‘
s
Guide to
thePMF Job Fair
EVERY SPRING, OPM ANNOUNCES A LIST OF THOSE CANDIDATES WHO PASSED THE
INITIAL COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND ARE
SELECTED AS PMF FINALISTS. Being selected
as a PMF finalist allows you to compete for open
PMF positions. As a finalist, you can either apply
for open positions posted online through the PMF
website, or apply and interview for positions at
the Annual PMF Finalists Job Fair.
•
JOB FAIR TIPS & EXPECTATIONS INSIDE.
Learn how to prepare, what to expect and
how to negotiate.
•
Learn how to tactically schedule your
interviews and what questions you should be
asking.
•
Manage your job offers and negotiate your
position.
Table of Contents
• Guide to the PMF Job Fair
3
• Attending the Job Fair
4
• Job Fair Tips
5
• Get Ready
6
• Scheduling Interviews
7
• At the Job Fair
8
• In Your Interviews
9
• Managing Job Offers
11
• Negotiating Effectively
12
• The Unthinkable
13
• Other Advice
14
• For the Lawyers
15
• Welcome to the Nation’s Capitol
16
Page 2
Guide to the
PMF Job Fair
Congratulations!
If you’re reading this document, you made it to the Finalist stage of the Presidential Management
Fellows (PMF) Program – no small accomplishment!
GovLoop has partnered with a cohort of Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) at the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) to produce this “Guide to the PMF Job Fair.” The guide was created to offer a wealth of advice and insight from current and former PMFs – whether or not to attend,
how to prepare, questions to ask, and how to negotiate once you’ve found placement as a PMF.
We’re working to produce a more comprehensive
guide (which will cover the entire program from
application to converting), but we wanted to share
this section of the document in time for the Job
Fair.
Thank you to all of the PMFs past and present
from across the government who helped contribute to this guide. We will be recognizing all of you
for your contributions in the full guide, but your
outstanding work is worthy of a shout-out here!
We hope this guide will help you on your journey
to becoming a PMF.
Tarryn Reddy
Fellow, GovLoop Bearing the Presidential moniker, the PMF
Program is a flagship leadership development program at the entry level for advanced degree candidates. It was created
more than three decades ago by Executive
Order and has gone through many changes
over the years. The Program attracts and
selects the best candidates possible, but is
really designed with a more narrow focus developing a cadre of potential government
leaders. It provides some sustenance during
the first years of employment and encourages development of leadership capabilities.
The PMF Program inculcates a lasting bond
as well as a spirit of public service, ultimately encouraging and leading to a career in
the government.
Kevin Carter
PMF, Office of Personnel Management
P.S. Be sure to follow the conversation about the PMF Job Fair online at GovLoop.com and on
Twitter through hashtag #PMFJobFair
Page 3
Attending the Job Fair
Every spring, OPM announces a list of those candidates who passed the initial
competitive process and are selected as PMF finalists. Being selected as a PMF
finalist allows you to compete for open PMF positions. As a finalist, you can either apply for open positions posted online through the PMF website, or apply and interview
for positions at the Annual PMF Finalists Job Fair. This section addresses questions
finalists might have about finding placement or what to do at the job fair.
Fast Facts: Class of 2011*
•850 students chosen as PMF Finalists.
•Only 1 in 10 applicants to the PMF program are selected as finalists.
•Students from 210 different colleges and universities were selected as PMF finalists.
•18 percent of Finalists had veteran status.
•George Washington University had the most Finalists with veteran status.
•34 percent of Finalists studied Law (JD or other law degree).
Schools With Most 2011 Finalists
1. George Washington University
2. Georgetown University
3. Johns Hopkins University
4. Harvard University
5. Columbia University
6. American University
7. University of Michigan
8. University of Chicago
9. Duke University
10.University of California Berkeley
Most Popular Degrees for 2011 Finalists
1. Law
2. Public Affairs/Policy
3. International Studies/Affairs/Development
4. Public Administration
5. Tie: Business Management/Administration and
Environmental Science/Studies
* Data provided by the website pmfellow.blogspot.com
Page 4
!
