Everything You Need to Know About The U.S. Pathways Internship Program
If you’re a high schooler interested in working for the government in the future, an internship at a federal department or agency can be a solid starting point. The U.S. Pathways Internship Program is one such opportunity for high schoolers to explore federal careers.
An internship under this program could allow you to explore fields such as politics, public service, policy, legal studies, and more. It would also give you insight into the government's vast work — its inner workings, how policies are developed and implemented, and the day-to-day operations of various departments and agencies.
With a Pathways internship, you will get to build a valuable network that can be useful when you pursue a federal career after graduation. Additionally, a government internship can boost your college applications, demonstrating your willingness to get hands-on work experience at a federal agency or department.
If this sounds like something you would like to explore, here’s everything you need to know about U.S. Pathways Internships.
What is the Pathways Internship Program?
Pathways is an initiative of the U.S. government to recruit students and recent graduates and provide rewarding careers in federal public service. It came into effect on July 10, 2012.
The Pathways framework consists of three programs — the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and the PMF Program. The Pathways Internship Program is a paid opportunity designed for students in the U.S. enrolled in educational institutions — high school to graduate level. It allows students to work for federal agencies and departments temporarily, explore federal careers while still in school, and get paid for the work they do. With this internship, students get some hands-on work experience in public service and a variety of other fields, depending on the specific opportunity. The government relies on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to oversee and implement the program and offer support to the different agencies hiring Pathways interns.
The internship is usually an in-person opportunity, however, some amount of telework (remote work) may be permitted depending on the agency.
Who can apply?
Generally, meeting the following requirements makes you eligible to apply for a Pathways Internship:
Be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree or certificate in a qualifying educational institution
Be a student (high school, undergraduate, or graduate) throughout the duration of the appointments
Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the agency’s Participant Agreement
Meet the qualification standards for the specific internship positions
However, each federal agency can add to the criteria and specify requirements such as the ability to work a specified number of hours per week, maintain good academic standing i.e. a minimum grade point average (GPA), and the ability to work in a certain location(s). For instance, most agencies require Pathways applicants to be:
U.S. citizens
At least 16 years of age by the closing date of the job announcement
Be able to receive with a Secret or Top Secret security clearance
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 throughout the internship appointment
So, before applying, make sure you carefully review the eligibility criteria listed in the job opportunity announcement on USAJobs to see if you are the right candidate for the role.
How to apply?
You can find Pathways Internships via the USAJobs platform on the Students and Recent Graduates page. On the website, you can also use the search feature and select “Students & recent graduates” under the Hiring path filter or “internships” or “recent graduates” under the Appointment type filter. Once you find a listing that fits what you’re looking for and your education level, you can click on it, check the role details, scroll down to the “Required Documents” section, and then submit the online application along with the documents on the USAJobs website itself. Certain Pathways internships posted on the USAJobs may not have an online application process. In that case, the job listing will share the application instructions.
How is the program structured?
Nature of work: Students can find internships related to their academic fields of study or career interests. The idea is to provide meaningful work that supports agencies’ needs and aligns with the interns’ academic fields of study or career interests. So, the primary duties of regular interns should not be limited to basic administrative or clerical tasks, like scanning documents or filing. Interns NTE will be assigned short-term work, like assisting with temporary projects, filling summer jobs, or performing labor-intensive tasks that do not require subject-matter expertise. You can also read through the program handbook to understand the program structure and guidelines in detail.
Schedule: Interns can choose between part- and full-time work. The exact duties and work hours can vary depending on the role and agency. For instance, the Student Trainee role in the Engineering and Construction Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers involves assisting with construction administration, screening incoming inquiries, and compiling data. So, you will have to review the requirements, pay grade, and role description on the listings available at USAJobs to understand what to expect.
Dates and duration
Pathways Internships can be offered on a rolling basis throughout the year. However, the exact start and end dates vary based on the specific role. The end date is generally the intern’s projected graduation date plus 120 days. Agencies can hire both long-term/indefinite interns and temporary interns (called interns not-to-exceed (NTE)). Regular interns would need to sign up for at least one year of work, while interns NTE are supposed to work for less than a year.
What are some pros & cons of applying to the U.S. Pathways Internship Program?
Pros:
Paid opportunity:
Pathways Internships are typically paid opportunities, so you will be compensated for the work you do as an intern based on your education level. The pay is usually decided via the GS level.Chance to explore federal careers:
A Pathways internship can grant you a first-hand look at the inner workings of governmental agencies, public service roles, and ongoing policy implementation work. It is also a chance to develop the professional skills required for a successful federal career.Possibility of conversion:
The program could convert an internship into a term or permanent position in a competitive service. Pathways participants must complete 640 hours (320 hours if they receive a waiver) as part of their internship to be eligible for conversion. Also, the intern should:
- Be a United States citizen
- Complete a course of academic study within 120 days of academic program completion at a qualifying educational institution conferring a diploma, certificate, or degree
- Meet the qualification standards for the position to which they will be converted
- Receive a good recommendation from the agency the intern has served
- Meet agency-specific requirements specified in the participant agreement.
So, if a federal career is something you plan to pursue, the program can be a great way to get your foot in the door.
Cons:
Time-consuming:
A Pathways Internship can take up a lot of time. While you could find part-time work or summer internships at an agency, you may still have to meet strict work-hour commitments. So, before signing up for the role, you must check the Participant agreement thoroughly to understand what is expected from you as an intern.No guarantee of conversion:
Conversion is neither mandatory nor guaranteed for Pathways participants. Even if an intern completes 640 hours of work, they may not be hired by the agency at the end of the program unless they complete a course of academic study.
Final thoughts
If pursuing a federal career is something you’re considering seriously, then the Pathways Internship Program is worth considering. As a Pathways intern, you will get to see what it’s like to work for the government and contribute toward a federal agency’s mission. If you haven’t decided what you want to do next, the program can also help you explore areas of interest before committing to a college major and career path.
But, before signing up for any Pathways Internship, you should carefully review the role requirements, work expectations, and other details to see if the role would be a good fit for you and that you would be a good candidate.
To get started, here are some agencies offering Pathway Internships:
You can keep an eye out for all the agencies’ Pathways Internship announcements at USAJobs.
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Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.