Diego
“The Presidential Management Fellowship program enjoys
considerable prestige within the government and constitutes
a solid point of entry for those dedicated to pursuing careers
in federal public service. For some agencies, like the State
Department, the PMF program is the only viable avenue into
entry level civil service positions. Additionally,PMF hires do
well in the US government after the PMF ends because of
the program’s rotational opportunities, 80 hours of optional
training, and significant fast-tracking opportunities up the
STEPHEN W.
BOSWORTH
Dean of the Fletcher School of
Law and Diplomacy
Tufts University
Former U.S. Special Representative
for North Korea Policy
Former U.S. Ambassador to South
Korea, the Philippines, and Tunisia
“Applying for a Presidential Management Fellowship is not
easy, nor should it be. In order to identify the most worthy
candidates, applicants are subject to a rigorous review and
interview process. We fully support setting high standards
for entry into the PMF program, but we also recognize
that applicants making a commitment to serve their nation
deserve the support from their institutions, organizations like
the Robertson Foundation for Government.
PathtoPMF.com, a roadmap to the PMF application process,
represents our commitment to the men and women who want
to pursue fulfilling careers in service to their nation.”
Donald F. KettlE
Dean of the School of
Public Policy
University of Maryland,
College Park
“The Robertson Foundation’s PathtoPMF.com is an invaluable
guide to the often-complex twists and turns of the Presidential
Management Fellow process. For a generation, the PMF
program has been a stellar opportunity for the very best and
brightest to launch their careers in government leadership.
Now, as the Robertson Foundation is providing a powerful new
program to help prepare leaders in government service and
international affairs, this how-to manual will help countless
students find their path to exciting public service careers. We at
the University of Maryland School of Public Policy are proud
to have shared tips and hints with the Robertson Foundation in
improving access to this great program.”
GS scale that are largely unavailable to other new hires. I hope that this GovLoop publication, sponsored
by the Robertson Foundation for Government, will generate the enthusiastic participation that this program
fully warrants.”

5
SECTION 1:
THE PROGRAM
History
ThePresidentialManagementFellowsProgram
(PMF) is one of several ways for current
and recent students of advanced graduate
degree programs to start on a career path as a
public servant in the federal government. The
program, originally known as the Presidential
Management Interns Program, was
established by President Carter’s
Executive Order in 1977 to attract
young people
with exceptional
m a n a g e m e n t
potential into
g o v e r n m e n t
careers. Several
talented people
got their start in
the early years
of the program, including former
NASA head Sean O’Keefe and
the 13th Commissioner of Social
Security Kenneth Apfel.
In 1982, the program mission
statement was broadened under
President Reagan to attract
“outstanding
men and women
from a variety
of academic
disciplines who
have a clear interest in, and
commitment to, a career in
the analysis and management
of public policies and
programs.” Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon
began his fellowship the same year as this
executive order.
In 2003, under the direction of President
George W. Bush, the program was renamed the
Presidential Management Fellows Program,
to more accurately reflect the talent and
professionalism of those men and women
serving in the program. In
December 2010, the PMF became
part of the Pathways Program, a
hiring reform initiative designed
to recruit new talent to the public
sector.
Overview
The hiring process for the United
States federal government adheres
to many rules and regulations that
attempt to determine a candidate’s
quality. The PMF program allows
recent graduates to compete for
jobs against other people of their
relative age and experience. It also
provides management training,
rotations through different
agencies, and competitive entry-
level salaries.
While the PMF program is an
excellent opportunity to start a
career in public service and sets someone up
for quick advancement, the application process
is also extremely competitive. Even if you are
one of the few hundred Finalists named out of
Sean O’Keefe
Jeffrey Merkley
1975
2012
1977
Launched
by Carter
1982
Expanded
by Reagan
2003
Renamed by
George W. Bush
2010
Repackaged
with Pathways

thousands of applicants, you are
not guaranteed a job placement.
OPM cites that only 60% of
finalists ultimately secure a job.
With this in mind, it is smart
for even the most qualified
applicant to apply for other
opportunities as well. Luckily,
the PMF is not the only
entry point into the federal
government. It would be wise to
apply to the Recent Graduates
Pathway program, and other
positions as they are posted on
USAJOBS, especially GS-9
and GS-11 jobs.
It’s important to
remember to look at the
number of applicants
versus finalists. It’s a
pretty selective program
- not one you can depend
on getting. You apply
with the hopes of getting
it but you need to keep
on applying to other
positions throughout the
process.
- Kaleigh Emerson, PMF Class
of 2010, Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services
The PMF program is a two-
year commitment, during
which participants are paid a
full salary and benefits at the
GS-9, GS-11, or GS-12 levels,
and in some cases, may go as
high as GS-13 (up to $70,000
per year).
By the time you are done with
the program, you will have:
● Attended a minimum of 160
hours of interactive vs.
“formal classroom” training
(80 hours per year)
● Completed at least one
development assignment four
to six months in length
● Created a performance
plan and received an annual
performance review
● Passed an annual review
● Created an Individual
Development Plan (IDP),
used to set goals for time in
the program
● Received Executive
Resource Board (ERB; or
equivalent) certification that
an individual has met all
program requirements
● Benefited from the
assignment of a mentor
● Gained eligibility for non-
competitive conversion to
a permanent or term position
upon successful completion
Process and Schedule
New program regulations that
wentintoeffectonJuly10,2012,
under the Pathways Program
strive to make it easier for
students and recent graduates
to find job opportunities and
to get experience working in
the Federal Government. The
PMF Program falls under the
Pathways banner and allows
graduates to apply to the
program in their final year of
study, as well as for two years
following their completion of
their studies.
PMFs come from a variety
of disciplines and graduate
studies, such as master’s
students, PhD recipients, and
law students. In addition,
the program is encouraging
applicants from a wide array
of backgrounds, including
individuals with advanced
degrees in humanities, sciences,
information technology and
whatever else you’ve chosen
as your course of study. Many
graduates with non-
traditional
backgrounds have harnessed
the PMF program to jump-
start very successful careers
of service. Much depends on
current needs within the federal
government from one year to
the next. Understanding current
events will help give you a
sense of staffing trends.
Changes to future program
eligibility issues will be made
available on the official PMF
Program website (http://www.
pmf.gov).
“
“

