4 | The Washington Center
Senior Year
September – October
• Begin applying for full-time positions (12-month lead time needed)
• Create USAJobs.gov profile
• Finalize federal resume with all internship/work experience
• Register for agency-specific portals (intelligencecareers.gov, fbijobs.gov, etc.)
November – December
• Submit applications to target agencies
• Prepare for initial interviews and assessments
• Complete any required pre-employment testing
• Continue maintaining strong academic performance
January – February
• Follow up on applications
• Complete additional rounds of interviews
• Begin preliminary SF-86 preparation if you receive conditional offers
• Apply for backup positions and graduate programs
March – April
• Receive conditional job offers (if successful)
• Begin official SF-86 submission process
• Prepare for polygraph examinations (for TS/SCI positions)
• Make contingency plans (graduate school, alternative positions)
May – August
• Graduate
• Continue clearance process (can take 6-18 months)
• Stay in touch with hiring agencies about clearance status
Creating Your Federal Resume
Key Differences from Private Sector Resumes
Federal resumes are two pages maximum but much more detailed than standard one-page resumes. Here's
what to include:
Contact Information
• Full legal name
• Complete mailing address
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• U.S. citizenship status
