Are you a student or recent graduate eager to kickstart your career in public service? The Federal Government’s Pathways Program could be your gateway to a fulfilling career. In this blog post, we’ll talk about the hiring timeline for The Pathways Programs and a few key considerations on how to use the USAJobs Federal hiring platform.
What is the Pathways Program?
The Pathways Program is a federal initiative designed to attract students and recent graduates into public service. It offers clear paths to internships, fellowships, and full-time positions within various federal agencies. The program is divided into three main components:
- Internship Program: Designed for current students at high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Interns gain valuable work experience while completing their education, with the potential to convert into a permanent position after graduation.
- Hiring Timeline: Internship opportunities can be posted throughout the year, but the majority tend to be posted in the fall (August to November) for spring internships and in the spring (February to April) for summer internships.
- Recent Graduates Program: Aimed at individuals who have recently completed a qualifying degree or certificate program. This program provides career development opportunities, mentorship, and the possibility of converting to a permanent position after the program ends.
- Hiring Timeline: Recent Graduates Program positions are also posted year-round, but the best time to apply is typically around graduation cycles—late spring (April to June) and late fall (November to December).
- Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program: The PMF program is a highly competitive leadership development program for individuals who have completed an advanced degree (master’s, law, or doctorate) within the past two years. Fellows are placed in federal agencies and receive extensive training, networking opportunities, and mentoring.
- Hiring Timeline: The PMF Program has a specific application window that typically opens once a year in the fall, usually around September or October. The application period lasts for about 2-3 weeks.
How do you find a Pathways Program Position?
Find opportunity on USAJobs: All Pathways Program positions are posted on USAJobs, the federal government’s official job site. So, the first step is to Create your USAJobs Account and then create your profile.
Build your Federal Resume: Build your profile with one or more versions of a detailed Federal Resume! Remember, Federal Resumes are different from standard 1 – 2 page resumes used in other sectors – they are typically much longer and more detailed than what you may be used to supplying when applying for a job. Use the Federal Resume Builder in USAJobs to ensure you include all the necessary information required in a Federal Resume. Career Consultants at the Fleishman Career Center are here to help you build out your federal resume! Set up an appointment here. You can save different versions of your resume based on the types of roles you are interested in.
Search for positions and create “alerts” for new postings: You can search specifically for Pathways opportunities by using keywords like “Pathways,” “Internship Program,” or “Recent Graduates Program.” The key here is to set up alerts for specific Pathways searches when you create your USAJobs Account. This way, you’ll be notified as soon as new positions are posted. ***Special note*** It’s important to apply to positions as soon as they become available. Application windows are very short and close within a few days (especially when it has a capped number of applications accepted).
Save This Search!
Note that some positions may require additional documents (transcripts, writing samples, etc,) and even formal assessments to be considered for the position! It’s important to start early and have your alerts and federal resume(s) set up in advance in order to avoid missing those short application windows!
Looking for more resources and support! Check out the GoGovernment website that was specifically created to streamline the hiring process in the federal government. In fact, GoGovernment recently launched the Federal Internship Finder tool that houses internships across the Federal Government.
Looking for one-on-one support with your Federal career search process? Schedule an appointment with a career consultant here.