7
Working With Your College / University
Advisor
Your college and university advisors may be
the best resources available to you along the
process (in addition to this guide, of course!).
Many university career advisors host an
informational session at the beginning of
each year to let students know about the PMF
program and help them decide if the program
is right for them. Others send out emails and
direct students to materials on the internet.
Find out who the career advisor for the PMF
program is at your school and ask them for
help in laying out a plan for your application.
We’ll say it again: they will be one of the most
valuable resources for you on the path to PMF.
Traditionally, the PMF program begins to accept applications every fall. Prospective participants are
notified that applications are being accepted through an announcement from USAJOBS. Head on
over to USAJOBS, set up your account, and get familiar with the system if you have not already done
so. It is critical that you are familiar with the application process before you begin your application
to become a PMF.
Once you have filled out the online application, you will be prompted to complete an online
assessment. Based on your score from the online assessment, you will be named a semi-finalist and
be invited to an in-person interview. If your score is high enough in the interview, you will be named
a finalist and be eligible for a PMF appointment. At that point, you will attend a job fair to meet
potential agencies, and be eligible to apply for job opportunities.
By the start of my final year in
graduate school, I decided on pursuing
a career in public service and I
established my own network of PMF
alumni and other contacts in federal
agencies. I used my school’s resources,
my own connections, and professional
associations. These conversations
really helped my preparation.
PMF Class of 2011
“
“

SECTION 2:
WHY BE A PMF?
According to the PMF alumni that we interviewed for this guide, the PMF program is the best way
to start a public service career as it:
● Provides exposure to several federal agencies or departments through the built-in rotations.
● Creates opportunities for making connections with peers and senior-level mentors.
● Offers dependable pay and benefits with a good balance of work and personal development.
PMFs also have the potential to work on
projects they would never have access to in the
private sector, while still enjoying the leeway
to explore and find a niche in the federal
government.
Other PMFs stress how great it looks on
a resume, whether or not you accept the
fellowship. You also have access to great jobs
and training opportunities that are unavailable
to most other federal employees.
From the Source: A Premier Opportunity
“It’s a great opportunity to
experience working for the
federal government, and
it can open doors to many
exciting opportunities if
you’re willing to make the
program work for you.” -
Christopher Gee, PMF Class
of 2005, Department of
Homeland Security
“It’s the best possible way to enter government,
as far as I’m concerned. Also, the fact that
an agency is willing to pay a fee and commit
to training in order to take you on means
that they’re somewhat invested in your
development as an employee and a person,
more so than in the general hiring process.”
-PMF Class 2008
“Itisagreatwaytogainabroadunderstanding
of management in the federal sector with
opportunities to try out different jobs (through
rotations) and with regular advancement
opportunities.” - PMF Class 1982
“The PMF is the best
way to get into the federal
government, and the best
way to get promoted within
the federal government
quickly, and so it is a
program that our students
look at very favorably.”
- Matthew Upton, Director of Career Services,
Bush School of Government & Public Service

9
“I encourage any and every U.S. student
who is even remotely thinking about federal
employment to throw their hat in the ring.
Mostly, these are students interested in
government work, but I’ve had several
students apply and make it through the
process who were not necessarily focused on
this career path. It’s largely those focused
on government work, however, who remain
tenaciously committed to pursuing PMF
positions well after the summer months.
The others normally pursue and accept
opportunities elsewhere.”
-Tamara Golden, Career Consultant, University of
California, San Diego
“Just the prestige of being a PMF Finalist
gives you that leg up. I think folks who are
familiar with the program
-- and understand what they
had to go through to become
a Finalist -- understand
that this is the cream of the
crop.” - Lisa Allison-Lee,
Veterans Affairs, Agency
Coordinator
“The Presidential Management Fellowship
program enjoys considerable prestige within
the government and constitutes a solid point
of entry for those dedicated to pursuing
careers in federal public service. For some
agencies, the PMF program is the only viable
avenue into entry level civil service positions.
Additionally, PMF hires do well in the US
government after the PMFends because of the
program’s rotational opportunities, 80 hours
of optional training, and significant fast-
tracking opportunities up the GS scale that
are largely unavailable to other new hires.”
- Peter Cowhey, Dean, School of International
Relations and Pacific Studies, University of
It is a fabulous way to come into the
government. Since entering in 1982 I
have been in the government the whole
time. I have hired probably 30 PMFs and
I had more in different rotations. I have
never had a bad experience. The program
has the reputation now that you’re never
going to get a bad person. I have three
PMFs on my staff now -- probably more
if I count former PMFs!
- Bev Goodwin, PMF Class 1982, General
Service Administrator
“
“
The federal service retention rate for
PMFs has been
83-88%after three years
63-77%after five years
1 in 12
PMFs/PMIs between 1982 and 1989
joined the senior executive service
Source: http://www.naspaa.org/initiatives/Published%20
Conference%20Summary.pdf

