This is my final GovLoop contributing writer article so I felt it appropriate to pull together a resource guide for those who are interested in civic tech, or perhaps, those who are just gov-curious. Civic tech needs all of us, working together, for the greater good. However, it’s not always easy finding that special role in civic tech so I wanted to share some resources I’ve found to be useful. This is by no means a definitive listing but hopefully it will provide a starting place.
One site I found to be challenging was the general USAjobs.gov. I realize this is the de facto federal job board but many people find it hard to navigate, full of terms and acronyms that are meaningless in the private sector and generally overwhelming, especially for those new to federal hiring. It also gets hundreds, if not thousands of applications for each posting. The key to using USAJobs is leveraging specific entry points for early/mid career, including internships, roles for recent grads as well as for fellowships and spending time learning how the process works. So next time you’re on the site, consider trying out the alternative entry points. Ok, onto other avenues for job hunting!
Early career opportunities (0-3 years experience)
- U.S. Digital Corps, GS-9, 2 year fellowship
- TechCongress’ Congressional Innovation Fellowship, 10 month fellowship
- Coding It Forward, Summer Program, 10 week summer internship
- Cybersecurity Talent Initiative (CTI), 2 year fellowship
- HACU National Internship Program (HNIP), 11 week internship
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), varied internship, fellowship
- Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service, 10 week internship (*)
Plus 30+ different fellowship programs for early and mid-career from ProFellows
Mid-late career opportunities (5-7+ years experience)
- Presidential Innovation Fellowship, GS-15, 1+ year fellowship
- White House Fellows, 1 year fellowship
- Presidential Management Fellows Program, GS-9-12, 2 year fellowship
- TechCongress’ Senior Congressional Innovation Fellowship, 1 year fellowship
- AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF), 1-2 year fellowship
- Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program, 11 month fellowship
For specific agency positions, as well as those that require certain backgrounds and/or for those seeking unique diversity opportunities, the Congressional Research Service has pulled together a report called “Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government” which highlights a variety of opportunities across the federal government. I’m just going to link to it because it’s extensive. (Note: it’s not been updated recently but most of the information and links are still relevant and active.)
Broader Civic Tech (ie, non/not-for profit, state and local, think-tanks, etc.)
- Tech Jobs for Good
- All Tech is Human
- All Hands
- Civic Tech Career Resources by Compiler.la
There are also a few really good resources out there to help navigate the federal hiring process. These are highly recommended for helping build skills in federal resume writing, navigating the job descriptions and for generally helping tech folks find the answers they need. Don’t skip over these!
- GoGovernment, Partnership for Public Service
- The Tech Talent Project
- Technology Transformation Service (TTS, part of GSA)
There are a growing number of these unique opportunities popping up. I highly recommend joining the email lists, following specific agency news on social media and attending info sessions like the ones TTS holds for specific jobs. Tech Talent Project also offers sessions for those who are new to federal hiring. These are invaluable! The more you can connect with these initiatives and understand the process, which is often much longer than in the private sector, the better positioned you’ll be for a future career, regardless of where you are right now, in government. Best of luck in your search and thank you again, for joining me on this six-month GovLoop writing journey!
(*) limited to participating universities
Emily Ryan has worked cross-functionally as a designer, full-stack developer and UX researcher to solve a variety of digital issues for public and private sector spaces, focusing on civic tech. She’s worked across start-ups, federal government and consulting agencies. She holds a BFA in Design, an M.A. in Criminal Law and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Government, focusing on technology’s influences and impacts on global democratic movements and free and open elections. In her free time she runs ultramarathons and travels, preferring locations with traditional European holiday markets, walking food tours and modern art exhibits.
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