Become a PMF
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Finding Appointment Opportunities
All PMF appointment opportunities are posted in the PMF Talent Management System (TMS) for Finalists to view. To view the opportunities, Finalists should log into their applicant user account under the Apply Site of the PMF TMS at https://apply.pmf.gov and click on “Appointment Opportunities”. Opportunities can be filtered by agency/sub-agency, virtual/telework option, location, job series, whether or not U.S. citizenship is required, date posted, and keywords found in the position title or in the description of the position within the announcement. To view all opportunities, simply click “Search”, by default. From there, Finalists can browse through available announcements. To learn how to read a job announcement see “How to Read a PMF Appointment Opportunity” posted under Become a PMF/Resources. Only current Finalists can access and view appointment opportunities.
Finalists should monitor the PMF TMS for new appointment opportunities and contact Agency PMF Coordinators for any questions and information around future appointment opportunities. Appointment opportunities are posted throughout the year and based on agency need. A number of appointment opportunities are posted around the time Finalists are selected and officially announced.
The PMF Program Office works with all participating Federal agencies to identify and post their opportunities throughout the year, and encourages agencies to bundle their positions when Finalists are announced as much as possible. Additional appointment opportunities may become available as agencies adjust their budgets and staffing levels at the start of each fiscal year. Agencies determine the position, job series, grade level, promotion potential, target position, and location of each position posted, to name a few. Agency needs will vary from year to year. Finalists should only apply to positions in those geographic locations to which they are willing to relocate. Each appointment opportunity lists the location(s) of the position and may offer a virtual or telework option. Finalists should inquire to the agency regarding relocation expenses, remote work, etc. Opportunities for overseas positions are extremely rare and opportunities for non-U.S. citizens are very limited, if any.
Finalists have the option to receive an automated digest email the day after an appointment opportunity was posted live by an agency. To make sure that Finalists are getting these notifications, Finalists can opt-in to receive automated emails by adjusting their settings on their applicant user account on the Apply Site. Please be sure to add no-reply@portal.pmf.gov to your safe or allowed list to prevent any of the automated emails going to spam.
Finalists are encouraged to be proactive and network to learn more about potential opportunities and others’ experiences, and should also plan to attend a Finalist Informational Webinar hosted by the PMF Program Office and Agency Meet-and-Greets hosted by various participating Federal agencies. Many Finalists have found success by reaching out to current PMFs, PMF Alumni, Agency PMF Coordinators, or other contacts within Federal agencies in which they are interested to learn more about finding a PMF position. There are also a number of PMF social media groups where Finalists may reach out to gain valuable perspective from current Fellows and alumni; Finalists can search for these online.
Applying
Finalists are encouraged to apply to any and all positions for which they have an interest.
Finalists must apply via the “Apply Now” button in the upper right-hand corner of the Announcement Details when viewing the PMF appointment opportunity on the Apply Site of the PMF TMS. This will allow Finalists to upload a resume and a message for consideration/cover letter (maximum 2,000 characters) to the hiring agency.
In addition to applying through the PMF TMS, job announcements may carry additional application instructions under the section “How to Apply”. Some agencies require applicants to also email resumes, cover letters, and other documents to an agency contact. This is a good opportunity to send a customized resume that speaks more directly to the desired skills and qualifications specified in the announcement. Agencies may also require Finalists to apply via a separate Talent Acquisition System (e.g., a link to an announcement to apply using USAJOBS). When sending separate applications through other systems or channels, Finalists must still submit an application through the "Apply Now" feature on the PMF TMS. Agencies are able to manage applicants (Finalists who apply to their announcement) and record initial appointments in the PMF TMS.
After the application has been submitted through the Apply Now feature, the Finalist will receive an email confirming submission and see what PMF appointment opportunities he/she applied to on the applicant user account on the Apply Site. At that point, the Finalist should wait for further instruction from the hiring agency on next steps. Agencies are able to update the Finalist's application status and Finalists are able to retract (as in withdraw) their application via the PMF TMS.