Job Fair Tips
The Job Fair is a great opportunity to see what
types of jobs and agencies are out there –
don’t miss it!
Here’s why:
•
•
A lot of hiring decisions are made either at the
You may find out about an agency or a job
job fair or based on interviews at the job fair. It is
that you hadn’t previously considered, but
possible to get hired outside the job fair, but if it’s at
ends up being a good fit. Many agencies also
all possible for you to go, you’ll be in a better position
have PMFs working their booths, so it’s a good
than if you hadn’t.
opportunity to talk to them and find out what it’s
like to be a PMF in their office and agency.
•
The fair is an awesome opportunity to improve
•
your interview skills (interview after interview for
If you are hoping for a job in DC, it’s good
several days straight really cranks up your game a
to attend the job fair because there might
notch or two), and it makes for fun story-telling down
be opportunities to tour facilities and meet
the line.
employees. You never know – you might like
an agency until you see where you’ll work…and
•
Some interviewers will let you interview at their
you just might want to reconsider based on your
offices, which helps avoid the craziness and rush
future digs (or dive).
of the job fair. If you can, we recommend scheduling
Before the Job Fair
your flight so that you can be in DC, and available for
interviews either the day before or the day after the
job fair.
•
Dress appropriately, show up on time, be courteous,
send thank you emails, etc. If you wish to go be-
The fair is an excellent opportunity to meet
people. Never again will that many PMFs from your
cohort be in the same place at the same time and it
yond that, think about why you were selected for the
fellowship. Explain that to the interviewer. Remember, some of the interviewers know nothing about
will give you the chance to make some connections
that could be useful down the road.
PMFs (and some know a lot). Think about who the
Even if you’re not looking for a position in DC;
advanced degrees, global experience, interested
other finalists are: generally early-career, bright,
•
Do your best to NOT stand out for bad behavior!
in public service to some extent. Touch on those
even if you think you have something lined
things, but recognize that those experiences may
up already, the Job Fair is an unparalleled
not be unique to only you in this setting.
opportunity. You can get insights into agency
culture, information on the day-to-day duties of
various positions, and meet a whole lot of interesting
people (both formally and at the many happy hours).
Page 5
!
Get Ready
Rest Up
You will have a hectic few days and for those
coming to DC from outside the area, you’ll likely be
jet-lagged and in unfamiliar settings.
Make Yourself Comfortable
Pack snacks, water, coffee, whatever you’ll need.
Questions to Ask
Yourself
Review the floor plan and think about who you
want to talk with most.
•
What are the top things you’re looking for?
•
What are you willing to compromise on?
•
At what point are you willing to make a
Buy or bring clothing that is both professional and
commitment to taking a position?
comfortable (you will be on your feet all day). Get
•
When do you want to start?
a bag that looks good, but can hold a lot of stuff
•
Do you want to schedule all your
comfortably. Figure out the Metro system and do not
interviews back-to-back or spread them
rely on cabs as they are very slow!
out?
Get Your Professional
House in Order
Interview Prep
Seek out advice from your school’s career
Ask your Career Services or other trusted person to:
service center regarding how to do well in a
•
Review your resume (make sure your resume is
behavioral interview (e.g., mock behavioral
free of grammatical and typographic errors).
interviews). Check out 4 Winning Tips for a
•
Practice interview questions with you.
Successful Job Interview [Infographic]
•
Look over supplemental materials that show
your skills (policy memos you’ve written for
school, outreach materials you’ve prepared for
•
Research
If you don’t know much about the various
a previous job).
federal agencies, do your homework online
Practice introducing yourself to recruiters -
ahead of time! Just as you would research
how can you tell your professional story in 1-2
a commercial company, research potential
sentences?
government agencies, too.
Make sure your resume tells a coherent story - even if you’ve done a lot of different things, help recruiters
find the thread. A couple introductory bullets at
the top can make all the difference. Bring plenty
of business cards and copies of your USAJobs
Resume.
Page 6
?