application. If you were applying to the typical job
you might be able to call and say ‘I tried to submit
my resume by email, and didn’t get a response, did
you receive it?’ You can’t do those types of things
when you’re applying for PMF. You
need to be a lot more detail-oriented in
this application than you do in others.”
- Kaleigh Emerson, PMF Class 2010,
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services.
SECTION 3:
THE APPLICATION
Harness The Program. Be Assertive. Be Creative.
Completing the combined application and online
assessment is your first step towards PMF success.
You will need to submit your application and
assessment documents between November 5 and
19, 2012.
● Make sure your resume is current and ready
to submit
● Get a copy of your graduate school transcript
to upload (3MB size limit on all documents)
● Look up your federal school code if you
don’t know it already.
● Don’t wait until the last minute to take the
un-timed situational and behavioral
questions, and the three required essays.
When you begin your application, you will be
prompted to create a user name for login, and
provide basic biographical information. Secondly,
you will be asked to upload your resume and
transcript. After submitting, you will reach a page
warning that you are about to begin the online
assessment section. If you wish, you are able to
stop at this point and resume your progress later. It
is recommended that you complete this section in
one session. However, it is expected that this entire
section - the application and online assessment
- could take up to three hours, so make sure to
manage your time accordingly.
Tips for completing the online assessment portion
begin in the next section.
“It’s important to make sure that every step of
the application is done accurately. I have several
friends who would have been well-qualified,
but they were not considered due to computer
malfunction when submitting their initial
Top 4 Tips for Completing Your Application
STARTEARLY. Make sure that you have given yourself
enough time to complete your online application.
Past applicants have reported having trouble with the
online submission system, such as not being able to
save attachments - problems that can be easily taken
care of by starting well in advance of the November 19
deadline.
HAVE YOUR LONG FORM FEDERAL RESUME READY.
For those who will be applying to work in the federal
government for the first time, make sure that you know
thespecificdetailsabouthowtocorrectlycreateafederal
resume. Check out GovLoop’s Rock Your Resume
Group for examples. While you are allowed to submit
a traditional resume, formatting in the government style
will help ensure your qualifications are understood by
federal hiring agents.
UNDERSTAND THE PMF PROGRAM. Know what your
commitment will be when you are hired as a PMF
fellow, and why you are motivated to apply. This is a
good opportunity to start thinking about your “elevator
pitch” -- quick talking points about yourself that will
come in handy in later stages of the application as well.
HAVE SOMEONE LOOK OVER YOUR APPLICATION
BEFORE SUBMITTING. This will cut down on small
needless errors. Your career advisors would be good
candidates for this type of assistance.
Application inquiries can be directed to
pmfapplication@opm.gov

11
SECTION 4:
THE ONLINE ASSESSMENT
The assessment portion of the application is
untimed and unproctored, which means you can
submit it any time between November 5 and 19,
2012.
The on-line assessment includes three
components:
1)avideo-basedsituationaljudgmentassessment,
2) a questionnaire designed to assess specific
work styles and work-related characteristics
required for success and fit in the PMF Program,
and
3) essay questions.
The essays are collected during the application
process, but factored into the in-person
assessment.
“Many of the questions were repeated in slightly
different ways to see if you would answer
consistently. It felt like I was getting everything
“wrong” but realistically there was probably
no wrong answer. Many had
an obvious answer as well, if
you are able to work well with
others and perform well on
the job, etc.”
- Elizabeth Fischer Laurie,
PMF Class of 2011, General
Services Administration
“The only thing you know for sure is that they
are looking for leadership qualities. Just be
honest. One of our online assessments was
personality leadership. I’m not sure what it
tested. We answered a lot of strange questions
that you couldn’t prepare for - they weren’t
knowledge-based so you just have to trust that
you are a good candidate and answer those
questions honestly.” - Ashley Cassels, PMF
Class of 2010, Small Business Administration
Read a selection of sample questions
below so that you will not be surprised
when you see them on the assessment:
Sample Questions:
● When you have an appointment, do you
typically arrive: A) very early B) early C) on time
D) late E) very late”
● Write an appropriate topic sentence for the
following paragraph....
● After which sentence should the following text
be broken into a new paragraph?
● Which of the following subjects did you
get your lowest grade in during high school?
(Biology, Math, Foreign Language...)
● Which of the following group of words include
a misspelled word?
● How would your colleagues/peers describe
you? How do they like your organizational
skills?
● They also asked what you would do in specific
situations that had an ethical slant--like whether
There have been some changes to the assessment process this
year and the information we share below offers the unofficial
input from interviews with past participants. Much of their
advice and the sample questions are still relevant, but please
be sure to read the official PMF Assessment Preparation
Guide located at:
http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/assessment-process.aspx

you would confront a co-worker who was doing
something that you didn’t agree with, versus
going directly to your supervisor.
● What grades did you receive in high school?
● How often do you go out in the evenings?
● How strongly would you agree that people like
you as a person?
● If your boss asks you to do something that is
beyond your skill set, what do you do?
1.) Try your best to do it yourself.
2.) Find a colleague that can help you.
3.) Don’t do the assignment.
Many scenario questions were asked, such as:
● If you were a manager, and one of your
employees had issues and was not meeting
work goals, and the employee’s stated reasons
was a lack of training, what would you do?
a) Publicly confront the employee in front of
co-workers and berate him/her for not doing
his/her job.
b) Threaten to fire the employee if he/she doesn’t
start doing a better job.
c) Work with the employee to develop a training
schedule to work on the necessary required
skills.
d) do nothing.
A lot of the questions were trying to determine the
potential PMF’s personality. While there are no
right/wrong answers, the PMF program usually
tries to look for well-balanced, sociable, intelligent,
flexible people with a strong work ethic and an
enthusiasm for getting the job done, and being
creative to do so if necessary.
Overall, the most solid advice we can give you for
the online assessment is: be yourself, don’t over-
think questions, and write essays that showcase
your motivation for public service.
“I did not do a whole lot of prep for [the online
assessment]. We did receive a little practice guide
that had a couple questions. I went through that
multiple times. A former PMF suggested going
through the LSAT practice book, so I did read
through that. It was helpful to get me in that
logical frame of mind. [My advice is to] just go sit
in a library for an afternoon and read through the
LSAT practice book to get the gist of how you’re
supposed to be thinking on the logic portion of the
assessment.” - Kaleigh Emerson, PMF Class of
2010, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Advice from a Career Counselor:
“What the PMF is looking for is collaborative
team-builders. What they are not looking
for are alpha personalities. I have seen some
outstanding candidates who I knew were strong
personalities get knocked out in the first round.
I probably know about forty or forty-five PMFs,
and with one exception, every single one of them
is not an alpha personality. There is one person
who seems to have slipped through the cracks,
but the others are not. They are thoughtful,
self-effacing people, total team players,
fiercely committed to public service, patriots,
and that is really what you need to be to be a
PMF. You can’t make yourself into a personality
that you’re not and if you think you’re a strong
alpha personality, take the test and see what
happens.”
As an applicant and semi-finalist you are evaluated on the
following during the online and in-person assessments:
- problem solving
- interpersonal skills
- oral communication
- written communication
- public service motivation
- personal accountability
- adaptability

