Ex-feds launch websites to help unemployed civil servants find new jobs

Updated at 10:30 a.m. ET on April 25 

Brian Levine, a former federal prosecutor, describes himself as a “natural yenta or matchmaker.” Still, when colleagues would ask him if he knew of experts in certain fields with government experience, he had issues finding the right people. 

On Wednesday, Levine officially launched FormerGov.com, which acts as a directory of former federal, state and local employees. He believes it’s one way civil servants who have been impacted by layoffs or separation incentives can find new jobs. 

“We're helping everybody to find the needle in the haystack, and we're helping the needles to be found,” Levine said. 

The website is one example of numerous digital resources that have popped up in recent months to assist government workers who have been affected by President Donald Trump’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce. 

Levine argued that it can be difficult for non-government organizations to discover former federal employees because government job titles can be unclear (e.g. calling federal prosecutors assistant U.S. attorneys) and public workers aren’t supposed to have a large public presence. 

“When you’re in government, you have to keep your profile low. They sort of require that, unless you're at the very top executive level,” he said. “So when you get out of government, you don't have much visibility in terms of your public profile. Nobody has heard of you for the most part, and yet, at the same time, you have all these special skills and insights and experience. So part of this is to enable [federal employees] to amplify their profiles right away.” 

The website has more than 1,500 members. While the directory is free to search through, individuals do have to pay to be listed in it. Levine, however, is offering unemployed federal employees a free year of membership. Interested individuals should contact Former Gov on LinkedIn for the discount. 

Similarly, a group of former civil servants in February created FedsForward to help unemployed federal employees find work outside of government. 

“I’m seeing and talking with so many [federal employees] who have so much talent and value to bring but aren't sure where they fit outside of government. At the same time, I don't know if the [non-federal] sectors see all that feds bring. So it's kind of like a matching inability right now for a large and extraordinary pool of talent," said Karen Lee, one of the co-founders. "I went through this. I know some of the feelings that some right now are feeling.”

FedsForward’s resources include a fed-specific checklist of things to do after being laid off, upcoming job fairs and related events as well as an artificial intelligence-powered playbook to “successfully translate your federal experience to the non-federal sector.” 

Other websites to assist former federal employees in the job search include: 

• govjobs.fyi, a new webpage from Twitter and Google alums that compiles openings across local, state and federal government. 
• Civic Match, which is a platform for civil servants, contractors and campaign staffers to connect with hiring managers for positions in state and local government. It is an initiative of Work for America — a nonprofit to help state and local governments recruit and retain staff. 
• The Partnership for Public Service has numerous resources for federal employees affected by recent removals. 

Levine said that websites like his help the market tap into a skilled but often overlooked well of talent.

"People with former government experience are super valuable resources in the sense that they have incredibly unique experience, expertise and insights that nobody else is going to have. That makes them very valuable,” he said. “So my theory is the only reason that anyone has a hard time out there is because they're super hard to find."

This story has been updated to clarify that former state and local government employees can be listed in the Former Gov directory too.