Scheduling
Interviews
•
Check the Projected Position System (PPS)
•
The morning of the first day you’ll hand out
website daily for PMF positions that may interest
a million resumes - bring plenty! (There is a
you. Email and/or call the designated point of contact
Kinkos if you need to print more, but the lines
(this is not always the PMF Agency Coordinator) for
will be long). Talk to folks about their agencies,
any PMF position for which you wish to interview
openings, etc. Later in the day, your cell phone
as slots are limited. Review agency websites to
will start ringing with agencies trying to interview
determine which agencies you would be interested in
you that evening or the following day. If you
possibly working for as a PMF. Remember, positions
can push the interview to the day after the job
that are advertised on the Partnership for Public
fair and offer to meet at their offices, it may be
Services site are only a fraction of what’s available!
helpful (to both them and you), but go ahead
and schedule it during the job fair if you can’t.
•
When applying to positions you are interested
in doing, ask yourself “would I be happy doing
•
•
Look at the PMF website and contact offices
this job for this agency?” If you think you might,
that have posted jobs that may interest you. no reason (but time) not to apply and at least get an
Many PMFs do this and have interviews already
interview/conversation with a contact there to get
set up before they walk into the job fair. This
more information with which to answer the question.
way you can interview with those offices, and
If not, don’t bother, there are other positions out there
check out other offices at the job fair, all at the
that will interest you.
same time.
Consider the size of the agency, its mission,
•
Try very hard to keep the first 60-90 minutes
and the experience you hope to gain. At smaller
in the morning of the second interview day
agencies you may have the opportunity to make
open, as this is the time to hit agencies that you
a more immediate impact and receive leadership
definitely want to talk to, but didn’t have time to
opportunities, but you may not have as many
get to on day one (there will be a few).
resources (training, technology, fellow PMFS)
available to you. At larger agencies you may have
all the resources you need but you may not get the
immediate leadership opportunities.
Page 7
?
At the Job
Fair
•
There will be sheer insanity and often a fair
•
The “cool” agencies will be obvious - it
amount of unprofessional behavior. Keep
may or may not be for you, though. If
your cool, play the game, try to enjoy it.
they don’t seem interested in you, don’t
keep pursuing. A lot of finalists will be trying
•
The majority of finalists normally attend
to cram as many interviews in as possible. the job fair. Agencies are eager to learn
Try to be at the top of your game, but don’t
about you and what value you can add to their
feel pressured -- you have plenty of other
organization, so do not be nervous. opportunities. We’d suggest trying to make
contacts, rather than get a job, at the job
fair.
•
TONS of finalists are all vying for the
same positions! It’s competitive, but
friendly. Interviewers vary in their style, but
you will get some of the same questions. Furthermore, some agencies do several
rounds of interviews, so you will want
to be sure you get in on round one. At
times, it can be extremely competitive and
overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Plan ahead, come prepared, relax when you arrive, and enjoy the experience.
•
Be as specific as possible about your
experience. If you have concrete work
examples to show agency representatives,
that’s what interests them. Also, know your
personal specialty/thesis topic inside and out.
Page 8
How can I prepare?
?
In order to answer behavioral interview questions
completely, most people recommend relying on a
framework like the STAR framework shown on the
In Your
Interviews
following page.
How can I schedule my interviews strategically?
If you are really interested in working for Agency A
and you want that interview to go off with a bang,
By Kelly Naber, Office of Personnel Management, PMF
make sure you give yourself some warm-up time
Class of 2010
by interviewing with Agency B and Agency C first.
Also try to schedule your big interview during late
The following is some information about the interview
morning or the middle of the day. You don’t want to
process as I experienced it at the 2010 PMF job fair.
put it off so long that you’re tired when you finally sit
Please take my suggestions as just suggestions, and
down with Agency A.
best of luck to you!
What should I do at the interview?
How long are the interviews?
I asked for a lot of advice from PMFs at the job fair
Each interview lasted between 20 and 30 minutes.
and many of them said the same thing: be yourself.
