Student Employment
Government Jobs / Federal Jobs / Internships

• Student Employment

• Presidential Management Fellows Program

• Outstanding Scholar Program

• Internet Resources (Helpful Links)

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Student hiring programs are available to attract students into the public sector. These programs offer on-the-job experience that could lead to a full-time career with the government after graduation. Industry and government utilize student programs to identify prospects for future hiring. An average of 63,000 students are employed each year in federal government.

The Student Educational Employment Program consolidated the Cooperative Education, Stay-in-School, Federal Junior Fellowship, and Summer Aid pro-grams to combine key features of the old programs along with added functions to improve and streamline operations. This program consolidated 13 student hiring authorities into one program consisting of two components.

You may be hired under these programs if you are working at least half-time for a:

1. high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED),

2. vocational or technical school certificate, or

3. degree (associate, baccalaureate, graduate or professional).

The first component, the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP), introduces students to the work environment and teaches basic workplace skills. Approximately 46,307 students were employed in this program in 2005. The second component, the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), provides experience directly related to the academic and career goals of the student. Approximately 16,786 students were employed in the STEP program in 2005.

SCEP program participants may qualify for conversion to a career or career-conditional appointment. Eligibility for conversion requires that students graduate from an accredited school, complete a core amount of program work, and be hired into a position related to their academic training and career work experience. No competition is required.

Appointments to jobs under STEP are temporary and can range from summer jobs to positions that can last for as long as you are a student. Employing agencies, at their discretion, may establish academic and job performance standards that students must meet to continue in the program. There is no conversion element un-der the Temporary Employment Program.

Students interested in the Temporary Employment Program or the Career Experience Program can find out about job opportunities through their school guidance office, teachers, or federal agency employment office where they are interested in working. You can also visit the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM's) student web site listed on our resources page to review the entire program, post your résumé, and search for job vacancies. You will also find links to Uncle Sam's new e-SCHOLAR web site that lists many agency student recruiting initiatives and outlines available programs.

Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF)

This program (formerly the Presidential Management Internship Program) is targeted for graduate students who would like to enter management in the federal government.

Entry into this program is considered an honor and recognized throughout government. In 2004 there were 412 selections made to over 28 major universities. Georgetown, American, and Columbia universities had the largest group of finalists in 2004. The Department of Justice was the biggest sponsor, selecting 57 Fellows for this program.

Professional, entry-level positions are available that provide exposure to a wide range of public management issues and offer career progression potential. Fellows candidates are appointed for a two-year period and most positions are located in the Washington, D.C. area. Visit our resource page to link to OPM's PMF web site for complete information and guidance. At the end of the two-year appointment, Fellows upon program completion are converted to permanent positions as long as their performance was satisfactory.

PMF Qualifications

Typical study areas that qualify include finance, economics, accounting, criminal justice, business administration, health administration, urban planning, social services, public administration, information systems management, law, political science, and information systems management. This list is not all-inclusive.

You must be scheduled to receive or have received a graduate degree.

• During your studies you must have demonstrated an outstanding ability and personal interest in a government career in management of public policies and programs.
• You are currently a U.S. citizen or will soon become a citizen before being appointed to a PMF.

Your graduate school’s dean, director, or chairperson must nominate you for the program. Nominations are made by December 1 of each year. Selections from each school are highly competitive and are based on skills, abilities, and knowledge.

Complete information on student employment opportunities is included in The Book of U.S. Government Jobs.

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