Tag Archives: Business

Get Your Foot in the Door with Federal Internships

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The federal government has become a “career-builder” and any federal government job opportunity can be looked at as a “leg up” on the competition.  The federal government sector, like many private sector businesses have started utilizing more internship programs as a means of “growing employees” into positions.  Simply put, government internships are all paid positions.  They may be part-time or full-time positions depending on the program.  The Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) is a program to assist with helping current students gain work experience while still going to school.  The benefit to the internship program is the flexible and opportunity to make additional income for the student.  The agency keeps track of educational milestones of the employed student and graduation dates.  In many cases the STEP Intern will be offered a position based on their time-in-position, generally an entry position with the possibility of growth for the future.  Many executives received their “in” by utilizing internship programs such as the STEP program.

Another internship program is the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) is a program focused on exposing the student to the career field, which the student is focused.  Normally, an entry position this program allows for students to learn from their peers and supervisors in their educational field they are currently studying.

With both programs there are eligibly and qualification requirements for a potential candidate selection.  Not all interns are offered a permanent position with the federal government agency, yet these programs are a method for potential permanent federal government employment and getting a “foot in the door.”

Basic STEP/SCEP Eligibly Requirements:

Current Student

Field of Choice

Copies of Transcripts

Agency Student Contract

Part-Time or Full-Time Academic Program Status

To read more about applying for federal positions check out my book:

10 Tips for Applying for Government Jobs

For more information on Federal Internship Programs:

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/students-recent-graduates/

Answering Job Interview Questions on Future Plans

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When you are interviewing you will be asked about your future plans. This is a question that selecting officials use to see where you plan on “being” in a determined amount of time.

You will be asked: What are your long-term goals? What are your long-term career objectives? This is not an opportunity for you to “spill your guts” keep it professional and stay focused. Think about this question before you interview, you shouldn’t take more than 5 – 7 minutes. Talk about your professional goals and what educational aspirations you have. DON’T talk about your personal life or what personal projects you are working on.
Selecting officials want to know: How do you plan to achieve your career goals? They don’t want details, this is a rhetorical question that is meant for them to see if you know how to lay out goals and patterns on how to achieve goals. This is actually a tactic to see how you focus on objects and how you plan to achieve objects. Again, keep it professional not personal – stay focused.

The final future plan questions the selecting official will ask: What do you see yourself doing in five years from now? and What plans do you have for continuing your education? They questions help selecting officials to determine what kind of professional “drive” and motivation you actually have. It is my personal advice to answer all interview questions, keep in mind you can “respectfully” decline to answer any interview questions that you don’t feel comfortable asking. If you don’t plan on continuing your education or haven’t thought about what your goals are for the next five years, it’s okay – use your imagination and stay focused on the professional conversation.

For more information on answering job interview questions check out my Pep Talks Series