Everyone gets nervous during interviews, but try to
How many interviewers?
be personable. You are competing with a bunch of
You probably won’t know until very soon before your
go-getters who are likely just as competent as you
interview, but half of my interviews were one-on-one and
are and you need to differentiate yourself by sharing
half had 2 or more interviewers.
your personality. I also suggest that you write down
the names of the people who interview you. I forgot
How can current PMFs help me at the fair?
to do this with my first interview and that made it
Those current PMFs helping out with the job fair are
difficult for me to follow-up after the interview.
useful. Talk with them! They may be able to give you
some useful advice before your interview, such as the
What should I do after the interview?
interviewers’ preferences or some specific traits they may
Follow-up like it’s your job. I used the old “Thank
be looking for in potential PMFs.
You” note route for those agencies that really
stuck out and I think it really worked in my favor.
What types of questions do the interviewers ask?
Or there’s always the phone call a couple days
The vast majority of my job fair interviews were
later, an email, a letter. Do something. The trick
behavioral based. Behavioral interviews are based on
here is knowing who to contact (remember those
the logic that how you have behaved in the past will
names you wrote down?) and having their contact
predict how you will behave in the future. In a behavioral
information (keep business cards and bring your
interview, an employer has decided what skills are
own, too).
needed in the person they hire and will ask questions to
find out if the candidate has those skills. Instead of asking
how you would behave, they will ask how you did behave.
Page 9
+
STAR Framework for Success
Situation
or Task
Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you
needed to accomplish. You must describe a specific event
or situation, not a generalized description of what you have
done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can be from a previous
job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event.
Action
You Took
Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus
on you. Even if you are discussing a group project or effort,
describe what you did -- not the efforts of the team. Don’t tell
what you might do, tell what you did.
Results You
Achieved
What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn?
Helpful Questions to Ask
I speak from personal experience when I say that
Associate Director, I’ve had substantially
candidates who demonstrate an interest in my
more access and more exciting projects.
organization, and a willingness to take the time to
•
How many rotations do they allow PMFs
do research and develop thoughtful questions, have
to do and how long do they allow them to
a decisive advantage in the interview process.
rotate for?
-Federal Hiring Manager
•
Cover the Basics:
•
•
•
•
Do you have a specific target position in mind
Do they allow PMFs to start at a higher
grade level than GS-9?
•
Do most PMFs stay in the same position
for me to convert to?
at the end of the second year or do PMFs
What training or rotations would you envision
need to look elsewhere for a permanent
helping me get to that target position?
placement?
Do you support rotations outside the agency (if
•
Has the office had PMFs before and how do
you’re interested in that)?
they use the PMF program and develop the
What are you hoping that I will accomplish
fellows in it?
over the course of the two years - what specific
deliverable are you looking for?
Ask Hard Questions:
•
Learn About Office Life:
•
What type of schedules are typical?
•
How much interaction is there with senior
Where do you fit in on the organization chart?
How many people are between you and the
staff?
•
Do projects tend to come one at a time
Senior Executives? Another PMF and I entered
or are there constantly a lot of competing
the same division of our agency, but because
priorities?
there is only one step between me and our
•
Page 10
What style of supervision will you have?
?
better comes along. I had two offers and was
open about that fact when discussing/negotiating
Managing
Job Offers
with the two agencies. I continued to discuss the
offers and the positions with the representatives
and one thing that really helped was being able to
speak with staff who would be my potential future
colleagues. •
Managing the job fair is tricky, but the real work
the results. If you haven’t heard from the
comes in managing the job offers. Do not accept the
organization that is your first choice, then call the
first job offer you get unless you have taken the time
to do some serious due diligence about the job first.
Probably the biggest mistake people make is to get really
POC and ask if you have made their final list.
•
on the spot, before having a chance to talk to
right away.
their families or hear any other offers from other
agencies. Think about it like this - if a person is
It’s pretty important to do a lot of research about the
asking you to make a life-changing decision in 5
position, agency, etc. [We even saw a lot of people
minutes, what will they be like to work for? That
accepting offers without meeting their new direct
perspective really helped me.
