Navigating the Federal Hiring
Process for Internships
Brian Lawler
Diversity Employment Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Pacific Region
Brian_Lawler@fws.gov or 503-736-4789
Agenda
Pathways Program
Resume
Job Search
Application
Section #1: The Federal Government’s
Pathways Programs
Presidential
Management
Fellows
Program
Internship
Program
Recent Graduates
Program
Internship Program
 Designed for students from high school to graduate level
 Provides these students with paid opportunities to work and
explore federal careers while still in school
 Replaces former student programs (STEP & SCEP)
 Each Intern must sign a Participant Agreement that sets forth
the expectations for the internship
 Successful completion may lead to conversion to a permanent
or term job in the civil service
Recent Graduate Program
• Provides developmental opportunities for applicants who have
completed a qualifying education program within the preceding
two years
• Applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate
completion
• Veterans precluded due to military service obligation will have
up to six years after degree completion to apply
• Anyone who graduated between 12/27/10 to 7/10/12, eligibility
period starts two years from 7/10/12 to apply
Presidential Management Fellows
Program
Premier leadership development program administered
by OPM for graduate and professional degree candidates
 Applicants can self-nominate
 Successful completion of the program can lead to
conversion into a permanent or term position with
the Federal government
Work Schedules
• Interns may work full or part-time schedules as best meets
their needs and the needs of the agency
• During periods of non-work, Interns may be placed in Leave
Without Pay status
• Intern NTEs may have their end dates extended in one year
increments, as long as they continue to meet Pathways’
eligibility requirements
• If the Intern’s work schedule changes, a new Participant
Agreement is not required (note changes by pen & ink or
written attachment to PA)
• Recent Graduates and PMFs must work full-time schedules
unless otherwise authorized by OPM
Section #2: The Federally Formatted
Resume
• Complete your resume on either the www.usajobs.gov
website or uploaded as a .pdf or.doc file
• No underlines,  bullets, bolding, italics, special
characters  – just the basics
• Match your experience to the position duties
• Focus on your accomplishments and match them to the
job your applying for
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Read the job announcement carefully
• Link your experience and each KSA
• Credit your entire range of experiences
• Elaborate on skills and responsibilities outlined in
your resume
• Include examples
• Focus on any outcomes
Example of a Poor Response
My communication skills are excellent. I am often
asked to help out in this regard and have been
commended for my work.
Example of a Better Response
In the past 10 months, I have taken over a number of writing assignments previously held by my supervisor:
•I have been drafting monthly reports on leasing activities under the purview of our office. These are
routinely approved by my supervisor without change and are circulated to 10 field offices and Regional
Directors.
•I have assumed the responsibility of reporter for the quarterly meeting of the bureau’s Research Directors.
Reports of these meetings are reviewed by the Director’s Office prior to distribution to all participants.
•In January, I completed the course, “Writing Analytical Reports,” offered through the National Independent
Study Center. This was a six-month course involving 24 hours of training and covering such areas as:
planning an analytical report; collecting and analyzing data; identifying possible solutions to problems
addressed in the report; and organizing, writing, and editing the report.
In addition, while I was a student in college I developed and was recognized for my strong written
communication skills in a variety of capacities:
•After my junior year, I was selected for a summer internship with my state representative, for whom I
drafted constituent correspondence and press releases. Though I was an intern, the majority of the letters
and press releases I wrote were sent out without modification.
•During my senior year, I served as the chapter president of my honor society, and routinely wrote progress
reports to send to the headquarters of the honor society.
•Throughout college I was a staff writer for the student daily newspaper. As a reporter I wrote both short
news stories as well as in-depth feature articles on a weekly basis, and was selected for the feature writing
award by the editorial board my junior year.
Section #3: Job Search
Public Notice Requirements
• All Pathways Internship and
Recent Graduates opportunities
are required to be publicly
posted on www.USAJobs.gov
• Applicants will need to apply
and compete for all Pathways
jobs through www.USAJobs.gov
Hot Tip!
1. Create a job search
2. Save your results (maximum of 10)
3. Click the ‘notify me daily’ button!
Let’s see what an advanced search looks like…
USAjobs.gov Advanced Search
Title Search:
“Budget”
Location: Oregon
- Portland
Agency:
DOI
Grade: GS-5 to
GS-12
Click
“Federal
Employees”
for Schedule
“A” Jobs!
Save Your Searches and the system will notify you
when jobs appear
By selecting “Federal Employees”
you will see all of those positions
advertised for “special hiring
authorities” such as:
• Persons with disabilities (also known as a Schedule
“A” Appointment)
• Returning Peace Corps volunteers
• Veterans eligible under the Veterans Recruitment
Appointment (VRA)
• 30% or more service-connected disabled Veterans
Duties
Qualifications Required
How You Will Be Evaluated
Benefits
How To Apply
Required Documents
Agency Contact Info
Sample Assessment Questionnaire
A- I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this
task.
B- I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but
have not performed it on the job.
C- I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was
monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure
compliance with proper procedures.
D- I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have
performed it independently and normally without review by a
supervisor or senior employee.
E- I am considered an expert in performing this task; or I have
supervised performance of this task or am normally an individual who
is consulted by other workers to assist them in doing this task because
of my expertise.
Instructions on Answering Questions
• For each task listed below, select the statement from
A through E that best describes your level of
experience, education, and/or training. Select only
one letter for each task.
• Do no over-state or under-state your experience,
education and/or training.
• Your responses must be supported by your resume.
• You may need to provide detailed explanations of
how your past work experience is related to these
tasks.
Skill in utilizing and maintaining a
financial database and spreadsheet
software
Prepare narrative and statistical budgetary
forms, schedules and reports.
A - I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.
B - I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not
performed it on the job.
C - I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored
closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper
procedures.
D - I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it
independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.
E - I am considered an expert in performing this task; or I have supervised
performance of this task or am normally an individual who is consulted by other
workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise.
Ability to communicate financial data
in writing
Use an automated database to prepare data
summaries for inclusion on reports on budget
formulation.
A - I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.
B - I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not
performed it on the job.
C - I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored
closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper
procedures.
D - I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it
independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.
E - I am considered an expert in performing this task; or I have supervised
performance of this task or am normally an individual who is consulted by other
workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise.
Section #4: Application
• Resume
• Complete the steps on the job
The
Process
announcement
• Submit the complete
application package by the
stated deadline
• Follow up
What do they want me to do to
apply?
Read the job announcement
carefully
Note all the steps needed to send
in a complete application
Tailor your resume and
application using key words
What To Expect Next