13
SECTION 5:
THE IN-PERSON ASSESSMENT
If you pass the online assessment, as a semi-finalist you will be invited to the in-person assessment.
The in-person assessment is a half-day immersion experience that puts Semi-Finalists through a series
of group and individual exercises designed to simulate “the day in the life” of a PMF. Candidates will
interact with real issues and senior government leaders in four major components: Group Exercise, Press
Conference, Behavioral Interview and a Writing Exercise. Semi-Finalists will be observed and evaluated
by a panel of assessors in each exercise. The in-person assessment will last approximately five hours
and is designed to be a challenging, highly engaging experience. While the schedule includes two short
breaks, you should be prepared to have very little “downtime”. The 2013 in-person assessment locations
are Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; and, Washington, DC Metro
Area (to include Baltimore, MD). Semi-finalists travel and participate at their own expense. Plan on
participating in a full day of activities. Below are a few examples of the types of questions you might
encounter:
Show Off Your Skills During the In-Person
Assessment, But Be a Team Player
The key for the in-person assessment is to stay
calm and collected during the interview. The
interview should take you about one hour. The
panel of interviewers will be composed of two or
three federal agency representatives. Be prepared
to answer questions that will demonstrate:
● your abilities to solve complex problems,
● your flexibility in the workplace,
● your motivations for applying to the PMF program,
● your interpersonal and oral communications skills.
This is your time to shine as a potential PMF
candidate. You have already made it this far, and
you are getting closer to your PMF appointment.
Writing Exercise
Example Questions:
-What is your motivation for a career in public service?
-Should the federal government charge people for using plastic bags instead of paper?
-Should the government increase internet security protocols?
-What motivates you?
Group Exercise and Behavioral Interview:
Question prompts are of the same variety for both the group exercise and behavioral interview.
-Tell us about something you have researched, written papers on, or are generally passionate about.
-Tell us about union representation and whether or not workers should be allowed to unionize.
-Take a position on a current event that you have read about and explain how you all would have
solved that problem, or avoided an unfortunate outcome.
-Suggest legislation that would benefit your future agency and tell why it would or would not
be effective.
Be sure to review OPM’s official PMF Assessment Preparation Guide
at www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/assessment-process.aspx

“When you go to the group interview, you don’t
want try to outshine everyone
else and put people down.
You want to show how you
collaborate with people. Even if
someone says something really
stupid, which they might in the
interview, saying something
like ‘well, that’s an interesting
point, have you looked at it
from this view?’ is a good approach. So you’re
diplomatic, collaborative and building off what
other people say.” - Bev Godwin, PMF Class of
1982, General Services Administration
In-Person Assessment Advice from PMFs
Here are a few other nuggets of wisdom from people
who’ve preceded you:
● The assessors are looking for good team players,
who voice their opinions and make a meaningful
contribution to the discussion, but who are cordial
and who seem like they would be a solid colleague.
- PMF Class of 2006
● Take a deep breath and relax before going into
the assessment. Be well-rested and speak concisely.
Respect your fellow applicants and allow them to
speak during the assessment. - PMF Class of 1999
● Be a team player during the
group presentation--that part
is about how you handle and
resolve team issues more than
it is about your speech topic.
It’s a long day--wear something
that you can be comfortable
in, but still look professional.
- Jeni Webb, PMF Class of 2011, Department of
Housing and Urban Development
● Make friends with your cohort of competitors
that are taking the assessment with you -- everyone
is highly qualified -- no need to be mean about it.
Don’t feel bad if the assessors don’t look up or
appear to be curt. They are scribbling furiously to
take down their impressions, but I think they have
received special instructions on how they are and
are/not supposed to interact with the interviewees.
- PMF Class of 2011
● Stay calm. Don’t necessarily be swayed by the
other applicants (everyone has their own idea of
how the process works, what they are looking for,
or what they have “heard” through the grapevine). -
PMF Class of 2011
● Be well-groomed, clean and neat. Prepare
by reading op-eds in major newspapers on
a variety of topics. Remember to make eye
contact, engage others, answer clearly and
articulately and be on point. Demonstrate
that you are a leader, but also a team player.
- Bridget Shea Westfall, PMF Class of 2005,
Department of Health and Human Services
In-PersonAssessmentAdvicefromCareerAdvisors:
● The interviewers will tell you exactly how much
time you have to answer each question. Keep your
answers concise – be sure to answer the question
posed to you, but don’t ramble and think you have to
take up the entire amount of time allotted.
● Some interviewers were friendly, some were stone-
faced. You need to be ready to perform at your best
even if you’re not being given the normal body
language or facial cues that might otherwise provide
you with positive reinforcement.
- Tamara Golden, Career Consultant, University of
● The assessors are looking for good team players,
who voice their opinions and make a meaningful
contribution to the discussion, but who are cordial
and who seem like they would be good to work with.
- Career Advisor
● Don’t try to compete with those around you.
Treat it as you would the work environment and act
accordingly. If you have a group assessment engage
as you would if these were your colleagues. - Career
Advisor