supervisor - unsurprisingly, a lot of them are unhappy
•
in their positions now...] This seems obvious, but a lot
agency you are genuinely interested in working
getting job offers, and neglect to make sure what the work
for, and you are impressed by their PMF Program
environment is really going to be like. Below are some
and the type of work you will doing there as a
more helpful tips:
PMF, accept that offer. Then inform all of the other
Ask for some time to consider the offer and be
agencies where you have accepted another PMF
considerate of the agency’s time. If you are offered
offer so that those opportunities can be made
a job on Day One but you have more interviews
available to other finalists. scheduled on Day Two, the offering agency would
•
understand if you requested an additional day to
Offer deadlines can sometimes be extended,
but it is up to the agency. Generally speaking
respond.
most offers are awarded at the job fair or soon
Give them a time frame and stick to it. Be
thereafter so there is no benefit in holding out
respectful of their desire to acquire as close to their
for additional offers if you already have received
top choice as possible, and if you know immediately
or sooner than agreed upon that you do not intend to
accept, let them know as soon as possible.
•
But if you really wanted that one from the
outset, go for it! If you receive an offer from an
of PMF’s get caught up in the excitement of the fair and
•
Don’t feel like you have to accept then and
there. Some folks feel pressure to take jobs
excited about getting a job offer and then accepting it
•
Don’t be shy, call if you want to learn
multiple offers. •
Get a sense of security (clearances, that is): If
you’re offered a position that requires a security
Don’t be surprised if you get job offers during
the job fair. Don’t immediately accept if it isn’t your
first choice. Some agencies will take longer to make
job offers and you don’t want to accept prematurely
and then have to backtrack when something you like
Page 11
clearance that you don’t have yet, understand
that you may have to wait a year or more!
Definitely get another job in the meantime, so you
can afford to eat while you wait.
?
Negotiating
Effectively
does not necessarily mean you will be qualified
as a GS-11 or GS-12 for another PMF position
at another agency. FYI: Some agencies do
not negotiate with PMFs.
I received a signing bonus (or as they call it,
Wait until there’s an offer on the table.
a recruitment incentive) because I asked and
Don’t bring up a slew of personal issues in
explained that I had significant student debt.
an interview. Once you have an offer or two,
However, if I had to do it over, I would have
raise your most important concerns (1-2) and
negotiated for my position to range from a GS-9 to
ask if there’s a way to meet your needs. Keep
a GS-13. Currently it only goes to a GS-12, which
in mind that there is often very little flexibility
means I’ll have to find a new job in two years. You
in government agencies, but an individual
should be able to negotiate a full performance
who’s really sold on you will do what they can.
potential of GS-13 because it costs them nothing
Keep it friendly and be clear about what’s a
now. It sets you up nicely a few years down the road
deal breaker and what is just a preference.
though.
Be willing to renegotiate at a later date (for
- Previous PMF
example, I was able to ask for more telework
time after demonstrating that I was highly
productive working from home).
Consider negotiating for things that are
important to you other than just salary or
signing bonuses. Try negotiating for telework
or flex-time, or extra training, or agree early on
Never assume that because one agency offered your
friend one thing that the same should apply for you.
If the agency indicates that there is room to negotiate
salary (based on past experience), relocation expenses,
loan repayment, etc. then you should broach negotiations
with a clear idea of what is “on the table”, meaning you’ve
already asked the questions. where you will be rotating and for how long. It’s
better to set clear expectations than to work a
year before finding out that your agency only
allows internal rotations.
The bottom line is that negotiation is always
an option. However, be aware that once you
decline an offer and ask for more, the agency
If you have relevant work experience, agencies may
award you a higher grade and/or Step in accordance
with OPM’s Qualifications Standards. Even though
you might be eligible for and offered a GS-11 or GS-12 in
has a right to remove the offer all together, so
you have to feel confident in the gamble of the
negotiation or you have to have multiple offers
to fall back on.
a particular occupational field/series at one agency, that
Page 12
?
The
Unthinkable
What if you don’t get an offer or couldn’t make the
You just need to invest more time in networking.
but there are still plenty of opportunities. Try
contacting some folks whose positions you
they will know of other PMF positions in the
agency that may be offered, especially if you
Broaden the definition of your ideal job or
who may be PMFs from past years, or reach out
agency. The federal government does 10,000
to your professional network and find out who has
things – most of them are interesting and
connections within Federal agencies. All of these
important. Cold calling PMF coordinators may
people can connect you with the hiring managers
who can make things happen. For me it took some
time, but once I reached the right person I had a job
offer within days!
