Deciding to Apply

As you deliberate your interest in applying for an appointment, these are some of the factors you should consider.

  • Appointees must be U.S. citizens.
  • The process of pursuing a presidential appointment can be very lengthy and highly competitive. We understand that many individuals have already applied. Pursuing an appointment requires a balance of patience and persis­tence.
  • There are an estimated 5,100 political positions in the President’s Administration, ranging from entry-level special assistant and confidential assistant positions up to senior Ambassador and Cabinet-level posts. About two-thirds of the positions are full-time (many based in Washington, D.C. but others based across the U.S.). The other third is comprised of part-time service on various boards and commissions.
  •  The number of vacancies in a President’s second term are more limited, since many appointees are continuing their service, though openings may occur at any point during the coming years. NHLA is committed to helping build the bench now so that we can support candidates for current vacancies at some point in the future.
  • It is critical to connect your experiences and interests to the position you want to hold. The political appointment process is a bit of a matching game, taking into account candidates’ qualifications, the culture of the office, the profile the hiring office desires, and the profile of what is the right fit for the candidate.
  • The hours for appointees are long and the pace intense.
  • There can be a lot of public/press scrutiny.
  • Most applicants under serious consideration for an appoint­ment will go through a full FBI background check in which their employment, professional, personal, travel, medical, financial, legal, military, and educational histories will be reviewed and scrutinized.
  • The financial holdings and sources of income for most applicants under serious consideration must be disclosed for review for possible conflicts of interest. Most appointees’ dealings with the Federal government during, and for a pe­riod of time after their service, will be significantly restricted to prevent possible conflicts of interest.
  • Before starting the application process, please have all your education information, employment information, references, and desired appointment position available.
  • In addition, please ensure that enough time is set aside to complete the application in one sitting. Not doing so will result in multiple application submissions that will delay the processing of your application. Estimated time needed to complete application: 30 minutes.
  • It is particularly important to be specific. If you believe you are qualified for multiple positions, indicate all of them.
  • It is particularly challenging to process resumes for candidates who only generally express “a desire to serve” or a “desire to help.” The Plum Book, which is available online,  is a great resource to help with this.
  • NHLA’s Latino Appointments Program is designed to identify and support Latino professionals. NHLA has no authority or official role with respect to the federal government’s hiring. Below are resources to support you in this process, but your submission to these programs from our members and partners does not mean that you will be advantaged in the appointment or nomination process, though it is our hope that the professional development and support we provide can help you become a stronger candidate.

 

Additional Resources

  1. 2016 Plum Book - Every four years, just after the Presidential election, the United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, commonly known as the Plum Book, is published, alternately, by the Senate and the House.

  2. 2012 Plum Book - The Plum Book is used to identify presidentially appointed positions within the Federal Government. While positions and office functions vary under different Administrations, it may also be helpful to consult the 2012 Plum Book as you research previous appointees and positions across agencies.

  3. General Services Administration Presidential Transition Directory - Includes links to various materials that provide some helpful background material about the transition and the Office of Personnel Management Presidential Transition Guide as well as the government in general.

  4. Federal Register - Provides information on agency-appointed boards and commissions. These sites are helpful to monitor for volunteer boards and commis­sions that are generally appointed by the President or Secretary of an agency.

  5. Office of Personnel Management - Website contains information about salaries and wages.

  6. Biden-Harris Transition Website - Submit your information here to initially apply for a role in the Biden-Harris Administration.

  7. LULAC Latino Appointments Website - Contains information on Latino political appointments in the Biden-Harris Administration.

  8. Mirror Appointment Project (MAP): An initiative from NALEO, an NHLA member organization, MAP provides detailed resources and webinars on the federal appointments process. Aimed at placing qualified Latinos into federal government positions, MAP's website includes an Appointments Primer and form for individuals interested in serving in the Biden-Harris Administration. 

  9. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Questionnaire - For Latinos interested in a political appointment with the Biden-Harris Administration in 2021, please make sure to fill out the questionnaire and upload your resume to this Latino resume bank. This bank is organized by Congressional Hispanic Caucus staff in their personal capacities and any communication from the organizers is in such capacity. The intent of this bank is to flag qualified Latino candidates and does not guarantee any position in the incoming Administration.

  10. The Green Latinos Questionnaire – Resume bank with information on Latino Political Appointments.

 

For more information contact Kenneth Romero (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Al Gallegos (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Serving as a political appointee can be an extremely rewarding and meaningful experience -- both for you and for the community.

To learn more about NHLA’s Initiatives and Programs visit: https://nationalhispanicleadership.org