1DOT Pathways Internship (Pathways)

Summary

This internship is part of the Department of Transportation's 1DOT Pathways Internship Program, expected to begin May 30, 2027. This is a temporary internship with a possibility of extension throughout the academic year provided the employee remains eligible for employment in the Pathways Intern Program. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) on at least a half-time basis in a qualifying educational institution.

Duties

The 1DOT Internship Program empowers aspiring public servants to engage directly with the operational and policy challenges shaping modern government. Positioned across the Department of Transportation (DOT), interns collaborate with professional engineering, analysts, economists, financial experts, engineers and human resources professionals to advance national transportation initiatives. Participants actively coordinate business operations, gaining firsthand exposure to how policy, finance, safety, and human capital intersect to sustain and modernize the nation's transportation systems. The 1DOT Pathways Student Trainee works in support of the office they are assigned to which may include: Performing a variety of engineering, mathematics, IT, or analytical and administrative assignments selected to broaden skills and providing practical experience aimed at developing the employee's ability to perform progressively complex tasks and assignments. Performing assignments designed to orient, train, and increase the student's knowledge in either engineering, IT, mathematics, business, economics, management analysis, financial management, safety oversight, human resources, administrative support, and/or transportation program operations. Assisting professionals, analysts, specialists, and program staff with the planning, design, maintenance, operation, review, organization, and interpretation of business, engineering, mathematics, or IT projects in relation to transportation. Assisting in the development of materials for briefings, reports, presentations, policy documents, communications products, conference materials, and executive summaries for supervisors and leadership. The Department of Transportation (DOT) seeks highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students passionate about driving business operations, organizational management, and public policy within the federal government. Academic Background: Preferably currently enrolled in a relevant degree program for either engineering, Mathematics/Statistics, IT, Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Communications, Management, Data Analytics, Transportation, or a related discipline. Core Competencies: A demonstrated track record of analytical problem-solving, meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational capabilities, and exceptional communication skills. Mission Alignment: A proactive eagerness to learn and directly apply business, financial, and policy concepts to optimize real-world government operations and advance the national transportation sector. The 1DOT Internship Program integrates on-the-job training with pertinent education by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. GS-0199 – Economics Student Trainee Series GS-0599 – Financial Management Student Trainee Series GS-1899 – Safety Inspection Student Trainee Series GS-2199 – Transportation Student Trainee GS-2299 - Information Technology Trainee GS-0299 – Human Resources Student Trainee Series GS-0399 – Administrative Support Student Trainee Series (e.g., Communications, Public Affairs, Program Support, Data Analytics, Administrative Management) GS-1199 – Business and Industry Student Trainee Series GS-0099 – Community Planning Student Trainee GS-0099 – Environmental Protection Specialist Trainee GS-0199 – Engineering Psychologist Trainee https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#GS-TECH=&url=List-by-Occupational-Series.

Requirements

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) on at least a half-time basis in a qualifying educational institution. UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP: Must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. SECURITY CLEARANCE: If selected for an IT Student Trainee position with the OCDIO, a security clearance may be required. Must meet the eligibility requirements for the Pathways Internship Program. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Must complete a background investigation. DECLARATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT: Selectee is required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine suitability for federal employment. PHYSICAL LOCATION: Intern will be required to work onsite. TRIAL PERIOD: The intern is in a trial period throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment. WORK SCHEDULE: Interns should be able to work at least 40 hours per week during summer. PHYSICAL LOCATION: The intern will be required to report to the designated onsite location as identified upon selection.

