FACT #1: 85% OF FEDERAL JOBS ARE NOT IN WASHINGTON D.C.
FACT #2: STUDENTS CAN USE A LITTLE-KNOWN PROGRAM TO CONVERT THEIR FEDERAL INTERNSHIP TO A FULL TIME JOB.
FACT #3: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS 1,000’s OF TALENTED PROFESSIONALS AND WILL BE HIRING SOON. (SEE ARTICLES AT BOTTOM)
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Finding Opportunities in the Federal Government Without Using USAJobs.gov
Working in the federal government can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. BUT finding the right opportunities can be a long and frustrating process, especially when using USAJOBS.gov, the central place to find and apply for federal openings.
FORTUNATELY, there are several opportunities for current students, undergraduates and recent grads that are not part of the competitive hiring process and are not listed on USAJobs.gov.
This document will introduce you to two growing federal hiring programs for students and recent graduates: the Student Employment Experience Programs (SEEP) and the Federal Career Internship Programs (FCIP). This email includes slide show with info and downloadable documents including an agency-by-agency listing with key details and contact info.
1. Introduction to the Student and Federal Career Internship Program
Students interested in federal government employment must know two acronyms: STEP and SCEP. The STEP (Student Temporary Employment Program) and the SCEP (Student Career Experience Program) make up the federal government’s SEEP. The purpose of both programs is to give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to participate in substantial, career-enhancing, paid, internship-like positions. Both the STEP and SCEP offer other benefits to the student depending on the hiring agency, like vacation, health insurance, and retirement, and they are not part of the competitive hiring process.
What about opportunities for alumni? Don’t let the word “Internship” turn you off from Federal Career Internship Program (FCIP) opportunities as you don’t have to be a current student for these particular FCIP opportunities. The federal government created the FCIP hiring authority to help agencies bring in the best and brightest graduates. FCIPs are professional training programs often given names like “Emerging Leaders Program” or “Administrative Fellows Program.” Regardless of the names, the FCIP hiring authority is the closest thing federal recruiters have to “on-the-spot” hiring, and they don’t have to be posted in USAJobs.gov.
The first section of the following slideshow will give you the basics of the SEEP opportunities, and is followed by an outline of the FCIP.
2. Listing of Specific Federal Agency Internship, Application Info & Contact Details
This is an agency-by-agency list of basic SEEP and FCIP descriptions, application details and contact info. It is by no means comprehensive or exhaustive. New positions are created every day, often at the suggestion of students and alumni. Please send your updates to Paul Binkley via email at tscareer@gwu.edu and he will add them to the listing.
THREE HELPFUL HINTS IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR FULL-TIME FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT
1. Focus on SCEP internships. Why? Most often are paid and you can possibly convert it to a full-time federal job once you graduate.
2. If you do a SCEP internship in one agency you can convert that experience to a full-time job in a completely different agency.
3. You can get half of the required hours needed for a federal job waived by superior performance in your internship. (Supervisor can waive if they agree)
RECENT NEWS ARTICLES ON FEDERAL HIRING:
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HIRING FOR THOUSANDS OF JOBS
HOW TO RIDE THE FEDERAL HIRING WAVE
THIS EMAIL MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY NASPAA
This Federal Career Info Message is from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Your school is a member and that is why you are able to receive this message. Please see www.NASPAA.org. You can also join us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions or suggestions please email Scott Talan, Director of Communications at NASPAA, at Talan@naspaa.org.
THANK YOU TO GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Information and slide show were created by:
Paul Binkley, Director of Career Development Services
Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration
The George Washington University
Washington, DC 20052
Web: www.gwu.edu/~tspppa
*Citation for 85% of federal jobs being outside of Washington DC is from Partnership for Public Service who tracks and works with federal agencies in helping provide better and clearer ways to recruit new people to federal service.