Become a PMF
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
NOTE: Most of these FAQs pertain to the PMF
Class of 2012 and do not necessarily represent the PMF Class of
2013 cycle. As a result of new regulations and program guidance,
many of these FAQs will be updated.
- I have already completed my advance
degree and heard about the PMF Program. Can I still
apply? What about clerkships or Fulbright
scholarships?
- Is there a minimum grade point
average required to be selected as a
Finalist?
- Are only certain advanced degrees
considered for the PMF Program (e.g., MPA,
MSW)?
- Does the Program accept individuals
with disabilities?
- I am a non-U.S. Citizen who wishes to apply to
the PMF Program, but I do not have a Social Security Number to use
for the application. How can I apply?
- Should applicants submit a letter of
recommendation when applying?
- I lost my printed copy of the PMF
Nomination Form. How do I obtain another
copy?
- During the application process,
Application Manager indicates I need to submit a "Qualifications
(Other)" document. What is the "Qualifications (Other)" document
and where can I obtain one?
- How can I check the status of my
application and nomination?
- I have submitted my resume and
on-line questionnaire, and I have received my acknowledgement
email, but Application Manager says my application is incomplete,
and I can only submit once. Have I done something
wrong?
- My Nomination Official said I was
nominated, but my status in Application Manager has not changed
and/or I received a notice saying I was not nominated. What should
I or the Nomination Official do now?
- I realized after I submitted my
application and resume there was a mistake on my resume. Can I
submit another application with a corrected
resume?
- My "My USAJOBS" account shows my
resume has been received for the PMF Program's announcement, but
Application Manager shows my application package status is
incomplete. Which one is correct?
- How many applicants apply each year
and out of that number, how many are selected as
Finalists?
- How do Finalists learn about
possible Federal Agency PMF hiring opportunities?
Where are the positions located?
- How do 2012 Finalists update their
on-line resumes for agency hiring officials to
obtain?
- Are applicants who are selected as
Finalists guaranteed a Federal job?
- Do Federal Agencies reimburse PMFs
for their relocation costs upon appointment?
- Do Federal Agencies provide Student
Loan Repayment for Fellows?
- After applying and being nominated
into the PMF Program, I just realized I will not complete or
successfully defend my thesis or dissertation before the August
31st deadline, what happens to my eligibility? What happens if I'm
a Finalist in the same situation?
- I am a semi-finalist and scheduled
for the in-person phase of the assessment process. Who do I contact
if I lost my scheduling notice and/or need to
reschedule?
- My school wants a copy of my
application as part of their nomination process. How do I do
that?
- In regards to the in-person
assessment, what should Femi-Finalists do for inclement weather
and/or emergencies impacting the assessment center
location?
- Can Finalists search for a PMF
appointment via USAJOBS, find positions on USAJOBS and apply as a
Finalist, or find a position on USAJOBS and contact the Human
Resources office to make the position a PMF
appointment?
- I am a veteran student interested in
applying to the PMF Program. How do I claim veterans' preference
and provide supporting documentation?
1. I have
already completed my advance degree and heard about the PMF
Program. Can I still apply? What about clerkships or Fulbright
scholarships?
The new Pathways regulations impacting the PMF Program have
expanded the eligibility for applying to the PMF Program. Please
review the Eligibility section for more
information.
Participating in a clerkship or Fulbright scholarship does not
meet the eligibility requirements. However, you may explore other
Federal opportunities by going to www.usajobs.gov .
2. Is
there a minimum grade point average required to be selected as a
Finalist?
No. There is no minimum grade point average required to be
selected as a Finalist.
3. Are
only certain advanced degrees considered for the PMF Program (e.g.,
MPA, MSW)?
No. Graduate students from all academic disciplines who meet
eligibility requirements may apply to the PMF Program.
Many applicants have not fully completed their advanced degree
requirements when they apply for the Program. However, an agency
may not appoint a Finalist as a Fellow (bring onboard) until he/she
has met all advanced degree requirements, including all course
work, final papers, exams, and any required thesis or dissertation.
If a Finalist does not complete all degree requirements by
August 31 of the year in which the Finalist was selected, the
Finalist's status is terminated.
4. Does
the Program accept individuals with disabilities?
Yes. The United States Government does not discriminate in
employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity,
marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership
in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.
5. I am
a non-U.S. Citizen who wishes to apply to the PMF Program, but I do
not have a Social Security Number to use for the application. How
can I apply?
