On October 8, the Ford School welcomed Rob Shriver, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, for an in-person conversation to reflect on his career, discuss public service, and the future of the federal workforce.
During the fireside chat with Ford School students and the University of Michigan’s Public Service Internship Program, Shriver highlighted over 600 federal job openings in Michigan and emphasized work the Biden-Harris Administration has done to improve federal benefits, raise pay, and expand pathways to enter a career in the U.S. government. Shriver invited students to explore federal careers and spoke about his own experience working for the federal government.
“Over the past four years, we’ve made federal careers more accessible for early career talent, more competitive with pay and benefits, and more rewarding for anyone who wants to make an impact,” said Shriver.
This visit was an opportunity for students to ask direct questions about navigating a federal career, the application process, and specific initiatives designed to attract students and recent graduates.
“Ford School students want careers of service, where they can apply their skills to creating positive impacts on communities. The U.S. federal government provides a very wide range of just such opportunities, and so federal service is top of mind for our students,” said Peter Vasher, Director of Career Services at the Ford School.
After kicking off the Michigan leg of the tour at Michigan State University, Shriver has continued to make stops at various Michigan universities to encourage a wide range of students to consider a federal career.
“My message to students is: We need you,” said Shriver. “We need your passion, your talents, and your skills. And the good news is, whatever your dream job, there’s a version of it in the federal government.”