15
Congratulations: You’ve Been Named A Finalist!
If you pass the in-person assessment and are selected as a Finalist, you will be invited to participate in
the Job Fair. Notification of your Finalist status is typically sent via email in late January. Below is a bit
more statistical information about the types of people who are selected as Finalists.
One quick note before you peruse the tables and graphs below:
Even if you see that your school, your degree or your target agency is under-represented in the data
below, do not be discouraged. Apply anyway and give it your all! The PMF application process is
designed to reward merit, so you have just as solid a chance of success as anyone else.
Increasingly Selected Law Students
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Percentage
of
Total
Finalists
Year
Schools of Public Affairs
Colleges of Law
Source: Graham Drake, University of Kentucky
An increasing number of law school students are applying and attaining Finalist status over the past
decade. In fact, the PMF Class of 2012 had an almost equal number of finalists from law schools (160)
and schools of public affairs, public policy or public administration (163). For more information about
this trend, please check out this blog post: http://www.govloop.com/profiles/blogs/applying-to-the-
presidential-management-fellows-pmf-program-does-

Data for University locations where PMFs semi-finalists and finalists come from:
Source: http://pmfellow.blogspot.com/

17
What Did the 2012 Finalists Study?
Field of Study Number
Law (JD or other law degree) 160
Public Affairs/Policy 83
Public Administration 80
International Affairs/Administration/Studies 68
Business Management/Administration 46
Health Administration/Public Health 26
International Development/Trade 26
Security Policy/Studies 16
Environmental Sciences/Natural Resources 14
Environmental Policy/Studies 13
Social Work 11
Community/Regional Planning/Development 10
Political Science 10
Other Subject Areas 9
Policy Analysis 9
Engineering 8
History 8
Biological Sciences 6
Diplomacy 6
Management 6
National Security 6
Conflict Analysis/Resolution 5
Which Schools Placed the Most Finalists in 2012?
Georgetown University 24
George Washington University 23
American University 20
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 18
Harvard John F Kennedy Schl of Govt 17
George Mason University 14
Emory University 13
George Washington Univ Nat Law Ctr 13
Tufts University 10
Univ of London-London School Econ 10
University of California-Berkeley 10
John Hopkins Univ Sch Advan Int St 9
Univ Maryland Clg Park 9
Univerisyt of Minnesota-Twin Cities 9
Yale Univ Sch Forestry Environ Std 9
Columbia Univ Sch Intl Pub Affairs 8
University of Denver 8
University of Georgia 8
University of Wisconsin-Madison 8
Duke Univ-School of Public Service 7
WhereWerePMFFinalistsPlacedin2012?
Department of Health and Human Services 79
Department of State 40
Homeland Security 25
VeteransAffairs 19
Department ofAgriculture 18
Department of Housing and Urban Development 16
Department of the Treasury 15
Defense 13
Interior 12
International Development 11
Financial Protection Bureau 10
Energy 10
Labor 10
Transportation 9
President 6
Personnel Management 5
TAKE NOTE:
Once you have been named a Finalist, you now
have to get hired into a PMF position, pass a
background investigation, and go through the
agency’s on-boarding process. It can take several
months on top of that to pass a security clearance
for those positions that require it.
Agency PMF Program Coordinators strongly
suggested that candidates view the Projected
Positions System (PPS) for available positions for
PMF finalists. The PPS is a way for agencies to
advertise available PMF appointments and is only
for current PMF finalists. Check frequently as new
positions are posted and change often throughout
the year.
Please also remember that:
• Finalists have 12 months from the date they are
selected as Finalists to be appointed to agency
positions as Fellows
• Employment policies and incentives are
determined by individual agencies
• Finalists who are current graduate students must
complete advanced degree requirements prior
to onboarding
Source: http://www.pmf.gov

SECTION 6:
THE JOB FAIR
The PMF Job Fair is where Finalists begin the
process of finding their appointment. Typically,
the job fair is held in Washington, DC, and
includes dozens of agency representatives
that are there for one reason: discovering
someone like you. Many participants find their
appointments during the job fair. Others use
the fair to learn more about agencies to inform
their decision-making process. Ultimately,
the job fair is your best shot at meeting
agency representatives and nailing down your
appointment.
Should You Attend the Fair?
One question some finalists ask is: how
important is it to attend the job fair? There are
a couple considerations to think about:
● Are the agencies you are interested in going
to be there? Some agencies only attend the job
fair if they know they are going to be hiring
a PMF. Others don’t attend the job fair. Call
them and ask if they will be there.
● Are you interested in working in Washington
DC, or do you want to work elsewhere? Most
federal government agencies are headquartered
in the Washington DC area and have regional
offices located around the country. A few
agencies are headquartered outside of DC
and you should try to schedule an interview
with them if you’re interested in a particular
locality, but it’s always good to get face time
with headquarters.
“I recommend going if you can afford it. It’s
a really good place to get a sense of what
agencies are out there and the breadth of
agencies. I know my year HUD was taking a
ton of finalists, so it’s very interesting to see
what opportunities are there. It’s also nice to
put faces with names. It gives you an opp to
have in-person interviews without having to
pass phone interviews first. So I would go in
with probably like three different goals.
The first goal is to get a job, but you might want
to have two other goals in case it doesn’t work
out.Thesecondgoalistogetinterviewpractice
- I would suggest doing mock interviews
beforehand. Third, use it as a chance to learn
about agencies. I was not familiar with jobs
in the federal government before the job fair.
This was my first interview to see agencies.
I asked a lot of questions in my interviews.
I wanted to learn more about the agencies
rather than get a job right away. I would go
home and process what I learned, then look
for more positions in those agencies later.”
-Kaleigh Emerson, PFM Class of 2010, Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
We don’t go if we don’t have an
opening to fill. If we’re there, we’re
looking to hire and we’re looking for the
best person. We’re usually very anxious
to fill that position.
-Bev Godwin, PMF Class of 1982, General
Services Administration
“ “

