Fulltime Timeline

Federal agencies will travel to campus to recruit, but that is less the case with state and local agencies; they usually know far in advance when a job will open, and undertake an application recruiting blitz just prior to the application window, which may be quite short: as little as 5 days, but rarely more than 2 weeks. For that reason, the best job search strategy is to build your network so that when a job opens, you know that it is coming and have been able to prepare your application in advance..

Keep in mind that the fiscal year for most agencies runs from July 1-June 30, so agencies are under pressure to secure their funding commitments in the budget planning phase during the early summer and must then wait well into the fall while the political approval process runs its course. Employment opportunities tend to increase with the start of the new calendar year but must conclude before the money runs out in June.

Most students will need to do some off-campus interviewing. The Job Search Assistance Fund is available to help cover costs associated with interviewing in the nonprofit or public sectors.

Career Services will assist you with your job search, but please remember, we do not match students with employers; obtaining employment is your responsibility. We encourage you to take the following steps to ensure a successful job search outcome:

September/October

Attend the Public Service Fair to learn about local organizations and to secure a spring and/or fall part-time internship. Part-time internships will help build your resume and your network.
Gain access to TartanTRAK to upload your resume.
Decide what type of agency you would like to work for (e.g. large or small, nature of the work, etc.), what city you would like to live in, what issue you would like to work on, etc.
Research management training opportunities (PMF, PA Management Associate’s)
Meet with your career advisor to discuss your interests and to organize your job search.
Attend relevant networking events Attend relevant Network Nights

November/December

Attend the workshops to perfect your resume, hone your interviewing skills, and gain knowledge about the job search process.
Attend relevant information sessions.
Participate in mock interviews.
Get your resume cleaned up and reviewed by your career advisor.

January/February

Attend relevant Network Nights
Talk to alumni about opportunities in their organization. They're an excellent resource for learning more about a particular organization, career field or employment opportunity. You can find alumni in the Alumni Directory, Alumni Career Advisor Network, and Carnegie Mellon Alumni LinkedIn Network.
Join professional organizations, attend conferences, conduct informational interviews to help foster relationships in the field.

March/April

Update your resume with relevant academic projects, coursework, etc.
Look at organizations’ websites for job postings and also use the online resources
Attend relevant Network Nights and Career Fairs (i.e. Network Washington, DC ).
Make contact with employers, send resumes and applications, and begin the interviewing process.

May/June