Hiring Government Programs Currently under Consideration

As you may have notice, during the last couple of years, OPM has been working very hard with agencies to reform the Federal hiring process. On May 11, 2010, President Obama issued a memorandum to agencies, directing them to implement several important changes to the overall hiring approach that have moved the Federal Government to a more streamlined, resume-based system. In addition, President Obama issued executive orders launching the Veterans Employment Initiative and the initiative to employ people with disabilities.

The next step in reforming the Federal hiring process involves students and recent graduates. The Federal Government has had trouble competing with other sectors in recruiting and hiring students and recent graduates. To address these difficulties, President Obama signed Executive Order 13562, entitled "Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates," on December 27, 2010. This executive order establishes the Pathways Programs, consisting of three excepted-service programs tailored to recruit, hire, develop, and retain students and recent graduates. As directed by the executive order, OPM issued a proposed Pathways rule to improve recruiting efforts, offer clear paths to Federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school and to careers for recent graduates, and provides meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their Federal service. The proposed rule includes the following three programs: the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and a reinvigorated Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program.

Proposed Internship Program
Director Berry talks with students at the DC Robotics Regional Competition.
The Internship Program is for current students. It would replace the existing Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). The proposed Internship Program is targeted towards students enrolled in a wide variety of different types of educational institutions, with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school.To find out more about the proposed Internship Program, go to the Program Summaries webpage.

Proposed Recent Graduates Program

This proposed new program would target individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have up to six years after degree or certificate completion). For more information about Federal employment information for veterans, go to OPM's Feds Hire Vets website. Successful applicants would be placed in a dynamic, two-year career development program. To find out more about the proposed Recent Graduates Program, go to the Program Summaries webpage.

Proposed Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

For more than three decades, the PMF Program has been the Federal Government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. Executive Order 13562 expands the eligibility window for applicants, making it more "student friendly" by aligning it with academic calendars and allowing those who have received a qualifying advanced degree within the preceding 2 years to participate. It also directs OPM to set eligibility requirements and minimum qualification standards, and to make changes in order to make the PMF experience more robust and substantive for participants.To find out more about the proposed changes to the PMF Program, go to the Program Summaries webpage.