As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
The Pathways Internship Program gives Interns the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and the opportunity to foster networking relationships. If you are seeking a diploma/degree and are looking for an opportunity to challenge your teambuilding skills, then this opportunity is for you! As a Student Trainee (Financial Administration), your typical work assignments may include the following:
- Preparing spreadsheets, charts, tables, graphs, and other exhibits to aid in presenting account reviews/findings.
- Verifying and analyzing reports against source documents and records to assess data reliability and accuracy of computations.
- Maintaining spreadsheets by reviewing documents to extract accounting data as necessary, entering data into systems, and taking a trial balance.
- Using Microsoft Office Suite or similar programs to create briefings, presentations.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Must be at be at least 16 years if age.
- Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
- Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
- The intern is in a trial period throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment.
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and receive no grade below average (C or equivalent) for the duration of their internships to continue their eligibility for participation in DEA Internship Program.
- Must sign a Participant Agreement that sets forth the expectations for the internship.
- Must be enrolled in classes a minimum of half time for the duration of the internship.
- Must provide all transcripts/proof of enrollment/acceptance, and/or current class schedule.
- Must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
- DEA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
Qualifications
For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility.
Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement.
Positions are open to current students pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution on at least a half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled).
To qualify for a Student Trainee (Financial Administration) as a GS-03 grade level must include at least completion of 1 full academic year of post- high school study.
To qualify for a Student Trainee (Financial Administration) as a GS-04 grade level must include completion of 2 full academic years of post-high study or an associate’s degree.
- At the undergraduate level, successfully completed education that has not led to possession of a degree is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. Four years of progressive study or 120 semester hours meets the degree requirements. Additional credit cannot be given for duplicate course work.
- For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school.
- An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
- When academic credit is expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from conventional semester or quarter hours, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an interpretation of such credits from the appropriate institution in order to equate them to the semester or quarter hours specified in the standard.
NOTE: If your college, vocational, trade, or technical institution’s definition of “academic year” differs from above, you must submit proof of this difference (e.g., copy of course catalog that defines an academic year). Absent this documentation, you will screened for academic qualifications based on the academic hours as defined in the bullets above.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Only education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM’s web site.
Competencies: Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competencies in the following areas:Attention to Detail, Flexibility, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Problem Solving, Self-Management, and Technology Application
For this internship, you must be able to work part-time when school is in session and full-time when not attending classes.
Interns will be assigned tasks designed to increase familiarity with the target occupation in a real-world work environment.
This opportunity follows a standard promotional path:
- Internship selection will be made at the GS-03 and GS-04 level. These grade levels are what typical college students in their second year may qualify.
- Within 120 days after completion of Internship requirements, you may be eligible for conversion into a permanent position without further competition and provided the Hiring Division/Office has an appropriate vacant position available at that time.
- Entry level for these positions are typically at the GS-05 level. The actual grade level at the time of conversion depends on academic achievement and other factors. The full performance level of this position is GS-05.
- Progression from the entry-level to the full performance level for this occupation will depend on successful completion of all requirements for promotion. Promotions may be considered after a year at each grade level but are not guaranteed to occur on a specific time schedule.
See requirements for conversion to permanent or term position in the “Additional Information” section below.
This position is a temporary excepted service appointment, Not To Exceed (NTE) for one year with the possibility of extension without further posting. This student position can possibly be extended until the student graduates or is no longer enrolled at which time the position will be terminated.
If selected, you must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement; be able to furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and be able to provide verification of academic status (official transcript) at the end of each academic term.
The student intern serves a trial period for the duration of their excepted service appointment.
Education
Pathways Student Program Education Requirements
To be eligible for an appointment, you must meet requirements A, B, and C.
A. Must be currently accepted for enrollment OR currently enrolled in a qualifying educational institution (a public high school whose curriculum has been approved by a State or local governing body; a private school that provides secondary education as determined under State law, a home school that is allowed to operate in a State; any of the following educational institutions or curricula that have been accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education: technical or vocational school; a 2-year or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g. law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum), on a full or half-time basis. You must remain enrolled and will be required to provide proof of current student status to be eligible for this program. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, click here.
B. You must maintain student eligibility and enrollment for the duration of the internship. If you do not maintain eligibility and enrollment, you are ineligible for this program. Please review this vacancy announcement in its entirety to ensure that you qualify to apply to this internship.
C. Every semester, you must maintain good academic standing with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) throughout their appointment to remain in the program. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.Applicants MUST submit a current transcript with the online application that details current classes or enrollment status and GPA. For transcripts which do not include current enrollment status then applicants can attach proof of enrollment in addition to their current transcripts.
- For Accredited Post-Secondary Institutions, click Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
- For Registered State Apprenticeship Programs Information, click State Apprenticeship Programs
- For Other Apprenticeship Programs, click Apprenticeship Programs
- For Industry-Endorsed Certificate Programs, click Career One Stop Certificate Finder
Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.