Summary

Unpaid internships with the FMC are offered year-round and can last up to 12 months beginning Spring 2026. Duties vary based on the office in which the intern is placed. FMC's Internship Program offers valuable experience that contributes to educational and professional growth, and may be applied in any future employment endeavor, including federal, state and local governments or in the private sector. Learn more information about the agency and its offices and bureaus at http://www.fmc.gov.

This job is open to

Students

Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.

Clarification from the agency

The FMC is currently accepting applications from students currently enrolled in an accredited college or university in pursuit of a four-year undergraduate and/or postgraduate degree (e.g., Masters/JD/Ph.D. Program) on a full or half-time basis.

Duties

The duties associated with this position will vary based on the team or office assignments. The following list is to provide applicants with a general overview of the duties and responsibilities.

Conducting research on industry practices.
Collect, research and analyze relevant information.
Drafting memos summarizing research and briefing the Chairman or Commissioner.
Communicate relevant and accurate information, clearly and concisely during formal or informal meetings.
Collaborate with others to accomplish goals.
Use various enterprise tools and technology to prepare and share documents.
Provide essential support such as arranging meetings, taking notes, responding to routine inquires.
Assist in purchase requisitions and travel requests.
Provide administrative support to Human Resources, Financial Management, or other administrative areas.
Participation in the implementation of security policy, standards, procedures, and guidelines.

Duties of a legal intern may include:

Researching and writing legal memoranda, including pleadings and papers
Reviewing and analyzing evidence in ongoing investigations
Assisting attorneys in preparing investigative testimony, depositions, and discovery

Requirements

Conditions of employment

You must be a United States Citizen or National.
You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
You must be at least 16 years of age or older.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
If a J.D. or LL.M candidate, be in good academic standing at an accredited ABA law school.
Be in good academic standing at an accredited college or university.
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.

Qualifications

In addition to the key requirements listed in this vacancy announcement, the Student Volunteer must also posses the following qualities: All applicants must meet the basic requirements to be considered eligible by the close of this announcement.

Ability to work well in a team environment.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing to a variety of audiences.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Ability to organize a variety of assignments simultaneously to meet deadlines.
A working knowledge of computer applications such as Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.
Creative thinking with ability to perform analytical and strategic tasks.

Note: If at any point during the internship (and for any reason) your status as a student changes to that of a non-student, your internship will be terminated. The FMC reserves the right to discontinue the volunteer experience at any time.

Education

Conditions of Student Volunteer Program:

Selectees must submit school transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) and proof of enrollment in a degree or certificate seeking program at an accredited education institution.
Actively enrolled (at least part-time) in an accredited college/university.
Student volunteers do not receive payment of any kind from FMC, except approved volunteers may be eligible for a transit subsidy.
Students must sign and adhere to the Federal Maritime Commission's Student Volunteer Service Agreement.
A representative from selectee's school must sign the Federal Maritime Commission's Student Volunteer Service Agreement form.
Although optional, students are encouraged to work with their school academic advisor to request course credits for the Student Volunteer Program.

Student Volunteers may work during the school year and/or during summer or school vacation periods. The nature of the volunteer assignment as well as the work schedule will be established once onboard.

You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent.All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov.

Foreign Education Note: You may use foreign education to meet qualification requirements if you send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency in with your transcript. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

This vacancy posting will be used to fill ongoing Student Intern Volunteer positions in a variety of offices. This posting does not guarantee selection.

This position does not offer salary, benefits, or conversion to permanent employment.

Travel and relocation expenses related to this hiring process will not be paid.

Individuals selected will be eligible to receive transit subsidy.

Below is the link to the FMCs Bureaus and Offices to provide an overview of each office: https://www.fmc.gov/about/bureaus-offices/

FMC is seeking non-paid volunteers to encourage interest in public service careers and provide valuable work experience. As a non-paid volunteer, students will gain first-hand experience performing a variety of tasks related to supporting the activities of the Commission. Student Volunteers may work during the school year and/or during summer or school vacation periods. Students seeking course credit for externship positions are responsible for coordinating in advance with their education institution.

*** If selected for this position, you will be required to report, in-office, to the duty station listed on this announcement. Per Agency's policy, you will be required to follow reporting procedures***

Veterans' Preference: If you are entitled to Veterans' Preference, you must indicate the type of preference you are claiming by checking the appropriate box in the assessment questionnaire to indicate your preference and submit the documentation as specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy announcement.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

This is an unpaid volunteer internship. Participants are not eligible for salary, stipends, benefits, or other forms of compensation. Participation does not confer eligibility for federal employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement, leave accrual, or any other employment-related benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Complete applications will be reviewed to make sure all volunteer intern program criteria are met. Selections are based on academic achievement, area of study, experience, completeness and professionalism of application package, ability to commit to summer schedule, and interview(s).

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application includes your:

Resume
Current transcripts showing enrollment (REQUIRED - an unofficial transcript is acceptable)

NOTE: You must maintain student eligibility and enrollment for the duration of the internship. If you cannot, you are ineligible for this program. Please review the "QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED" section of this vacancy announcement to ensure that you qualify for this internship.

Required Documents

Starting on September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length. Learn more about the new resume requirements.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

Your Resume (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES) showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of your qualifications, you will not receive consideration for the position.
Submit a copy of your current official/unofficial transcript or proof of current enrollment, e.g., recent letter from the registrar's office. (Note: If you are selected for this position, an official transcript will be required prior to your first day.)
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.)
Current or Former Political Appointees (if applicable) - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently or have been a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch within the last 5 years, you must disclose this in your application package.
Cover letter should detail your interest in this internship with our Office, along with the skills or experiences you hope to gain.

Failure to submit documents required may result in loss of consideration.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on March 23, 2026, to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.

You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into https://login.usajobs.gov/Access/Transition select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

Agency contact information

Office of Human Resources

Phone: 2025235773
Email: OHRMaritime@fmc.gov

Next steps

You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS My Account tab and clicking on Application Status. For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on more information.

Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

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