We will notify all applicants of their status by e-mail no later than noon ET on Wednesday, April 13.  All applicants will be notified at the same time.

When and where are interviews?

The City Hall Fellows interview sessions will be held April 28-29 in San Francisco.  The half-day sessions are scheduled to run 8:30 AM -12:30 PM and 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM.

Do I need to stay for the entire session?

You should plan on staying for the entire session.  If you have a major commitment that conflicts with the end of your interview session, we will do our best to allow you to leave early.

What should I bring to interviews?  What should I wear?

You must bring two things:  an ID (as you'll be asked to present it to building security) and your sealed official transcript.  We also recommend bringing a pen.  It is not necessary to bring a copy of your resume or a project portfolio.  Finalists should wear business attire.

The best preparation is to get a good night's sleep and give yourself plenty of time to get there; otherwise, you can't really do anything to prepare.

Because interviews will take place at a functioning office, please do not enter the interview location more than 10 minutes early.  If you arrive at the site of interviews earlier than that, once you've located the building, we request that you wait somewhere else (such as a coffee shop or a local park) in order to minimize the disruption.

What will happen during the interview?

The interview will have three components:  a group activity, an interview with a representative of the city and a representative of the program, and an interview with one or two current Fellows or alumni.  You will also have an opportunity to talk informally with program staff and current Fellows.

Can I have contact information for the people who interviewed me in order to send a thank you note?

Because of the collaborative nature of the interview process, thank you notes are not necessary for everyone that interviews you.

When will I find out the results of the interview?

We will contact all finalists by email at the same time, no later than May 6, regardless of status.

How does the waitlist work? 

Because we can only offer the same number of Fellowships as we have confirmed positions available with the City, we waitlist a number of finalists.  Every year, in every instance of the program, we've accepted at least one person off of the waitlist.  City Hall Fellows does not use a ranked waitlist, instead selecting candidates on a case-by-case basis.

Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of getting in off the waitlist?

No.  If you're on the waitlist, we'll ask you to affirm your interest in the program.  Repeated emails or emails to multiple program staff members are not necessary.

If I'm on the waitlist and accept another job, should I contact City Hall Fellows?

Yes, if you accept another job, please let us know and we'll remove you from the waitlist to ensure the waitlisted Finalists still interested in the program get the best opportunity.

How long will the waitlist remain open?

In the past, City Hall Fellows has accepted people off the waitlist for two separate reasons:  if a selected Fellow declines an offer in order to pursue another opportunity and if the City is able to secure additional funding to support more positions.  Generally speaking, the class is filled within 3-5 weeks.  Once the class is filled, we'll contact waitlisted finalists with that updated information.  Should any additional spots open (which could be as late as early July), we'll extend an additional offer at that point.