Finding an Internship or Job in the Federal Government

With the University of Maryland's close proximity to Washington, DC, the federal government is a popular internship or job option for Terps.  There are many resources to help you prepare for applying to federal internships and jobs.  Please review the information below that will walk you through the step-by-step process of finding and applying to federal internships and jobs.  Complete the quiz to evaluate your understanding.

Searching for Federal Internships & Jobs

Each federal agency manages its own hiring.  The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) (Links to an external site.) simplified the federal internship and job search by developing USAJOBS (Links to an external site.).  The site lists most, but not all, open federal internships and jobs.  If you are targeting a specific agency, it is recommended that you visit that agency's website to learn more about their hiring process.

If you are unsure of where you fit into the federal government based on your interests and skills, visit GoGovernment.org, developed by the Partnership for Public Service, which gives college students insight into finding career options that fit for you within the federal government and valuable tips on how to develop effective application materials for internship/job postings.

The Federal Government has a Pathways Program for talented students and recent graduates with greater access to federal internships, as well as meaningful training, mentoring and career development opportunities.  Aside from Pathways, the federal government also posts volunteer internships on USAJOBS and individual agency websites.

There are special hiring initiatives within the federal government for students & recent graduates, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.  Click on the links provided to learn more.

Applying to Federal Jobs & Internships

Applying to the federal government can be a lengthy process and it is important to understand what is expected prior to partaking in the application process. Applicants may need to apply to the government  up to twelve months prior to the intended start date due to the expected security clearance needed in order to be considered for the opportunity.  Please watch the four videos below created by the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to help federal job and internship seekers with the application process.

How to Apply for Federal Jobs - 5:21

Resume Writing for Federal Government - 5:12

Most agencies prefer for applicants to create a resume in USAJobs through their Resume Builder.  Here is more information about Building a Resume in USAJobs.  Below is a video on how to make your resume stand out based on the listed qualifications in the job description.

5 Tips for Communicating Your Qualifications - 3:16

What Happens to My Resume When It's Sent to the Hiring Official? - 1:04

EVALUATION

After reading the information and watching the videos provided above, please complete the quiz to evaluate your understanding of the job and internship search process within the federal government.

For more information and additional resources, visit: careers.umd.edu