You must be eligible to be legally employed in the United
States. You will need to contact the PMF Program Office by sending
an email to pmfapplication@opm.gov to
request a temporary 9-digit number to use for the Social Security
Number field during the application process. Please refer to the
Citizenship section of the website for additional details for
non-U.S. citizens.
6. Should
applicants submit a letter of recommendation when
applying?
No. Do not submit any letters of
recommendation. The PMF Program does not consider letters of
recommendation or endorsements as part of its application and
assessment processes.
7. I do
not know what my graduate school's FAFSA School Code is. How do I
find it
The "Federal Title IV School Code" is used by the U.S.
Department of Education to associate schools accepting financial
aid and serves as a means in identifying accredited institutions.
The codes can be found at the Federal Student Aid website at
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/schoolSearch?locale=en_En , from your school's Financial Aid Office, by calling
1-800-4-FED-AID, or at any public library. If your graduate school
is located outside the United States and you cannot find a School
Code, enter "999999" (six nines).
NOTE: When searching for foreign schools at the Federal Student
Aid website, select "Foreign Country" in the "State" drop-down
menu; you may need to search for the parent college/university. The
PMF Program Office will review all such applicants and contact them
if documentation from a credential evaluation service is required.
(See Education Completed Outside of the
United States section.)
8. During
the application process, Application Manager indicates I need to
submit a "Qualifications (Other)" document. What is the
"Qualifications (Other)" document and where can I obtain
one?
Applicants to the Class of 2013 application can ignore this FAQ.
The "Qualifications" document identified by Application Manager (
applicationmanager.gov ) is the PMF Nomination Form (OPM Form 1300), this should not
be confused with the "Assessment Questionnaire" referenced in the
job opportunity announcement. NOTE: The category type of
"Qualifications" may change to "Other" after planned systems
upgrades take effect for Application Manager in October 2011.
Applicants can obtain a pre-populated PMF Nomination Form by
clicking the link near the bottom of the "Upload Documents" page in
Application Manager prior to the job announcement closing.
Applicants are asked to follow the "How to Apply" instructions in
the announcement to obtain this form. Applicants should have Adobe
Acrobat Reader version 6.0 or higher to open and print this form;
the use of Adobe Acrobat is what pre-populates the form with your
application information. NOTE: Applicants should ignore any
reference to uploading a "Qualifications (Other)" Document Type
under the "Upload Documents" section of Application Manager.
If you did not obtain a pre-populated form, a blank version of
the form is available in the Application Process section.
Instructions on how to locate the appropriate Federal Title IV
School Code can also be found in the FAQ No. 7 above. The form must
be completed and given to your Nomination Official prior to any
nomination deadlines established by your school. The blank form is
not available after the nomination deadline.
9. How can
I check the status of my application and nomination?
During the application process, you were asked to either create
an Application Manager ( applicationmanager.gov ) account or log into an existing Application Manager account.
Application Manager allows you to view your submitted resume,
questionnaire responses, supporting documents for veterans'
preference (if applicable), and check the status of the PMF
Nomination Form. You must use the Application Manager
account to check your status. The PMF Program Office staff cannot
access or check on the status of applicants during the application
and nomination processes. Any application, nomination,
assessment, and selection questions should be sent via email to pmfapplication@opm.gov.
Inquiries sent to the PMF Program Office will be redirected to the
pmfapplication@opm.gov
address.
NOTE: When checking the status of your application, under
the "Checklist" tab in Application Manager, references to the
"Written Test" represents the "assessment process" and should be
ignored during the application process; "Veterans Documentation" is
only required from those applicants claiming veterans'
preference; and, "Qualifications (Other)" is synonymous with "PMF
Nomination Form" as explained above. Your application is not
complete until all required documents are submitted.
The category type of "Qualifications" may change to
"Other" after planned systems upgrades take affect for Application
Manager in October 2011.
If a Nomination Official finds the applicant qualified for
nomination and formally nominates by submission of the signed PMF
Nomination Form, the applicant's "Qualifications (Other)" status in
Application Manager will change from "Incomplete - missing required
documents" to "Awaiting Results - You will be notified". All
nominations are reviewed before official notification is sent to
all applicants on their nomination status via email. Submission of
a nomination may take a few business days before it is associated
with an applicant's record. If an applicant's status does not
change, he/she may not have been nominated. Applicants should
consult their Nomination Official for any questions.
10. I
have submitted my resume and on-line questionnaire, and I have
received my acknowledgement email, but Application Manager says my
application is incomplete, and I can only submit once. Have I done
something wrong?
Applicants to the Class of 2013 application can ignore this FAQ.