Take the initiative and “cold call” the POC’s and
find out if you can interview via phone. Contact
PMF Agency Coordinators via email or telephone
to solicit telephonic interviews with agencies/PMF
positions you have not interviewed for at the fair.
Check Partnership for Public Service regularly for
postings. Things change quickly.
•
up around job fair time and a trickle after that,
are flexible about location or specific duties.
target agency. Talk to others from your grad school
•
position. Definitely there are a lot of positions
the people you interviewed with. Sometimes
Find out who the current PMFs are working in your
•
Don’t sweat it - you have a year to get a PMF
were a bit less interested in. Also, follow up with
job fair?
•
•
Use the Projected Positions System. Email hiring
managers with your resume and state that you would
like to follow up with a phone call (at my agency,
folks are in the field a lot and thus not great about
answering email). Be patient.
Page 13
work – PMF positions can open up later.
?
Other Advice
•
Follow up! Write thank you notes to every
there are many government reports (from
person you interview with – it pays dividends in
GAO, the inspectors general, etc.) and
the end.
Congressional hearing records that can
provide insight into various agencies and
•
Meet a lot of people. Ask them about their
their challenges, which is useful both in
work. Ask them candidly what their favorite/least
terms of deciding where you might like to
favorite parts of their agency are. You’ll quickly
work, and in figuring out what you might
get a feel for what’s a good fit. The bottom line
like to ask about at the conclusion of your
here, though, is that you have to find an agency
interview.
that will be the right fit for you. •
•
Consider your prospective agency’s
Don’t expect to be handed the keys to
budget situation. This is a more important
the castle on your first day, but do look for
consideration in coming years than it has
someplace that will be nurturing and where you
been in the past. I personally recommend
can grow into positions of greater responsibility.
against agencies that experience wide
swings in their budget - especially if
•
Consider the shotgun approach. Sometimes
administrations change.
applying to as many positions as possible
works. See what agencies decide they need
•
Don’t be “that” guy or girl. Avoid telling
you. Sometimes it’s about the journey and not
the interviewers how you’re going to single-
the destination. Let the currents of your career
handedly whip their organization into shape,
carry you. and/or how you’re going to rise from a
GS-9 position to SES in five years. This is
•
Learn about the agency and its culture and
just obnoxious, and anyone who does this
operations. The agency’s own web site will
will be tagged as walking source of office
give you some insight into the organization
conflict.
and how it views itself. Most agencies also
have external stakeholders - trade groups,
•
Spend some time talking to random
professional associations, and the like - that will
agencies. You may never have thought of
publish reports or articles on their perspective. some agencies – stop by a random booth Non-profits and think tanks also issue many
or two and see if serendipity might step in.
reports about federal agencies. The Partnership
for Public Service, for example, regularly
updates and publishes its list of Best Places
to Work in the Federal Government. Finally,
Page 14
?
•
For the
Lawyers
It’s important to remember that PMF openings
teaches critical thinking, analysis, writing, and
do not include attorney positions. However, this
communication skills - all of those are valuable
doesn’t mean you can’t put your education to work.
in government. For example, if you clerked at a
Try to find positions, such as policy analyst, appeals
firm that specializes in environmental litigation,
specialist, or legislative affairs, that utilize your skills.
tell the hiring manager how that taught you
how to build defensible policy. Or how you
•
If you are a lawyer, make sure you know how
learned to communicate with technical experts
to communicate how your legal education
and translate their expertise into plain English
prepares you for a non-legal job. I was on the
for a jury or judge, and those translation skills
other side of the table last year, and can’t tell you how
will allow you to communicate the agency’s
many lawyers I talked to that hadn’t really thought
technical expertise to the public.
about how to communicate this. A legal education
•
Hiring managers aren’t necessarily lawyers,
so they don’t know what skills you get in the
legal field. If you can tell them, it will improve
your chances over other attorneys. Develop
some “talking points” before getting to the job
fair so you don’t get caught off-guard.
+
Law is nothing unless close behind it stands a warm living public
opinion.