Before applying to a PMF appointment opportunity, Finalists will be given the opportunity to update their transcripts (both advanced and undergraduate degrees), review the “How to Apply” instructions in the announcement, submit a resume, and include a message of consideration/cover letter with their submission (if the agency requires such). See more information about updating documents under the Preparations section. Finalists can find additional Apply Now guidance can be found under the "Resources" section on the Apply Site.
During the Finalists’ 12 months of appointment eligibility, Agency PMF Coordinators gain access to Finalist records, including Finalists’ names, email addresses, information on degrees, skills, and the default resume, transcripts, and any veterans’ preference documents submitted at the time of the application. Agencies do not have access to your assessment scores or supporting documentation for reasonable accommodation requests.
All Finalists, regardless of current degree or employment status, may apply to positions at any time during their 12-month eligibility window. It is recommended to apply early, as processing time and background checks/security clearance timelines may vary. Current graduate students who have not completed their advanced degree requirements may interview and secure a tentative offer, but such Finalists may not be eligible to onboard until their advanced degree requirements are completed.
Once you accept an appointment offer with a Federal agency and that agency records your appointment in the PMF TMS, your status changes from “Finalist” to “Fellow.” But you are not considered a Fellow until you onboard and start your fellowship. Your application status to any other appointment opportunities you may have applied to will be automatically updated to appear as "Appointed Elsewhere".
All initial appointment offers are tentative, contingent on the Finalist favorably completing a background investigation. Once the agency is ready, it will provide the Finalist with a final appointment offer. Finalists should keep in mind the time and costs associated to offers and onboarding. If a Finalist wishes to continue interviewing for other appointment opportunities and accepts an offer from a different agency, they should notify the previous agency as soon as possible. Any previous recording of an appointment may need to be canceled in order for the other agency to make an offer and record acceptance in the PMF TMS.
The PMF Program Office is constantly working with Federal agencies to identify appointment opportunities and follow up with closed opportunities. Automated emails are built into the PMF TMS to remind agencies to reconcile appointment opportunities. Due to the large volume of interest, it may take several weeks for agencies to reconcile their opportunities. Finalists can reach out to the Agency Contact and/or Agency PMF Coordinator associated to an appointment opportunity for any updates. Finalists are also asked to be patient.
Agency PMF Coordinators
Each participating Federal agency identifies an Agency PMF Coordinator who manages the PMF Program at the agency level and who serves as a liaison between the agency and the PMF Program Office; not all Federal agencies participate in the PMF Program. If you do not see an Agency PMF Coordinator for a sub-agency, contact the Agency PMF Coordinator at the agency (headquarters) level. The PMF Program is intended for Federal agencies within the Executive Branch; however, we do allow participation by other Federal agencies in the Legislative or Judicial Branches to participate. Those agencies that participate can fluctuate throughout the year. If you do not see a particular agency you are interested in, it presently does not participate.
Finalists should view Coordinators as a resource to learn more about PMF opportunities within that agency and as a guide through the application and hiring process with that agency. Finalists are encouraged to connect with Coordinators and direct agency or job-specific questions to them.
To view the current List of Agency PMF Coordinators, click on the following link: https://apply.pmf.gov/coordinators.aspx. You may want to bookmark this webpage for future reference. Participating Federal agencies and Agency PMF Coordinators change frequently, and you should check often for any updates.
In addition to reaching out to Agency PMF Coordinators, Finalists can learn more about Federal agencies that participate in the PMF Program, and the scope of the work and mission of those agencies, by visiting their agency profile page. The agency profile pages include agency information, resources, events, any live appointment or training opportunities, and the contact information for all Agency PMF Coordinators; the content is maintained by the Agency PMF Coordinator. To find these agency profile pages, log in to the Apply Site of the PMF TMS and click on “Explore”. Finalists can also sort the agency profile pages to only show those with active PMF appointment opportunities and/or recently updated.
Visit the next section to view information on Preparations.
UPDATED: 08-08-2023