19
Here are some other reasons
why finalists don’t want to
miss the fair:
● The fair is an awesome
opportunity to improve your
interview skills. Interview
after interview for several
days straight really cranks up
your game a notch or two, and
it makes for fun story-telling
down the line.
● Some interviewers will let
you interview at their offices,
whichhelpsavoidthecraziness
and rush of the job fair. If you
can, we recommend scheduling
your flight so that you can be in
DC, and available for interviews
either the day before or the day
after the fair.
● The fair is an excellent
opportunity to meet people.
Never again will that many
PMFs from your cohort be in
the same place at the same time
and it will give you the chance
to make some connections that
could be useful down the road.
● Even if you’re not looking
for a position in DC; even if
you think you have something
lined up already, the job fair is
an unparalleled opportunity.
You can get insights into agency
culture, information on the day-
to-day duties of various positions,
andmeetawholelotofinteresting
people (both formally and at the
many happy hours).
● You may find out about
an agency or a job that you
hadn’t previously considered,
but ends up being a good fit.
Many agencies also have PMFs
working their booths, so it’s a
good opportunity to talk to
them and find out what it’s like
to be a PMF in their office and
agency.
● If you are hoping for a job
in DC, it’s good to attend the
job fair because there might
be opportunities to tour
facilities and meet employees.
You never know - you might
like an agency until you see
where you’ll work...and you
might just want to reconsider
based on your future digs (or
dive).
THE BOTTOM LINE: DON’T MISS IT!
You will be expected
to cover all of your
expenses for the job
fair. Of course, your
return on investment is
landing that sweet GS-
11 or GS-12 opportunity
and getting your public
sector career started
off on the right foot - so
spend the money to get
there if you’re out of
town. You won’t regret it.
Before the Fair: Do Your
Homework
Here are three important steps
to take before the job fair:
1. Research agencies that
interest you. Let’s face it:
government’s big. Your options
are immense. You will want
to learn as much as you can
about prospective agencies
in advance so that you can
speak knowledgeably to their
representative at the fair.
“The applicant should do
research up front to know
which agencies they are
interested in...and then be sure
to go and talk to people at that
booth, but also to be open that
maybe they haven’t heard of.
They likely don’t know every
agency. You can go online
and look up the government
manual to learn about the
mission of every government
agency...there are some
interesting small agencies or
offices within agencies that
do really cool things. So be
open to other things and spend
time talking to as many people
as you can.” - PMF Class
of 1982, General Services
Administration
2. Prioritize your top picks.
Once you’ve done your
homework on your favorite
agencies, it’s always a good
practice to rank them in the

order of where you most want
to work - and don’t just think
about your appointment, but
where you might want to launch
and spend your career.
3.Don’twaitforthefairtomake
contact. If you are showing
up to the job fair and expecting
to set up an interview with the
State Department, or one of the
other big agencies, you will be
too late. Ask your career advisor
for contact information for past
PMFsfromyourschoolwhohave
a connection with that agency.
Try to schedule your most sought
after interviews ahead of time.
Check the Projected Position
System (PPS) website for PMF
positions that may interest you.
Email and/or call the designated
pointofcontact(thisisnotalways
the PMF Agency Coordinator)
for any PMF position for which
you wish to interview as spots are
limited.
4. Get your professional house
inorder.AskyourCareerAdvisor
or other trusted person to: review
your resume (make sure your
resume is free of grammatical
and typographical errors).
Practice interview questions with
you. Look over supplemental
materials that show your skills
(policy memos you’ve written for
school, outreach materials you’ve
prepared for a previous job).
Practice introducing yourself
to recruiters (how can you tell
your professional story in 1-2
sentences?) Make sure your
resumetellsacoherentstory.Even
if you’ve done a lot of different
things, help recruiters find the
thread. A couple introductory
bullets at the top can make all the
difference. Bring a condensed one
page version of your resume.
5. Ask yourself some tough
questions. Review the floor
plan and think about who you
want to talk to most. What are
the top things you’re looking
for? What are you willing to
compromise on?
6. Print out copies of your
resume. You will want to
be able to hand these out to
everyone from an agency you
meet.
The night before:
7. Rest up. You will have a
hectic few days and for those
coming to DC from outside the
area, you’ll likely be jet-lagged
and in unfamiliar settings.
8. Make yourself comfortable.
Pack snacks water, coffee,
whatever you’ll need. Buy
or bring clothing that is both
professional and comfortable
(you will be on your feet all
day). Get a bag that looks
good, but can hold a lot of stuff
comfortably. Figure out the
Metro system and do not rely
on cabs as they are very slow!
http://wmata.com
TipsfromformerPMFs
Set up some interviews ahead of
time with preferred agencies.
Stay the whole time if you can.
Get a place to sleep that’s close to
the convention center so you don’t
have much travel time.
Make sure you have internet
access.
Have plenty of updated resumes
and business cards.
Afewwritingsamplesaregoodbut
you don’t need as many of those.
Talk to everyone, you never know
what agency may have a niche for
you.
Be ready to follow up with thank
you notes for all interviews (ask
for business cards to have contact
info). Email is OK for these.

21
At The Fair:
● Consider the size of the
agency, its mission, and
the experience you hope to
gain. At smaller agencies you
may have the opportunity
to make more immediate
impact and receive leadership
opportunities, but you may
not have as many resources
(training, technology, fellow
PMFs) available to you. At
larger agencies you may have
all the resources you need but
you may not get the immediate
leadership opportunities.
● The morning of the first day
you will hand out a million
resumes - bring plenty!
(There is a Kinkos if you need
to print more, but the lines will
be long). Talk to folks about
the agencies and openings, etc.
Later in the day your cell phone
will start ringing with agencies
trying to interview you that
evening or the following day.
If you can push the interview
to the day after the job fair and
offer to meet at their offices, it
may be helpful (to both them
and you), but go ahead and
schedule it during the job fair
if you can’t.
● Look at the PMF website
and contact offices that have
posted jobs that may interest
you. Many PMFs do this and
have interviews already set up
before they walk into the job
fair. This way you can interview
with those offices, and check
out other offices at the job fair,
all at the same time.
● Try very hard to keep
the first 60-90 minutes in
the morning of the second
interview day open. This time
is the time to hit agencies that
you definitely want to talk to,
but don’t have time to get to on
day one (there will be a few).
For those finalists who don’t
haveasuresenseoftheagencies
they want to pursue, the Job
Fair is a good opportunity to
see who is there and what kinds
of positions are available. Some
agencies only attend the job
fair when they have a specific
role or job that they need filled.
If you are going in with an open
mind as to where you want to
work or what kind of work you
will be doing, you may find
opportunities at the job fair that
you won’t know about if you
don’t attend.
I had a short list of
agencies in my mind, but I did
keep an open mind and I ended
up at an agency I had never
heard of until I walked past
the booth at the job fair. I had
never heard of it, but I really
liked the vibe that they had.
-Steve Morris, PMF Class of 2009,
Small Business Administration
TipsfromformerPMFs
Prepare concise bullets of your
experience that is pertinent to the
positions.
Contact agencies that haven’t
posted on the Projected Positions
System (PPS).
It’s difficult to authentically and
enthusiastically explain your
qualifications for the eighth time
in two days. So, schedule the
important interviews first, and do
everything you can to schedule
interviews before the job fair,
particularly if you’re local.
Bring a water bottle and snacks;
plenty of pens, notebook pages,
resumes, business cards, letters
of recommendation, and writing
samples.
“ “

