New Resource for PMF Hopefuls

This is a quick update to let you know about a new resource you can take advantage of.  Path to PMF is a new site sponsored by the Robertson Foundation for Government and put together by GovLoop.  In their words:

PathtoPMF.com is an interactive online resource designed to serve as the “go-to” guide for prospective applicants in navigating the PMF process from application to job placement.  The guide shares advice with applicants based on video and podcast interviews with more than 60 current and past PMFs, nearly a dozen career advisors, and several federal agency program coordinators. The site also hosts discussion forums where prospects can ask questions and support one another throughout the application process.

GovLoop has put a ton of work into past PMF guides, and this year the guide has been released on the Path to PMF website.  It's available now and highly recommended.

Path to PMF launch announcement.

PMF Guide

Robertson Foundation for Government

PMF Website

2013 PMF Application and Assessment

Just saw this via the PMF Facebook page:

Mark your calendar! The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Application will launch Monday, November 5, 2012 on USAJOBS.gov and the PMF Website, pmf.gov. The streamlined application will include a three-part online assessment. The online application and assessments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 19, 2012. Anyone that received an advanced degree in the past two years, or current students that will receive an advanced degree by August 31, 2013 are eligible to apply; and a nomination form is no longer required. Please join the PMF email listserv (http://listserv.opm.gov/wa.exe?SUBED1=PMF&A=1) so you can be notified when the PMF Assessment Study Guide is available, and receive application reminders. All the best! -PMF Program Office

So you have between November 5 and November 19, 2012 to complete both the online application AND the assessment.  That's what they mean by streamlined.  It's good to finally get some idea of that.

It's also worth noting the eligibility window for applicants.  If you have completed an advanced degree within the last two years OR you are a current student who will complete an advanced degree by August 31, 2013, you are eligible.  It's good to get confirmation of that as well.  In reality, this means the eligibility window for application to the PMF program is three years.  If you are a current student now, and you will complete a degree by next year's deadline, it looke like you will be able to apply for 2013, 2014, and 2015 before you're out of chances.  Just something to keep in mind.  Not too shabby, I think.

Oh, and one more thing, also via the PMF Facebook page.  If you become a finalist and you otherwise qualify, you can be considered for the Technology Fellows program as well.

What do you all think?  Is this good timing?  What do you think about combining the application and assessment into one step?  This is your open thread for the 2013 PMF application process.  I will probably open another thread to talk about your thoughts on the assessment itself, but I think it's best if we wait until after the application/assessment period closes to discuss particulars.

Announcement

I started this particular blog in February of 2010, while I was still a new PMF, largely to distance the blog from me personally, and to protect the agency from anything that happened on here.  However, I have been blogging about the PMF program since late 2008 and early 2009 as a way to inform and facilitate the kind of discussion I saw as missing from the program.  During this time, I have gladly dedicated myself to providing what information I could about the program for those of you considering it and for those of you who are working your way through it, regardless of the stage (applicant, finalist, current or former fellow).  To date, this blog has been a one man operation, but it's also occasionally time-consuming.  I was only half joking when I made a comment in the past about establishing PMFellow as a sort of institution, a bit like the Dread Pirate Roberts, but...

Today I would like to introduce the newest member of the PMF Info team.  She is a 2012 PMF in the Washington, DC, area and so she's dialed in to the current PMF scene.  She's excited to be a part of the blog.  Watch for her postings over the coming PMF season and be sure to welcome her aboard.  In addition to posting her own thoughts, she is also interested in continuing work on the PMF Job Fair spreadsheet in order to create a more dynamic experience here and provide high quality information to all of you.

So with that, welcome PMFellow2 :)