Exploring Internship Opportunities at the US Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offers a variety of internship and fellowship programs that provide valuable on-the-job experience to students and recent graduates at all educational levels. These programs serve as pathways to explore federal careers, gain practical skills, and contribute to the USGS's mission of providing scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems.
USGS Internship Programs: A Gateway to Federal Careers
The USGS offers paid federal internship and employment opportunities for current students, recent graduates, and those with an advanced degree through its Pathways Programs. These programs are designed to improve recruiting efforts, offer clear paths to Federal opportunities for students and recent grads from high school to post-graduate school, and provide meaningful training and career development opportunities for new Federal employees.
Pathways Programs: Three Distinct Paths
The Pathways Programs include three different paths:
- Internship Program: Provides high school, undergraduate, and graduate students with opportunities for paid work in agencies and to explore Federal careers.
- Recent Graduates Program: Provides recent graduates with one to two-year developmental experiences in Federal agencies. Individuals must have graduated from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical education program within the previous two years. (Veterans unable to apply due to service obligations have up to six years after degree completion to apply).
- Presidential Management Fellows (PMFs): Provides advanced degree candidates and graduates the opportunity to participate in the Federal government's premier two-year leadership development program.
Eligibility for USGS Internship Programs
To be eligible for the USGS Internship Program, you must be at least 16 years of age and meet the definition of a student. A student is an individual who has been accepted for enrollment, or who is enrolled, as a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) seeking resident student in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate or professional school. This includes students pursuing a GED. The student must be taking at least a half-time course load, as defined by the school in which the student is enrolled.
Types of Internship Appointments
The Internship Program offers two types of appointments:
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- Temporary Interns: Appointments are typically for one year or less to complete temporary or short-term projects.
- Career Interns: Appointments are expected to last more than one year and may lead to permanent employment.
The appointment type will be specified in the job posting. Temporary internships may be summer-only or year-round, depending on student eligibility and needs of the office.
Program Details and Requirements
Interns may work part-time or full-time. For students participating in either Internship program there must be a written Participant Agreement and a formally arranged schedule of school and work. The student and USGS need to work together to accommodate the academic needs of the student and the work related needs of the agency. Limits on the length of the break in program are at the discretion of the USGS. The USGS should assure themselves that the student is making reasonable progress towards the attainment of the degree/diploma etc. and that the needs of the manager and USGS are also being considered.
Interns are required to sign a Participant Agreement outlining expectations for the internship.
Pay Increases and Promotions
Students can receive pay increases. If Federal employees receive a pay increase, all students would receive this increase. Additionally, students in the Career Intern program are eligible for what is referred to as within grade increases. For students in the temporary internship, eligibility for within grade increases depends on the pay system of the occupation. Temporary intern employees are eligible for within-grade increases only when they are in blue collar positions (typically called Wage Grade) involving trades, craft, or labor work. Temporary Intern employees in white collar positions (typically called General Schedule) e.g., scientific, technical, administrative, clerical, etc. do not receive within-grade increases.
Permanent Intern employees are eligible for promotions. A General Schedule (GS) employee is entitled to an increase in pay of at least two steps (about 6 percent) upon placement in a higher graded position without a break in service. A Wage Grade (WG) employee is entitled to an increase in pay of at least one step (about 4 percent).
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Leave and Benefits
Students in the Permanent Internship program earn annual and sick leave. Students in the Temporary Internship program earn annual and sick leave provided their appointment duration is for at least 90 days.
For newly employed interns, health, dental, vision and life insurance coverage for Federal employees depends on the type of appointment an employee has and the expectation of substantial employment during the year.
Veteran's Preference
Yes, Veteran's Preference apply in the selection process for students.
Number of Appointments
There is no limit on the number of times a student may be appointed under either program as long as he/she meets the eligibility requirements for the appointment.
Recent Graduates Program: Launching Your Career
The Recent Graduate Program promotes careers in civil service for individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs by providing one-year paid developmental opportunities in federal agencies. Applicants must have graduated from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical education program within the previous two years. (Veterans unable to apply due to service obligations have up to six years after degree completion to apply.) Recent graduates who successfully complete the program may be noncompetitively converted to a permanent or term appointment in the competitive service.
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Eligibility for the Recent Graduates Program
You must have graduated within the last two years from a qualifying associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate educational program. Additionally, eligibility has expanded to include individuals who have completed a qualifying career or technical education program (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps). Veterans who are unable to apply within two years due to service obligations have up to six years after degree completion to apply.
Program Details and Requirements
Recent graduates hired through the program are assigned a mentor and will be required to sign a Participant Agreement that outlines the expectations for the program and roles and responsibilities. In coordination with their supervisors, recent graduates develop a training plan (Individual Development Plan) that outlines the position-specific training needed to ensure career development and preparation. Participants must complete at least 40 hours of formal, interactive training each year of the program. The program is designed to provide pathways for career growth within federal service and offers opportunities for career advancement.
Additional Internship and Fellowship Opportunities
Beyond the Pathways Programs, the USGS collaborates with many universities and other partners to provide internships that are managed by external partners. Some examples include:
- GISCI/USGS Cooperative Summer Fellowship Program: This program was established in 2017 to complement the USGS longstanding NAGT/USGS field training program. The partnership with the GIS Certification Institute targets students with training in GIS programs and applications.
- ORISE Research Participation Program: This program offers USGS internships or fellowships. Selections are made by the USGS mentor after completion of an eligible application in Zintellect. Participants receive a monthly stipend to help defray living and other expenses during the appointment. A relocation reimbursement may be provided for expenses for participants who relocate more than fifty miles, one-way, to the assigned hosting site.
- Public Land Corps (PLC): A work and education program that engages the Nation's conservation and service corps on public lands.
- Direct Hire Authority for Resource Assistant Internships (DHA-RAI): Rigorous internships in a career field necessary for the effective management of public lands and resources.
- Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship: The Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship provides a unique educational and professional experience to graduate students interested in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The Fellowship matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative and executive branches of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one-year paid fellowship.
How to Find and Apply for USGS Internships
All Pathways Internship opportunities are posted on USAJOBS. In addition, visit OPM’s Pathways Programs.
Why Work for USGS?
The Geological Survey (USGS) has career opportunities that make a difference in both the lives of others and in the environment. The USGS has more than 10,000 scientists, technicians, and support staff working in more than 400 locations throughout the United States. Geological Survey collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. The diversity of our scientific expertise enables us to carry out large-scale, multi-disciplinary investigations and provide impartial, timely, and relevant scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers related to: the health of our ecosystems and environment; natural hazards that threaten us; natural resources we rely on, and; the impact of climate and land-use changes.
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