Again, we would urge you
to figure out which agencies
you’re most interested in
well in advance of the fair.
Contact those agencies and
try to set up interviews before,
during, or after the event itself.
If an agency doesn’t have
information about past PMFs,
do some research yourself and
look up current contacts within
the agency and be in touch with
them.
After the Job Fair: Managing
Job Offers
Managing the job fair is tricky,
but the real work comes in
managing the job offers. We
recommend that you not accept
the first job offer unless you
have taken some time to do
some due diligence about the
job first. Probably the biggest
mistake people make is to get
really excited about getting a
job offer and then accept it right
away.
It’s pretty important to do a lot
of research about the position,
agency, etc. Many people
accept offers without meeting
their new direct supervisor -
unsurprisingly, a lot of them are
unhappy in their positions now.
This seems obvious, but a lot
of PMFs get caught up in the
excitement of the fair and getting
job offers, and neglect to make
sure what the work environment
is really going to be like. Here
are some more helpful tips.
● Don’t be surprised if you
get job offers during the job
fair. Don’t immediately accept
if it isn’t your first choice. Some
agencies will take longer to
make job offers and you don’t
want to accept prematurely and
then have to backtrack when
something you like better comes
along.
● Don’t feel like you have to
accept then and there. Some
folks feel pressure to take jobs
on the spot, before having a
chance to talk to their families
or hear other offers from other
agencies. Think about it like
this - if a person is asking you to
make a life-changing decision in
5 minutes, what will they be like
to work for?
● Ask for some time to
consider the offer and be
considerate of the agency’s
time. If you are offered a job
on Day One but you have more
interviews scheduled on Day
Two, the offering agency would
understand if you requested an
additional day to respond.
● Offer deadlines can
sometimes be extended, but it
is up to the agency. Generally
speaking, most offers are
awarded at the job fair or soon
thereafter so there is no benefit
in holding out for additional
offers if you already have
received multiple offers.
● Give them a time frame
and stick to it. Be respectful of
their desire to acquire as close
to their top choice as possible,
and if you know immediately
or sooner than agreed upon that
you do not intend to accept, let
them know as soon as possible.
● ...but if you really wanted
that one from the outset, go for
it! If you receive an offer (ask
for the offer in writing!) from
an agency you are genuinely
interested in working for, and
you are impressed by their PMF
Program and the type of work
you will be doing there as a
fellow, accept the offer. Then
inform all of the other agencies
you have accepted another offer
so that those opportunities can
be made to other finalists.
● Don’t be shy, call if you
want to learn the results. If
you haven’t heard from the
organization that is your first
choice, then call the POC and
ask if you have made their final
list.
● Get a sense of security
(clearances, that is): If you’re
offered a position that requires
a security clearance that you
don’t have yet, understand that
you may have to wait a year or
more! Definitely get another
job in the meantime, so you can
afford to eat while you wait;
however, you will have up to
one year from being selected to
secure an appointment.

23
SECTION 7:
THE JOB
Follow up after the career fair with all the
agencies that impressed you. Continue being
diligent as long as necessary. If you are not
called back for any interviews, get on the
phone or computer and be in touch with all
the agencies that are still posting positions for
which you are qualified.
“This was the hardest part of the whole
process. It took me five or six months to secure
a position. I was named a finalist in March
and then it was August before I accepted my
position. I went to graduate school right out
of undergrad so I was lacking full time work
experience, which made me very anxious.
I was having phone interviews and either
wasn’t liking the positions I was offered or
wasn’t getting the positions that I did like, so
it was very anxiety provoking. There was a
sense amongst my friends and I that once we
became finalists, the hard work is over, and
that is definitely not the case. I would say that
the hard work is just beginning.
You have to be really patient and not start
stressing until December. It’s hard to not have
a job for that long but federal government
hiring managers are working on a different
timeline than the job seeker. So try to find
some part-time work between grad school and
a PMF position. I know several people who
were offered positions in early summer, but
I was volunteering and asked ‘can I start in
November?’Bepatient.Positionswillopenup!”
- Kaleigh Emerson, PMF Class of 2010, Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services
How long does it take to find a PMF job?
Anywhere from a few days after an interview,
right up to the one year mark, with a majority
of offers coming two to three months after an
interview.
What advice do you have for those who are
having trouble finding a PMF job?
Be open to all different agencies, not just the
most popular/famous ones. It is often better to
be a big fish in a small pond then a small fish
in a big pond.
What if I have trouble finding a job?
● “I was not placed for ten months, during
which time I turned down three offers (and
was not chosen for many more) before
taking my final (dream!) job. Stay positive
and remember that the right job is worth the
wait!” - Jessica Cagley, PMF Class of 2010,
U.S. Agency for International Development
● “My advice to new and future PMFs is:
if you have a place or an issue area you
know you want to work on, and they don’t
have an advertised opening, it may be
because they don’t know about the program.
In addition to what vacancies people put
post, it doesn’t hurt to also research and
explore and interview at other agencies and
then tell them about the PMF program.”
- Bev Godwin, PMF Class 1982, GSA

