Application - Candidates • Go Government

Application Instructions - IPA Candidate

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact [email protected] to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Step 1: Personal Information

All applicants must click "Start Application" below and complete all fields on the ensuing pages in order to move forward with the rest of the application. 

Step 2: Application Form

Candidate information and Eligibility: Before you complete the primary application, please fill out some details about yourself, including your citizenship status, current employer, and willingness to serve 12-24 months as an IPA placement. Those who are not employed by an eligible organization (state or local government, Native American tribal government, institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, federally funded research & development institution, research institute, scientific society, or hospital) or are not willing to serve part- or full-time for 12-24 months are ineligible to participate in this program.

Current position: Throughout the IPA program, the Partnership will coordinate with your current employer as well as your potential future agency placement. Add information about your current work in this section.

Career Experience: Upload and submit your current professional resume to highlight your work experience, including any certificates relevant to your field. Please also provide contact information for two professional references on this page.

IPA Agreement Financing: Each candidate’s talent exchange opportunity is funded by a cost-sharing agreement between the federal placement agency and the candidate’s current employer in acknowledgment that both the current employer and the federal placement agency benefit from this exchange. Consult with your supervisor to respond and answer these questions to the best of your ability.

Essays. You will be asked to complete four (4) short essay questions that will help assess your candidacy to the program. Each response must be less than 300 words in length. These essay topics include your leadership experience, problem-solving capabilities, and interest in federal service.

Military service and demographic information. The Partnership for Public Service strives to present to the federal government a diverse pool of qualified program applicants, which includes broad representation of disciplinary areas, career stage, gender, race, age, ethnicity, physical ability, geographic location, and organizational affiliation. To help meet these goals, please answer the background questions in this section. This data is confidential and will not in any way influence selection outcomes.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

You will be able to review your application before final submission. Please remember to hit the “Submit” button at the very end of this application once your application is complete.

Save and Resume

At any point in this application, you may check the "Save and Resume" box (located at the top of every page) and follow those instructions to save your work and return later to complete it. You must use the same email address and password each time you return to your application.

We recommend writing your answers to short response questions (page 6) in a separate program and cutting and pasting into this application form when complete.

As you work on your application, we will not see or receive any interim updates until your application is complete and successfully submitted.

Use the page numbers in the upper right to navigate between pages. We do not recommend using your browser's back or forward buttons. You can skip pages and move back and forth at will using the page numbers.

Do not rely on browser bookmarks or similar means to return to your application. Use the Save and resume feature instead.

If you need to update your personal contact info (page 2), you can do that anytime before submitting your application.

When your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an immediate on-screen confirmation as well as an email from [email protected]. Please remember to add this address as a safe sender in your spam filter.

If you close this application without clicking the "Save and Resume" box and following those instructions, you may have to start your application all over.

Click "Next Page" to begin your application.

Email questions or comments to [email protected]

Candidate Information

Personal Information

First Name

Middle Initial

Last Name

My pronouns:

She/herHe/himThey/themOther

Other pronouns, please list

Email Address

please enter only one (1) personal email address

Phone Number

Current Address

Street Address 1

Street Address 2 (Apt, Suite, etc.)

City

State

Zip Code

five digits only

This application is for individuals interested in participating in the Partnership for Public Service’s IPA Talent Exchange. Please click the option that best represents your interest in this program.

I am a candidate navigating the IPA placement process for the first time.I am a candidate filling out this application at the direction of a federal agency.

Please write the full name of the agency and subcomponent that directed you to apply.

Please write the title(s) of the roles for which you are interested.

Email questions or comments to [email protected]

Eligibility Requirement

Employer Verification

Applicants to the IPA Talent Exchange must be actively employed by one of the following types of eligible organizations (employed for at least 90 days prior to date of application submission).

If you answer "No" to this question, you are not eligible to participate in the program.

Are you actively employed (employed within the past 90 days and anticipating continued full-time employment for the next 12 months) by a state or local government, Native American tribal government, institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, federally funded research & development institution, research institute, scientific society, or hospital?

Yes, I am actively employed by one of the above eligible organizations. No, I am not actively employed by one of the above eligible organizations.

U.S. Citizenship

To be eligible for certain IPA Talent Exchange placements, you must be a U.S. citizen or national (a resident of American Samoa and Swains Island). Your answer to this question will not disqualify your application, but may limit the opportunities for which you are eligible.

Are you a U.S. citizen or national?

Yes, I am a U.S. citizen or national. No, I am not a U.S. citizen or national.

Time Commitment

Your placement as an IPA will require you to work part- or full-time for between 12-24 months at a federal agency. Your work may require you to travel or temporarily relocate to the place of your agency. Your primary employer may work with the federal agency to cover transportation costs, but reimbursement is not guaranteed.

