Washington, D.C. - In order to better reach out to potential job candidates, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management has asked alumni of the Presidential Management Fellows Program to provide assistance at its "Working for America" Federal Recruitment Fair in New York City on April 20. The fair is intended to provide potential job candidates with information on federal jobs and face-to-face meetings with current and former federal employees.

"One of the best ways to give people a better understanding of what working for the country is like is by having people who are already on the 'front lines' give the reasons they chose a career with the federal government," said OPM Director Kay Coles James. "And I believe that some of the 'best and brightest' the government has employed have been those who were identified through the former Presidential Management Intern Program. The alumni are superb ambassadors, not only for the new PMF Program, but also for our federal civil service."

During a recent meeting with James, the President of the Presidential Management Alumni Group, Tod Companion, echoed James' belief and said: "The PMF program provides a remarkable entree into federal service, providing not only great opportunities for work and rotations at a variety of federal agencies, but access to a vast network of current and former interns and fellows. These are individuals who can give a unique perspective on the valuable work federal employees do. And the many alumni willing to serve as instant mentors are a valuable resource."

The New York recruitment fair will be attended by federal hiring officials and program managers who will use a variety of hiring flexibilities that OPM grants to address critical needs, including the authority to make on-the-spot job offers to qualified individuals. Many of the jobs to be advertised at the fair include positions in information technology, finance and accounting, and other critical, in-demand fields.

The new PMF Program further emphasizes the increasing importance of the program in grooming future government leaders, and it differs in several substantive ways from the former PMI Program. The new PMF program does not have a participation ceiling and it is headquartered at OPM in Washington, D.C. to take advantage of the city's unique role in world events. Excepted-service agencies can participate in the program.

The President's Executive Order also created the Senior Presidential Management Fellows (SPMF) program. The SPMF is a mid-level, national recruitment program designed to help agencies meet their strategic human capital plans and fulfill succession planning needs.

Eligibility for the PMF Program requires a master's degree or that candidates be within five months of completing a master's program. The same educational requirement exists for the Senior Presidential Management Fellows Program, however, work experience may be substituted for a portion of the educational component.