Qualifications and evaluation

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: Please be clear and specific when describing your experience, as HR evaluates applications strictly on the facts provided and will not make assumptions. To receive full credit, your narrative responses must be written in paragraph format and explicitly match your resume. Begin each response by listing the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full- or part-time status, average weekly hours, and federal series/grade (if applicable). Within the body of the paragraph, clearly describe your specific duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes. HR will cross-check these details against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every claim and timeframe, the experience will not be considered for credit, which may result in an ineligible determination. You will not be considered for the position if any part of the application or supporting documentation is incomplete. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or adverse action after hiring. Once you complete and submit your application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the job. Qualified students will be referred to the hiring manager in unranked order by veteran preference status: (1) Preference eligible having a compensable, service-connected disability of 10 percent or more; (2) all other candidates eligible for 10-point veteran preference; (3) candidates eligible for 5-point veteran preference; and (4) candidates not eligible for veteran preference. Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Education

PATHWAYS ELIGIBILITY: You must be a current student enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment in an accredited college, trade school, or other qualifying educational program for the Fall 2027 semester/quarter on a half to full-time basis (as defined by the educational institution) and must maintain qualifying student status throughout the entire internship period. Please note: If you are graduating from your current academic program prior to May 31, 2027 or during the duration of this internship, you will not be eligible for this student appointment UNLESS you are accepted for enrollment in a qualifying educational program seeking an additional qualifying degree, diploma, certificate, etc. You MUST submit proof of acceptance for future enrollment, along with your current transcripts, in your application for consideration. • Interns may work full-time during the summer and a flexible part-time work schedule during the school year (based on agency needs) while continuing their education. • Enrollment must be at least half-time course load as defined by the higher education institution (typically six hours or equivalent for undergraduate and three hours or equivalent for graduate). • Qualification requirements (education) for each grade level applied to must be met by the closing date of this announcement. • Eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. If selected you: • Must provide official transcript. • Must sign Pathways Participant Agreement. • Must maintain status as a current student AND maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA; • Must furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and • Must provide verification of academic status (e.g. official transcript, registrar letter, etc.) at the end of each academic term or upon agency request. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to apply

To be considered, you must submit all required resume details and applicable documents no later than 11:59 (EST) by the closing date of the announcement. Note: Uploading documents to USAJobs does not automatically attach them to this application. You must review and verify that all files are successfully transferred to our system before final submission. Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified. To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting. Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at Transjobs@dot.gov.

Required documents

ALL Applicants must provide a maximum 2-page resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy. The following is a list of documents that are only required based on the type of position and consideration for which you are applying. Please review each of the following sections to determine which, if any, additional documents you need to provide with your application. Resume Completed Questionnaire. Transcripts and/or Enrollment Verification is REQUIRED: Transcript: The transcript may be an unofficial transcript at the time of application but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. However, you will need to provide an official transcript before you are given a final job offer. Acceptance Letter of Enrollment: A letter from the educational institution that confirms the following: The degree/diploma program in which you have been accepted and that you will be enrolled at least on a half-time basis. Required from all applicants who need to verify enrollment per the stated education requirements. SPECIAL ATTENTION: To be considered, you must submit all required resume details and applicable documents by the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified.

Additional information

This is an Excepted Service appointment on a temporary basis.This is a temporary internship to complete project work that is temporary in nature. The appointment is not-to-exceed September 19, 2027. The temporary appointment can be extended and/or converted to a new temporary appointment at management's discretion based on the needs of the organization for the work to continue and provided the employee remains eligible for employment in the Pathways Intern Program. Promotion is not permitted during this temporary appointment. Conversion to the Competitive Service: Upon successful completion of all Pathways Internship Program requirements and the student's academic program, the intern may be noncompetitively converted within 180 days, without a break in service, to a term (time-limited), career-conditional, or career appointment in the federal government up to a GS-12 Full performance Level (FPL) provided the student has completed all Pathways conversion requirements, to include working at least 480 hours in an appropriate program, meets the qualification and time to hire requirements, and has received a favorable recommendation for retention. Please note that conversion is not guaranteed and is subject to the needs of the agency, available funding, and satisfactory performance. Grade level upon conversion will be determined by management and qualifications. Refer to the Qualifications and Requirements section for information pertaining to the Pathways Internship Program. For additional information about applying to Federal Pathways Internship Positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualificationstandards/#url=GS-PIP This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.