Tuesday
Dec132011
10 tips for applying for the Google Policy Fellowship
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:51AM It's that time of year again when we sift through hundreds of applications for the Google Policy Fellowship at Creative Commons. I've been helping with this process for the last 2 years. It's a shame that Google is still asking applicants to list two organizations they'd like to work with. This is unfortunate because it waters down applications. Some of the strongest applications I've seen are ones that simply ignore trying to speak to two separate orgs and just focus on the one the applicant is most interested in. That being said, here's a few tips. No snark intended.
1. You should mention the org you wish to work at within the body of your application narrative. For example, if you do not mention Creative Commons, we will not choose you.
2. If you do not list Creative Commons as your first choice, there is very little chance that we will choose you. I assume this is the same at all the other orgs. There are just so many qualified applicants, the probability of choosing someone from the second-choice pool is very, very low.
3. Please send us ideas and propose something that you're interested in or would like to work on in your fellowship. The Google Policy Fellows do not make coffee.
4. Research the organization you are interested in. Sure, you won't know as much as the persons reading the applications, but try to be able to speak intelligently on the subject.
5. Never use the phrase "intersection of technology, policy, and law" ;)
6. Everyone should have a website or some online web presence where the host organization can find out more information about you. Leverage the web to show us who you are, what you’re working on, what you care about.
7. It is assumed that you are a hard worker, have good ethics, organized, attentive to detail, etc. Don't waste your time telling the reader this in the application.
8. Tell us why you want to be a fellow for our org up front. There's plenty of time to to describe the classes you're taking, but mention those as supporting evidence of your interest in the org, not as a way to fill up the application.
9. Do not make any excuses on any portion of your application.
2. If you do not list Creative Commons as your first choice, there is very little chance that we will choose you. I assume this is the same at all the other orgs. There are just so many qualified applicants, the probability of choosing someone from the second-choice pool is very, very low.
3. Please send us ideas and propose something that you're interested in or would like to work on in your fellowship. The Google Policy Fellows do not make coffee.
4. Research the organization you are interested in. Sure, you won't know as much as the persons reading the applications, but try to be able to speak intelligently on the subject.
5. Never use the phrase "intersection of technology, policy, and law" ;)
6. Everyone should have a website or some online web presence where the host organization can find out more information about you. Leverage the web to show us who you are, what you’re working on, what you care about.
7. It is assumed that you are a hard worker, have good ethics, organized, attentive to detail, etc. Don't waste your time telling the reader this in the application.
8. Tell us why you want to be a fellow for our org up front. There's plenty of time to to describe the classes you're taking, but mention those as supporting evidence of your interest in the org, not as a way to fill up the application.
9. Do not make any excuses on any portion of your application.
10. If you have more than one grammar mistake in your application, the likelihood that any org will choose you approaches zero. Have a friend help edit your application. It's a nice thing to do.
