The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) offers
15–20 paid internships each summer.
We look for interns with skills, background and interests that apply to a variety of assistantship positions such as economics, trade specialists, biotechnology, criminal justice, public affairs, information technology, and program analysis.
Internships provide substantive work assignments
for college students on a wide variety of international trade and agricultural trade issues. Interns work in the FAS offices in Washington, D.C.
The SIP provides participants with an excellent opportunity to learn about issues, programs, and activities related to international agricultural trade.
Students gain a broader view of U.S. agricultural interests through interaction with the other USDA agencies. A broader perspective on U.S. international trade and development interests is achieved through interaction with overseas offices and other federal agencies such as the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Trade Representative.
The SIP also functions as an entry into internship programs leading to permanent employment. Other programs that FAS sponsors include:
How To Apply
Each vacancy announcement provides
directions for submitting applications,
both online and via fax, under the "How
to Apply" tab.
Application Timetable
Selection Process
Applicants are reviewed and ranked by a panel. Nikia Sizer will notify top applicants by mid-March. Fifteen to
20 individual supervisors will select from the list of top applicants. They will contact you for an interview and check references. Nikia Sizer will notify applicants chosen by supervisors by early April. Students who are not on the top list will be notified by early April.
Internship Dates
The SIP runs June–August. Starting and ending dates are flexible and will be determined by the student and supervisor.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation varies, however most students will earn pay at the
Federal GS/4-7 level
for the duration of the internship. Housing expenses may be covered by the Agency. Please see the table below to determine your GS salary level. Housing expenses may be covered by the Agency.
Qualifications for determining GS salary levels
Students must be enrolled in a qualified education program. The following are generally the qualification requirements for the GS-3, -4, -5 and -7 grade levels.
|
Grade |
Experience |
Education |
|
General |
Specialized * |
|
GS-3 |
6 months |
None |
1 year above high school with courses related to the occupation, if required. (30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours = 1 year) |
|
GS-4 |
1 year |
None |
2 years above high school with courses related to the occupation, if required.(60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours = 2 years) |
|
GS-5 |
None |
1 year at least equivalent to GS-4 |
4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor=s degree with courses related to the occupation, if required. (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours = 4 years) |
|
GS-7 |
None |
1 year at least equivalent to GS-5 |
1 full year of graduate education directly related to the work to be performed.(18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours = 1 year) |
*Specialized experience may be defined as experience being directly related to the responsibilities of the advertised position.
NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. Specific course work for some positions may be required.
Where To Get More Information
The SIP Coordinator in Human Resources is Nikia Sizer. Please contact her for further information at email:
Nikia.Sizer@usda.gov or(202) 401-0176
Other Federal Employment Opportunities
USAJOBS, the official employment Web site for U.S. government jobs, is a great tool for learning about federal employment.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the FAS Civil Rights Staff at (202)720-7233 (voice) or (202)720-1786 (TDD).
