Getting Started
Making the transition from tech to government can be overwhelming. Here are some resources and communities to make the move a little less scary.
Curious about moving into the public sector?
Many have made the jump from tech to government and back and forth. Over time, they’ve developed a set of helpful links and resources that could inform what to expect for technologists who have made the transition into the public sector
A Civic Technologist’s Practice Guide
by Cyd Harrell
Scaling Civic Technology: Transitioning to Civic Technology
A conversation with a panel of talented technical employees who have made the move from big tech to civic tech and how these industries reinforce each other.
by Chris Kuang
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Most of these are based out of Washington D.C., but there are some options for remote work.
This is essentially like a creative agency-meets consultancy within government, which means they have client-relationships. They do everything from design and develop digital products to help partners buy the tech they need. They also do training and change management.
A.K.A. The U.S. Digital Service. This is like a team of fixers. They diagnose problems and triage / fix them. Unlike 18F (which is a vendor), USDS works within agencies, which means they can push/operate in different ways.
A.K.A. The Presidential Innovation Fellowship. This is a fellowship program that is focused on pushing the envelope. Fellows are dropped into an agency to work on something novel.
A.K.A. The Office of Science and Technology Policy. This is an office within the White House that accelerates work across this ecosystem. PIF, USDS, and 18F were all borne of this office back in 2012-14. They generally do not build/deliver technology, but create space and momentum, convene and connect people, and amplify work / needs / opportunities.
A.K.A. The bulk of government, where they are hiring for tech talent that will go into more traditional parts of the government.
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Library of Congress
Government Accountability Office
Congressional Budget Offices
House of Representatives
U.S. Senate
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Generally speaking, policy is made at the federal level and implemented at the state and local level. This means that state and local governments are the ones building and buying technology for federal programs.
State and local governments tend to be more accessible, simply as a result of proximity to the public. A great way to get to know your local #civictech ecosystem is to find and connect with your local Code Brigade, or other volunteer organizations.
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International organizations have been using technology to reach the public, engage, and deliver since the late 90s / early aughts. Digital and mobile technology played a critical role in connecting the public to needs and public services.
A Primer on Government
Navigating and exploring tech roles in government
We pulled together a set of resources to help technologists navigate tech roles in government. The list of participating organizations can be filtered by job type and level. As you explore open roles, you’ll find that some of the titles don’t match what you’re used to seeing, so we created a draft cheat sheet that can give you a starting point to translate government job types with private sector titles.
Applying to government roles will be unfamiliar to most folks that have never gone through the process. Learn why it’s different and some tips to help you navigate through the process.
From our Tech to Gov Forum and Career Fair
Navigating Government Applications (USAJOBS+)