● “If you are 3-6 months into
the process and not finding a
position, it may be important
to look at whether you are
you being too narrow in your
search. Are you ruling out
jobs that would develop solid
transferrable skills but not in
your preferred agency? Are
you thinking you need the
perfect job from your first
PMF appointment? Budget,
human resources, and project
management skills are portable
from agency to agency and
foundational skills for leaders.
Most PMFs will tell you that the
program is about access. Get
into an agency, focus on skill
development, and maximize
the rotation and leadership
development opportunities
to network, explore, and
position yourself for work in
a preferred agency or office.”
- Jennifer Niggemeier, Director
of Graduate Career Services
Alumni Relations, Gerald R.
Ford School of Public Policy
How do I determine what
location is right for me?
● “The only aspect that people
have to appreciate is that in
government the headquarters
and the field are two different
atmospheres and they have to
appreciate that if they are not
at headquarters, they are in a
different realm. Sometimes at
headquarters, they have higher
pay or higher grade levels than
in the field. Ultimately, if you
really want to work with people,
being in the field is more
rewarding than just being in the
office and talking about policy.”
-Robert
We i s b e r g ,
PMF Class
of 2001,
Department
of Housing
and Urban
Development
● “After having been through
my PMF experience, I would
recommend that people try to
be in DC. That’s where the
most networking opportunities
are, where the training and all
the mentoring takes place. If
you want to go to a regional
office after your two years in
PMF, you can do it, but I would
recommend spending those
two years in DC or at least
at a headquarters office. For
instance, CDC is in Atlanta...
so DC or headquarters.”
- Kaleigh Emerson, PMF Class
2010, Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services
● “The agency’s location wasn’t
as important as the opportunity
to travel was. I asked about this
in my interviews.”
- PMF Class of 1998
● “I hoped to be in DC but I
was willing to take almost any
agency. It is better to get in as a
PMFand learn from your initial
position even if it is not a perfect
fit. You can often transfer either
within your agency or even to
another agency as a PMF.”
- PMF Class of 2011,
● “Location and agency were
a big concern. I ended up in
DC even though I was trying
to find placements elsewhere. “
- PMF Class of 2011
● “For those who do not
particularly want to live in
DC, I still highly recommend
spending the 2 years of the
PMF in Washington. In
agencies with numerous PMFs,
the rotation process, promotion
process, and networking go
more smoothly. Also, the PMF
community is much more
active in DC. These benefits
are invaluable, and can help
you transition out of DC into a
job/location you are interested
in long-term. Rotations out
of DC can also help with that
transition.” - PMF Class of 2008
AfterYou’veNailedDownYour
Appointment
Once you have received
your appointment, the PMF
Coordinator for your agency
will update your status online
and provide a start date for
your Fellowship. You will still
need to clear a background
check and complete your
graduate studies to begin your
position as a PMF Fellow.
Other than that, it looks like
you made it. Well done!

SECTION 8:
WHAT’S NEXT?
After you land the placement and find yourself working as a PMF, be sure to make the most of the experience.
Get to know your colleagues - both your fellow PMFs and the agency employees you meet throughout your
fellowship. Take advantage of the opportunities for training and mentorship, and strive to understand the
strategic plans and goals of the agencies where you gain exposure.
One advisor also cautioned PMFs to “stay humble.” When you are named to such a prestigious position, it’s
easy to fall into a sense of self-importance that, if not handled appropriately, can alienate your new
colleagues.
Remain ambitious, but be respectful of people who have likely spent a significant amount of their career
doing their best to make a difference in a spirit of service to their country. Seek to learn from everyone and
strive to contribute in ways that add value.
So that’s it! That’s all that you need to know about the PMF application process in 25 pages or less. We hope
this guide and the accompanying web-based resources at http://pathtopmf.com were helpful to you.
In fact, would you do us a favor? If you used this guide and it helped you to become a Finalist, would you let
us know? Send an email to andrew@govloop.com and tell your story.
Who knows? Maybe you will be passing along your own hard-won advice to the next generation of PMFs.
We wish you the best in the application process - and sincerely hope that you’re one of them.
“Now in the later years of my career, [being a PMF is] almost like a badge of honor. Many times I’ll
be in a meeting and somebody’s talking about someone they’re going to hire and say “and they’re a
PMF” and I’ll say “well, I was one” and they’ll be like “oh, that’s cool!” So it’s sort of like you’ve been
in an Ivy League school and it tells people something about you that helps you throughout your career.”
- Bev Godwin, PMF Class 1982, General Services Administration
25

SECTION 9:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Robertson Foundation for Government
www.rffg.org
GovLoop - Knowledge Network for Government
www.govloop.com
Official Presidential Management Fellows Program
www.pmf.gov
PMF Listserv
http://listserv.opm.gov/wa.exe?SUBED1=PMFA=1
Government Pathways for Students and Recent Graduates
www.opm.gov/hiringreform/pathways/
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)
http://www.naspaa.org/
USA Jobs
www.usajobs.gov/
PMF Fellows Blog
www.pmfellow.blogspot.com/
Presidential Management Alumni Group
www.pmag.org/pmf_resources.htm
JudithLabiner,BrookingsInstitution:“LookingfortheFutureLeadersofGovernment?Don’tCountonPMI’s”
www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2003/08/22governance-labiner
GrahamDrake,UniversityofKentucky:“EvaluatingthePresidentialManagementFellowsProgram”
www.martin.uky.edu/Capstones_2010/Drake.pdf
Laurel McFarland, NASPAA: “Blazing Graduate Pathways into Federal Service”
www.govexec.com/pdfs/040910ar1.pdf
PATH TO PMF WEBSITE
www.pathtopmf.com

PMF Guide: Managing the Application Process

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