-Wendell Phillips
Page 15
the metro trains, and in many cases you can
!
plan door to door, minimizing your walk time. Learn to use the WMATA Trip Planner to find
Welcome to
the Nation’s
Capitol
good bus routes, and supplement that with the
Next Bus tool (also mobile formatted so you can
check it from your web-enabled phone). If you
need another reason to consider buses: they
are $0.40 cheaper per ride than the trains, and
you can transfer for free within 3 hours.
•
(ten cents, which I know isn’t much) per ride
DC Tips - A Personal Experience:
than paying with a SmarTrip Card. It’s a $10
Aaron Helter, Office of Personal Management
•
PMF Class of 2009
minimum investment ($5 for the card and a $5
Plan Ahead: Most of your last minute and under
than that in transit costs over the course of the
initial balance), but you can easily rack up more
job fair. Also, if you are going to eventually
planned decisions come with extra cost. Learn
move to DC, you’ll want one anyway. The other
everything you can about the airport you’re flying into,
benefit of the SmarTrip Card is that it enables
the hotel you’re staying at, the Convention Center,
the free bus transfers mentioned above, since
and how to move between them effectively and
Metro no longer issues the paper kind. This
cheaply. Also, this may or may not apply, but if you’re
can save you money.
arriving from a warmer part of the country, bring a
jacket! It was cold (45 degrees) last year and raining
half the time.
•
Consider Hostels: Hotels are nice, but that
of any hotels in the DC area that are both nice
Fly Cheap: Consider flying into BWI instead of
BWI, which saved me time and money. Also, it’s not
very difficult to get back to DC by train: the MARC
train, when I took it last year, was $6 each way, and
the Amtrak was $12 each way. It takes planning to
and cost less than $75 a night (as listed on
Kayak; this rate was for a room in College Park,
Maryland). Most will be significantly higher. Consider this alternative: Hosteling International
runs a hostel within walking distance of the
pull it off, but it beats catching cabs everywhere.
Convention Center. Their rates run well below
Walk Everywhere: If you managed to snag decent
rooms. Admittedly, it can be tough to get good
hotel rates: $25-$45 a night for dorm style
accommodations close enough to the Convention
Center, try walking. It’s free. Of course, if it’s raining,
this may be less desirable unless you’re only going a
•
•
comes with a pretty steep markup. I don’t know
Reagan. Southwest had some great direct flights into
•
Get a SmarTrip Card: Paying cash costs more
quality sleep, but you’re only going to be there
for like three nights. One other note: if you
aren’t a member of Hosteling International,
few blocks.
you’ll have to pay an extra $3 per night as a
Learn the Bus Routes: Sure, the subway is fast, and
my opinion, since the location is so good. Also,
temporary membership fee. It’s still worth it, in
sometimes it’s convenient too. But not always. The
buses cover large areas that are not well served by
Page 16
it’s a great way to meet other people from all
over the world. – Anonymous PMF, 2009
editors
John Perarik,
IRS PMF
Eva Fulton,
HUD PMF
Kevin Carter
Presidential Management Fellow, OPM
Tarryn Reddy
Social Media Fellow, GovLoop
Kaleigh Emerson,
HUD PMF 2010
Andrew Krzmarzick
Community Manager, GovLoop
Matthew Davis,
PMF 2009
designer
Elizabeth Meyer-Shield
Jacob Lewis,
PMF 2010
Collin Ferry
Writer, Designer, World Traveler
contributors
Rachael Lipsky,
FS PMF
Laura Jaskierski,
HHS PMF
Sheryl Adler,
ED PMF 2000
Kelly Naber,
OPM PMF 2010
Tom Killmurray,
HHS PMF
Taryn Anderson,
USAID PMF
Odetta Mucha,
OMB PMF 2010
Andrea Sparks-Ibanga,
HUD PMF 2008
Owen Highfill,
FHFA PMF 2008
Carolyne St.Louis,
DOI PMF 2002
Chris Davis,
NASA PMF 2006
Charles Francis,
HUD PMF 2010
Aaron Helton,
OPM PMF 2009
Octavio Santiago,
OPM PMF 2010
Page 17
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