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Your Pathway to Federal Employment
By: Shannon Jones
Are you a recent graduate? A current student enrolled in school or in the process of finishing an advanced degree? Are you interested in working for the federal government? Look no further than the Pathways program; the program has three different opportunities for job seekers: internship, recent graduate, and the Presidential Management Fellows program.
Internships: The internship is for current students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, ranging from high school to graduate level. It is a paid internship that gives you the opportunity to gain real life work experience while attending school. To apply, go to www.usajobs.gov, search for positions under Pathway Intern and apply in desired area and career path. If selected, your internship begins if you
are accepted after completing an interview, background check, and reference check. The internship program is primarily administered by each hiring agency. Agencies may hire interns on a temporary basis, or for an indefinite period to complete the educational requirement. Also, interns can work part time or full time based on their educational schedule.
While participating in the internship, interns can be converted to a permanent position or term position within 120 days of successful completion of the program. To be eligible to convert, interns must complete at least 640 hours of work experience through the program, complete educational requirements, meet the qualifications for the position that the internship is being converted to, and perform the job successfully.
Recent Graduates Program: The Recent Graduates Program is for individuals that have completed an associates, or bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate within the previous two years. For veterans who have military service obligation, it is within the previous six years after degree completion.
The Recent Graduates Program is administered primarily by each hiring agency. To apply for a Recent Graduates Program, go to www.usajobs.gov and search Pathways Recent Graduate. If selected, Recent Graduate participants must sign a participant agreement document advising of the expectations of the program.