We each have something unique to offer in the work of fixing our country, and if you have a talent for using technology to really engage people, the Code for America fellowship may be the best way for you to make a real difference. You won’t risk your life, but it will be challenging, it will push your limits and give you new skills and perspective, and it will be hugely rewarding. To borrow from the Peace Corps, it will be the toughest job you’ll ever love.
How do I apply?
The application process begins with the completion of a simple web form. We’re looking for information about your past experiences and work product, as well as a clear indication of interest in the program. Candidates advancing in the process will be asked for interviews and references. In 2012, we will be offering an early decision program, in addition to our regular application process:
- April 15: Early Decision Deadline
- May 1: Early Decision Selection Notification
- June 1: Early Decision Candidates Confirmation Deadline
- August 1: Regular Decision Application Deadline
- September 15: Regular Decision Selection Notification
- October 1: Regular Decision Candidates Confirmation Deadline
- October 15: 2012 Fellows Announcement
- January 1: 2012 Program Start
Who are we looking for?
Anyone with the skills and passion to make cities work better using technology. Many of you will be starting your careers, but others of you will have been working on the web for years and just want a chance to do something important and altruistic. All of you will want to see your work make a difference to cities and change how government works.
Do I need to be a coder?
We are building small project teams here, so we’re not just looking for developers. We need designers, product managers, and researchers. So yes, we will be developing serious and innovative technology for each city, and for that we need high-caliber developers and programmers. But we’ll also need researchers to determine the city’s needs, project managers to translate those needs into features, designers to fashion those features into a usable application, and business analysts to integrate that application in a sustainable system. We need folks who can bring new technologies into city governments and help spread change. We need passionate, smart, diplomatic people who get how it could work better, and can convince others of the value of trying something new.
Where would I be working?
The program will be based out of San Francisco, where fellows will spend the majority of their time in order to share of resources across the teams, engage in training and development exercises, and connect with mentors and speakers from the Silicon Valley and San Francisco-based technologies communities. In the month of February, however, the fellows will be embedded on-site in their assigned cities — either Boston, Philadelphia, Boulder, DC, or Seattle — working with city officials hands-on to understand their needs and develop the project.
Can non-US residents apply?
As a startup, Code for America cannot at this time sponsor work visas for international applicants. Non-US citizens with the necessary paperwork to participate in the year-long fellowship are welcome to apply.
What’s the “Early Decision” Application Process?
To provide more immediate feedback to early candidates, this year we’re introducing an early decision (ED) review process. Candidates who apply by April 15 and opt-in to the ED process will be notified of selection by May 1. Only a limited number spots will be available for the ED process, since project needs won’t be known till later in the year, so any candidate not selected in the early round of review will be considered along with the other applicants in the fall.
More questions?
Great. This is the first year for Code for America so we don’t have all the answers yet, so don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re working hard to put all the pieces together. But no piece is more important than getting the right people to raise their hands and say “I’m in. I want to help.”
Can we see a few hands?
