Student Employment and Internship Positions
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Get Your Career in Motion. BE PART OF THE AGENCY THAT KEEPS AMERICA MOVING.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) offers employment opportunities to students through the following programs:
Benefits, such as leave accrual, health benefits, life insurance, and other benefits vary by program. In addition, due to budgetary restrictions, the FRA recruits for positions under the student employment programs on an as needed basis, and opportunities are limited.
STUDENT EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM:
This program is available to all levels of students: high school, vocational and technical, associate degree, baccalaureate degree, graduate degree, and professional degree students. This program has two components.
1. Student temporary employment component:
Job opportunities under this component offer you temporary employment. Employment can range from summer jobs to positions that can last for as long as you are a student. These employment opportunities need not necessarily be related to your academic field of study.
2. Student career experience component:
This component offers you valuable work experience directly related to your academic field of study. It provides formal periods of work and study while you are attending school. It requires a commitment by you, your school, and the employing Federal agency. You may be eligible for permanent employment under this component after successfully completing your education and meeting work requirements.
Program features under both components:
- Students may be employed year round.
- Flexible schedule of work assignments.
- Open to all students - high school, under-graduate, graduate, and vocational/technical.
Eligibility requirements:
You are eligible under the Student Educational Employment Program if you are:
- A student enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree-seeking student (diploma, certificate, etc.).
- At least the minimum age required by Federal, state or local laws and standards governing the employment of minors.
- Taking at least half-time academic or vocational and technical course load in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school, and A U.S. citizen or a national (resident of American Samoa or Swains Island). Non-citizens may be eligible for employment if:
- permitted by a Federal agency's appropriation act, and
- eligible to work under U.S. immigration laws.
U.S. citizenship is required for conversion to permanent employment under the Student Career Experience Component.
Next steps....
Students may contact their school guidance office, career planning and placement office, teachers, or Federal agency employment office where they are interested in working. To learn more about the Student Educational Employment Program, we encourage you to visit http://www.opm.gov/employ/students/index.asp
or you may contact Ms. Renee Clark in FRA’s Office of Human Resources at (202) 493-6117.
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STUDENT VOLUNTEER SERVICE:
Federal agencies and departments offer unpaid training opportunities to students in high school and college. These opportunities provide work experience related to your academic program. The program allows you to explore career options as well as develop your personal and professional skills. As a student volunteer, you will be exposed to the Federal work environment and will learn about the missions and responsibilities of various Federal agencies and departments. To learn more about the Student Volunteer Service, we encourage you to visit http://www.usajobs.gov/ei20.asp
or you may contact Ms. Renee Clark in FRA’s Office of Human Resources at (202) 493-6117.
In addition to the student employment programs mentioned above, the FRA participates in a number of internship programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
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TRANSPORTATION CAREER RESIDENCY PROGRAM:
Also known as the Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP), the Transportation Career Residency Program was designed to help DOT/FRA recruit and attract exceptional individuals into a variety of occupations and is intended for positions at grade levels GS-5, 7, and 9. In general, individuals are appointed to a 2-year internship. Upon successful completion of the internships, the interns may be eligible for permanent placement within an agency. To learn more about the Career Intern program, we encourage you to visit http://careers.dot.gov/stu_entryprog.html
and http://www.opm.gov/careerintern/index.asp
or you may contact Ms. Renee Clark in FRA’s Office of Human Resources at (202) 493-6117.
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SUMMER TRASPORTATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR DIVERSE GROUPS (STIPDG):
STIPDG is a 10-week internship program designed to provide college/university students with hands-on experience and on-the- job training, working on current transportation-related topics and issues. The STIPDG is open to all qualified applicants, but is designed to provide qualified women, persons with disabilities, and members of diverse groups with summer opportunities in transportation where these groups have been under represented. To learn more about the STIPDG program, we encourage you to visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/education/stipdg.htm.
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MINORITY SERVING INSTITUITIONS INTERNSHIPS (MSI):
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and FRA is committed to ensuring effective implementation of White House educational initiatives directed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and institutions that serve Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and persons with disabilities. The Office of Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), located in Washington, DC, provides oversight, program management and coordination of the Department-wide implementation of these initiatives under the umbrella of the DOT MSI Program. To learn more about the Minority Serving Institutions Internship program, we encourage you to visit http://www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/asp/dotpart/msi/dotpartmin.asp
or you may contact Ms. Rhonda Murrill in FRA’s Office of Civil Rights at (202) 493-6011.
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PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS PROGRAM (PMF):
DOT/FRA is proud to support the Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF). The PMF program is a two-year Federal career developmental program for individuals with master's or doctorate degrees. This highly competitive program provides participants an opportunity to explore career opportunities in the Federal Government and gain valuable management, analytical and leadership skills. Since its creation in 1977, the PMF program has attracted a cadre of individuals who have outstanding academic and professional backgrounds and a strong commitment to public service. To learn more about the PMF program, we encourage you to visit https://www.pmf.opm.gov/
or you may contact Ms. Renee Clark in FRA’s Office of Human Resources at (202) 493-6117.
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