Your employer must be aware of your interest in participating in this program, and willing to permit you to serve at a federal agency for the tenure of the assignment established with the agency where you are placed.

If you answer "No" to this question, you are not eligible to participate in the program.

Are you, with the support of your employer, willing to work part- or full-time for between 12-24 months at the agency where you are placed?

Yes, I am willing to work within these guidelines. No, I am not willing to work within these guidelines.

Email questions or comments to [email protected]

When is the earliest date that you could begin your IPA placement?

Current Position

Current Employer

Name of Current Employer (a.k.a. organization title)

Employer Address

Street Address 1

Street Address 2 (Apt, Suite, etc.)

City

State

Zip Code

five digits only

Current Role

Position Title

Start Date with current employer

Salary

This information will not be shared with application reviewers and will only be referenced during final placement status determination to assess cost sharing requirements.
Do not include $ or , in your response. Example entry format: 40035

Supervisor Information

Immediate Supervisor

Immediate Supervisor Title

Immediate Supervisor Email

Email questions or comments to [email protected]

Career Experience

Resume

You must submit a resume to complete your application. Please attach your resume as a PDF file fewer than 2MB. Your resume should be no longer than three pages. 

Your resume should include the following:

Education

Institutions attended, years attended, degree(s) earned

Professional Experience

Job title, employer, location, dates of employment, estimated hours per week and a brief description of relevant duties and accomplishments

Other Relevant Experience

Name of relevant activity/organization, your role, estimated hours per week and a brief description of relevant duties and accomplishments

Other Job Related Qualifications or Experiences

E.g., programming languages, skills, certifications, awards, scholarships, publications, special recognitions, leadership experience, volunteer work, etc.

Upload your resume here.

Resume must be .pdf, less than 2MB

References

Please list the contact information for two professional references who can speak to the caliber of your work and why you would be a strong candidate for consideration.

Reference 1

Reference 1 First Name

Reference 1 Last Name

Reference 1 Relationship to Candidate

Reference 1 Email Address

Reference 1 Phone Number

Reference 2

Reference 2 First Name

Reference 2 Last Name

Reference 2 Relationship to Candidate

Reference 2 Email Address

Reference 2 Phone Number

Email questions or comments to [email protected]

IPA Agreement Financing

Each candidate’s talent exchange opportunity is funded by a cost-sharing agreement between the federal placement agency and the candidate’s current employer in acknowledgment that both the current employer and the federal placement agency benefit from this exchange.

By sending their employees on an IPA placement, non-federal agencies gain several benefits, including:

A wealth of first-hand knowledge about federal programs relevant to the non-federal employer’s discipline.
Improved recognition from federal agencies.
Well-developed employees.

Please consult with your supervisor to respond and answer these questions to the best of your ability. Your responses allow the Partnership to make a match based on your current employer’s anticipated needs.

Should your responses change after submission, please email [email protected]

What type of placement agreement do you expect to establish with the federal agency to which you will be placed?

Reimbursable cost-sharing agreementNon-reimbursable cost-sharing agreementHint: Reimbursable: The candidate’s employer ‘bills’ the federal agency for an agreed upon amount of the candidate’s salary. The cost sharing distribution between the agency and candidate will be determined before the candidate begins at the agency placement. Non-reimbursable: The candidate’s employer covers the full cost of the candidate’s salary.

I anticipate that my current employer (non-federal) will be able to cover _______ of my current salary while I serve at a federal agency

NoneAllSome

Please describe your current employer’s ability to cover the IPA candidate’s salary e.g., we can cover up to $100,000, we will cover 20% of the salary, etc.

Placement Preferences and Essay Responses

Agency Preferences

Preferred agencies, if any. (Please list the full name of each agency)

Preferred subcomponents, if any. (Please list the full name of each subcomponent)

Preferred placement role.

Ctrl + click to select multiple preferred placement roles.

Please describe other skills you'd like to prioritize in your IPA placement.

Time Commitment and Location Preferences

Average number of hours available to work weekly

Full-time commitment = 40

Location preference (non-binding)

Please indicate your earliest available start date.

Keep in mind academic calendars and other professional responsibilities.

Short Essay Responses

Describe a time when you managed a team or initiative. What did you learn from that experience and how has it shaped your leadership style. (Limit 300 words).

Describe a time when you had to change your priorities because of a change in circumstances or plans. How did you handle it and what was the result? (Limit 300 words).

Why are you interested in serving as an IPA placement? (Limit 300 words).

What skills do you think you can develop in this role? (Limit 300 words)

Email questions or comments to [email protected]