Until such time as your school's Nomination Official submits your
PMF Nomination Form (OPM Form 1300), the "Application Package
Status" screen in Application Manager ( applicationmanager.gov ) will indicate your application is incomplete. Please allow a
few business days after the nomination deadline before checking to
see if your application package status has changed from
"Incomplete" to "Complete". You will be informed via email whether
or not you were nominated (approximately 3-4 weeks after the
nomination deadline). Please review the rest of these FAQs for
additional information. NOTE: The PMF Program uses Application
Manager for the PMF application process. Do NOT rely on "My
USAJOBS" to inform you that your application is complete.
11. My
Nomination Official said I was nominated, but my status in
Application Manager has not changed and/or I received a notice
saying I was not nominated. What should I or the Nomination
Official do now?
Applicants to the Class of 2013 application can ignore
this FAQ. If a Nomination Official found an applicant qualified,
decides to nominate, fills out the PMF Nomination Form, and faxes
the form by the nomination deadline, the fax server may take
several business days to associate the PMF Nomination Form to the
applicant's record. If an applicant's status does not change and/or
the applicant receives a notice stating he/she was not nominated
after the nomination deadline, he/she should consult with their
Nomination Official.
If the Nomination Official has documented proof of the fax
transmission (e.g., a fax transmission confirmation receipt) as
well as the original completed PMF Nomination Form, the Nomination
Official should send copies of both via an email to pmfapplication@opm.gov,
stating such proof and requesting the applicant's nomination status
to be changed, or request a separate dedicated fax number to fax
copies to. Applicants and Nomination Officials will have one week
from notices going out to provide such documentation when a
nomination is in question.
12. I
realized after I submitted my application and resume there was a
mistake on my resume. Can I submit another application with a
corrected resume?
Once you have submitted your resume, completed the application
and on-line assessment, and submitted your application, you cannot
submit another on-line application or an updated resume. If
ultimately selected as a Finalist, you apply for PMF appointment
opportunities and submit an updated resume directly to the
advertising agency.
13. My
"My USAJOBS" account shows my resume has been received for the PMF
Program's job announcement, but Application Manager shows my
application package status is incomplete. Which one is
correct?
Applicants to the Class of 2013 application can ignore this FAQ.
Application Manager ( applicationmanager.gov ) will provide you with a detailed listing of what items have
been submitted as part of your application package for the PMF
Program. Applicants should utilize Application Manager to check the
status of their application. During the applicant filing period,
you must ensure your on-line questionnaire and resume are submitted
by the application deadline. Should your school decide to nominate
you for the PMF Program, your PMF Nomination Form (OPM Form 1300)
must be submitted by your Nomination Official via fax by the
nomination deadline. A complete application will include a resume,
on-line assessment questionnaire, and qualifications (other)
document (i.e., the PMF Nomination Form). Individuals claiming
veterans' preference should also submit their documentation by the
nomination deadline. Applicants are strongly encouraged to monitor
their Application Manager "Application Package Status" screen
during the application and nomination periods. The
category type of "Qualifications" may change to "Other" after
planned systems upgrades take affect for Application Manager in
October 2011.
NOTE: When checking the status of your application, under
the "Checklist" tab in Application Manager, references to the
"Written Test" is synonymous with "assessment process" and should
be ignored during the application process; "Veterans Documentation"
is only required from those applicants claiming veterans'
preference; and, "Qualifications (Other)" represents the "PMF
Nomination Form" as explained above. Your application is not
complete until all required documents are submitted.
14. How
many applicants apply each year and out of that number, how many
are selected as Finalists?
Over the years, the PMF Program has seen an increase in the
number of applicants. Over the past few years, the number of
applicants has been approximately 9,000, and the number of
Finalists has averaged 780. For the past few years, applicants have
averaged a 1 in 10 chance of becoming a PMF; approximately 60% of
Finalists obtain appointments as Fellows.
15. How
do Finalists learn about possible Federal Agency PMF hiring
opportunities? Where are the positions located?
PMF positions are posted to an on-line job bank, the PMF Projected Positions
System (PPS), on the PMF website throughout the year. In
addition, a Job Fair conducted exclusively for Finalists is held in
the Washington, DC metro area shortly after Finalists are notified.
Federal agency representatives attend the Job Fair and discuss
their PMF hiring opportunities with Finalists who attend. Finalists
do not have to attend the Job Fair to secure a PMF appointment, but
the Job Fair is an excellent source of Federal agency contacts for
Finalists. Many agencies will review resumes and contact Finalists
directly to arrange phone interviews, schedule interviews during
the Job Fair, and/or to make appointment offers. Agencies are not
required to post positions in the PPS and not all agencies
participate at the Job Fair.
