With the recently announced spate of layoffs across the technology industry, a consortium of federal and state agencies is hosting an online “Tech to Gov Forum and Job Fair” this week.
A quick scroll through LinkedIn over the past couple of weeks illustrates the need for this event, with “Open to Work” badges appearing on individuals’ profiles with increasing frequency.
The free job fair, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, “presents an opportunity for governments to attract hard-to-hire professionals into public service roles where their skills can make a major social impact,” says an announcement by Tech Talent Project, a nonpartisan organization founded in 2017 by former tech leaders in the Obama and Trump administrations.
“You’ll have the opportunity to connect directly with hiring government agencies and public interest organizations in one-on-one conversations,” the registration page says. “You’ll also be able to learn from folks like you, who have made the transition, share their tips for getting into the government sector and their lessons learned in their new roles in webinar-style sessions.
“Everyone is welcome to attend, from students to senior executives,” the announcement continues. “There are currently open positions for all levels of experience, ranging from entry-level positions, to early- and mid-career opportunities, to senior management positions.” Positions include roles in the fields of data analytics, engineering, product management, customer/user experience (UX), research, business intelligence, content design, recruiting and talent, marketing and information technology.
Tech to Gov is the name of the “collaborative rapid-response effort by organizations working to improve government services and support public servants, coordinated by Tech Talent Project.” The project brings public interest tech organizations together to “provide new opportunities to talent affected by layoffs, hiring freezes, rescinded offers, and a tech industry whose direction is in flux.”
Among the dozens of organizations taking part will be one from California: the Office of Data and Innovation (ODI), part of the California Government Operations Agency.
Tech to Gov frames the need for the event this way: “While tens of thousands of technologists are currently navigating uncertainty in their roles and careers due to broad layoffs within the tech industry, government and public interest organizations are recruiting like never before. If you have ever considered a career in public service, academia, or government-adjacent organizations, now is a great time to explore your options.”
The Tech Talent Project is hosting Wednesday’s event in partnership with the federal Office of Personnel Management. Most of the 50 participating organizations are part of the federal government, with California and Colorado being the only state governments taking part.
