Frequently Asked Questions

Why a Federal Recruiting Council?

The basic purpose of the council is to improve the Federal Service through the recruitment of high-quality people with particular emphasis on university, college, and technical school graduates.

How do we accomplish our purpose as a council?

·         By facilitating the exchange of knowledge and information in the field of recruitment and placement.

·         By communicating and coordinating the needs and requirements of Federal activities with all institutions of higher education.

·         By learning from leaders in Federal, public, industrial, and academic sectors.

·         By improving our methods and recommending needed changes to the office of Personnel Management (OPM) and/or other higher authorities.

Who are members?

Members are representatives of Federal agencies and accredited institutions who have a mutual interest in placing quality graduates in the Federal Service. The only requirement for membership is an indication of interest for participating in council affairs.

How do I become a member?

You are automatically eligible for membership if you represent the personnel staff of a Federal agency, or you are the Placement or Cooperative Officer of a college or university. In addition, there is an annual conference registration fee for a year's membership. Simply notify the Membership Committee Chair to add your name to our mailing list.

Please help us keep your membership information up-to-date. Contact Membership Committee Chair with any changes.

What Officers and Executive Committees do we have?

Top flight speakers and college officials broaden our views and offer helpful suggestions and criticisms. We share experiences among ourselves and through panel programs, workshops, and 'after hour' sessions. We have strengthened the partnership between government recruiters and college placement officers. We continually survey our needs and the resources with whic we have to work. As resources shrink, priorities change, and new challenges confront our members, the networks we form through SEFRC provide the information, relationships and resources needed to meet our goals.

How did we get started?

The Council resulted from a conversation in 1957 between Bob Paty of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Bob Reeves of Brookley AFB. Bob Paty was then CSC Recruiting Officer for the Atlanta Region. The two Bob's were exploring ways to step up and improve college recruitment, and they concluded that a professional association of Federal recruiters would be an aid. The idea was not new, we found, but new to us.

How long have we had a Council?

We organized in 1958 in Atlanta. Our first planned conference was in July 1959 at Brookley AFB, Alabama. Many college placement officers and college officials were our guests. We met in 1960 and 1961 in Atlanta. For our 1962 conference, we moved to Gatlinburg to avoid the distractions of Atlanta conferees withdrawing from the conference to attend regular business. Our change in locale was so successful that we went back to Gatlinburg in 1963 and 1964.