Most PMF appointments are located in the Washington, DC metro
area. Agencies will post available positions in the geographic
locations they have a need to fill. Finalists will be able to
search for available positions by geographic location and agencies
will be able to search Finalist resumes by geographic employment
preference.
Though the bulk of PMF appointments are a result of the Job
Fair, agencies post available positions throughout the year.
Typically a boost in the number of positions occurs shortly after
the beginning of a fiscal year (October) when agencies adjust their
staffing and budget forecasts.
16. How do
2012 Finalists update their on-line resumes for agency hiring
officials to obtain?
Instructions for 2012 Finalists to submit updated resumes can be
found in the Find a
Job section. The PMF website does not communicate directly with
USAJOBS to query updated on-line resumes, so 2012 Finalists must
submit updated resumes according to the instructions in the Find a
Job section. When an authorized agency user logs into the PMF
website to conduct a search on the 2012 Finalist' pool and selects
a specific resume, the system will pull the latest version of the
2012 Finalists' on-line resume from a depository. The depository is
first populated with the initial resume the applicant submitted
during the application period. Once a 2012 Finalist submits an
updated resume, it may take a few business days before it is
available to the agencies. Please note the orientation on how you
fax your resume. The fax server scans your resume exactly as it is
received. Some 2012 Finalists fax their resumes with the bottom of
the page going through the machine first and we are unable to
rotate them in the automated system. Current 2012 Finalists can
check the status of their updated resume by looking in their
Application Manager account.
17. Are
applicants who are selected as Finalists guaranteed a Federal
job?
No. Being selected as a Finalist grants eligibility for a PMF
appointment by a participating Federal Agency, but Finalists are
not guaranteed a Federal job. Finalists have up to one year from
their selection as Finalists to obtain a fellowship appointment.
After the one year deadline, Finalists can use USAJOBS to
competitively apply for Federal positions ( www.usajobs.gov ), outside of the PMF Program.
18. Do Federal
Agencies reimburse PMFs for their relocation costs upon
appointment?
Each Federal agency determines whether it will pay relocation
costs. Finalists should inquire with participating agencies before
accepting an appointment offer.
19. Do Federal
Agencies provide Student Loan Repayment or Loan Forgiveness for
Fellows?
Federal agencies are authorized to repay student loans under the
Federal Student Loan Repayment Program, as provided for in part 537
of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. The amount paid by the
agency is subject to the following maximum limits: (1) $10,000 per
employee per calendar year, and (2) a total of $60,000 per
employee. Presidential Management Fellows are eligible to receive
student loan repayments; however, these programs are
agency-specific. Finalists should ask the hiring agency if
it participates in this program when interviewing for appointments.
Additional information about the Federal Student Loan Repayment
Program can be found at www.opm.gov/oca/pay/StudentLoan/ . Information
about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness can be found at
studentaid.ed.gov
.
20. After applying and being nominated into
the PMF Program, I just realized I will not complete or
successfully defend my thesis or dissertation before the August
31st deadline, what happens to my eligibility?
Applicants to the Class of 2013 application can ignore
this FAQ. You may be eligible to reapply based on the same advanced
degree if you withdraw from further consideration
before you take the on-line assessment. Send your
request via email to
pmfapplication@opm.gov stating your
situation, along with your contact information, and a staff member
will contact you. If you are a Finalist in the same
situation, you will need to send an email to the PMF Program Office
at pmf@opm.gov, explaining the
situation and also provide supporting documentation from the school
(from a school official on school letterhead) supporting your
situation. Upon receipt, the PMF Program Office will review and
contact you for any additional questions before facilitating a
decision from OPM.
21. I am a
semi-finalist and scheduled for the in-person phase of the
assessment process. Who do I contact if I lost my scheduling notice
and/or need to reschedule?
Applicants to the Class of 2013 application can ignore
this FAQ. Semi-finalists should contact OPM's Nationwide Testing
Contact Center at 866-458-3838 (toll-free) or by email at
FedTest@opm.gov to
obtain a copy of their Test Admission Notice and/or to reschedule.
The Contact Center's business hours are Monday-Friday 7:00 AM -
7:00 PM (Eastern Time). Please do not contact the
PMF Program Office directly. If a semi-finalist needs to
reschedule, he/she will be provided an alternative date and time
based on availability on the assessment center location's schedule.
If the original location cannot be accommodated, a semi-finalist
may be able to reschedule to the Washington, DC, location if space
is available and at their expense. If the semi-finalist
is unable to participate, his/her in-person assessment will not be
scored and will lose further
consideration.
