The federal government has several programs that help students receive valuable work experience with federal agencies. These programs range from summer internships to two-year commitments. Following are descriptions of these programs provided by the Partnership for Public Service and links to the programs’ web pages:
The STEP, another name for a temporary internship with a federal agency, is a great way for students to be exposed to the government. STEP positions are paid and can range from a summer job to a position that lasts as long as the student is in school. It is not necessary for the work to be related to the student’s academic major, which allows the student to gain experience in a variety of fields. Students enrolled in high school, a two-year or four-year college or university, a technical or vocational school, or a graduate program are eligible to apply. The program requires that the student be a U.S. citizen.
SCEP positions, which are for undergraduate and graduate students, are substantive internships in federal agencies. The work must be related to the student’s area of study and requires the agency to have a formal commitment with the student’s institution. Most positions are paid, and the student may also receive academic credit. If the student successfully completes 640 hours of work, he or she can be appointed to a permanent position without going through the traditional hiring process. This program requires its students to be U.S. citizens.
The highly competitive PMF program is an excellent way to launch a career in the federal government upon completion of a graduate program. These are two-year positions in which fellows have the opportunity to complete rotational assignments and receive extensive training. The application deadline is in early fall of the final year of graduate school (this year, it's October 16), and students must be nominated by their school.
FCIP is designed to help agencies attract top undergraduate and graduate students to a variety of entry-level paid positions. These are two-year, full-time commitments, and not short-term internships. They involve various development and training programs, often grouping new FCIPs into a cohort. Upon successful completion of the program, participants may be eligible for permanent placement within an agency. Individuals interested in career intern opportunities should contact the specific agency directly. Agencies control their own FCIP hiring process and may restrict the selection pool to certain schools.
Note: The Partnership for Public Service will award five Call to Serve Innovation Grants of up to $5,000 each to assist campus-wide efforts to develop an effective federal service campaign. In addition to the monetary award, “innovation campuses” will receive support from the Partnership's staff, including a complimentary training session valued at $4,500, as well as access to networking opportunities with federal agencies and colleges and universities around the country. Eligibility requirements and the application can be found at www.calltoserve.org/grants. The application deadline is November 16, 2009.