22. My school
wants a copy of my application as part of their nomination process.
How do I do this?
Applicants to the Class of 2013 application can ignore
this FAQ. You have the ability to select the "View/Print My
Answers" option in your Application Manager account, which will
only display your answers to the Questionnaire. There is no single
document where you can print you full "application" to submit to
schools. Schools may not be familiar with the application process
when making such requests.
23. In regards
to the in-person assessment, what should Semi-Finalists do for
inclement weather and/or emergencies impacting the assessment
center location?
If the Federal Government "closes" (with no option for
unscheduled leave/telework) in the city where the in-person
assessment is being held, the assessment center will be cancelled
and Semi-Finalists will need to reschedule for another date. If the
Federal Government announces "unscheduled leave/unscheduled
telework" for a specific city, the scheduled assessments for that
city will continue since assessments cannot be conducted virtually.
If the Federal Government announces a "delayed arrival" in the city
where the assessment is being held, Semi-Finalists should do their
best (as is reasonable/safe) to report to the assessment site on
time. And if the Federal Government announces an "early departure"
in any of the cities, the assessment center's Site Coordinator will
make appropriate announcements. Assessment Center Site Coordinators
will make the call for Semi-Finalists who arrive late, as to
whether the Semi-Finalist can be assessed that day or will need to
be rescheduled for a later date. Every effort will be made to
accommodate Semi-Finalists. The PMF Program Office will post any
changes to an assessment center's location based on inclement
weather and/or emergencies to the News & Events section on this
site as soon as practical.
24. Can
Finalists search for a PMF appointment via USAJOBS, find positions
on USAJOBS and apply as a Finalist, or find a position on USAJOBS
and contact the Human Resources office to make the position a PMF
appointment?
Applicants to the Class of 2013 application can ignore
this FAQ. Finalists are appointed as PMFs (Fellows) using the
Schedule A Hiring Authority, in the excepted service. Finalists
should continually check the Projected Positions System (PPS),
found under the Become A PMF\Find a Job\Job Search section,
which is used by participating agencies to post available positions
specifically targeting Finalists. Not all agencies use the PPS, so
Finalists may want to contact Agency PMF Coordinators
directly.
Most positions advertised on USAJOBS are for the
competitive service; meaning some advertised positions are open to
current Federal employees or those who have obtained career status,
or agencies will open the position to "all sources" which means the
general public. Agencies rarely use USAJOBS to advertise for PMF
appointments. However, Finalists may contact the agency Human
Resources office and inquire if the position can be made into a PMF
appointment. When searching for positions on USAJOBS,
Finalists would typically answer "No" to the "Applicant
Eligibility" question stating "Are you…a person with
non-competitive appointment eligibility?" The intent for this
question is when agencies advertise such positions using "other"
appointing authorities such as people with disabilities, veterans,
etc. If a PMF Finalist accepts such an advertised position based on
a different hiring authority, he/she would NOT be appointed in the
PMF Program and would lose further consideration. Instead, we
recommend that Finalists who pursue applying for positions on
USAJOBS to indicate in their cover letter and/or resume that he/she
is a Finalist in the Presidential Management Fellows Program and
may be eligible for appointment in the excepted service under the
Schedule A Hiring Authority. This may prompt the HR Office to
notice your eligibility to be appointed as a PMF for the position
advertised.
Though a large number of PMF appointments result from
the PMF Job Fair, positions are added to the PPS throughout the
year. Finalists have 1-year to obtain an appointment. Typically an
increase in the number of advertised positions takes place during a
new fiscal year (after October 1) when agencies adjust their
staffing and budget forecasts.
25. I am a
veteran student interested in applying to the PMF Program. How do I
claim veterans' preference and provide supporting
documentation?
During the application process, applicants are asked
whether or not they are claiming veterans' preference. If veterans'
preference does not apply, the applicant should check the box "No
Preference Claim" and ignore any reference to submitting supporting
documentation. For those applicants who do claim veterans'
preference, check the appropriate box and follow the instructions
on how to submit supporting documentation. The most common document
is the veteran's DD-214, Report of Separation. If the veteran does
not have a copy of their DD-214, follow the instructions found
under the Become A PMF\Eligibility\Veterans'
Preference section. The SF 15, Application for 10-Point
Veterans Preference, can be found under the Become A
PMF\Application Process section. The veteran should submit any
all documentation they have to support their claim. Applicants
claiming veterans' preference will have up to 30-days beyond the
application's closing date to submit any outstanding supporting
documentation.
UPDATED: 09-20-2012, 12:50 PM