Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Those in Registered Apprenticeship Programs and Job Corps programs are also eligible to apply. This is a Pathways Internship position which may confer eligibility for non-competitive conversion to a permanent or term appointment.

RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

This is an Intern position in the Pathways Program. Upon completing the Pathways Program requirements, may be non-competitively to a permanent, career-conditional position.

As a Public Affairs (Pathways Intern) you will be responsible for:

• Drafting content for and distributes a variety of communications for internal and external audiences including content for social media and web.  
• Assisting in coordinating requests from across the agency for digital communications support.    
• Supporting the implementation of new new initiatives and projects that will enhance the team's operational effectiveness.  
• Identifying, tracking, and reporting relevant breaking local, state, and national news.  

Conditions of employment

• Must be actively enrolled in a master's or Ph.D. degree program.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
• Resume must not exceed two pages and must meet resume format criteria.
• Education-Transcripts Required

Must maintain at least half-time enrollment status as defined by your school.  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.  Therefore, you should only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  You may verify accreditation at the following website:  http:www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html  All education claimed will be verified.

Qualifications

Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

• Must be actively enrolled in a Master's or Ph.D. (or equivalent) degree program.
• Enrolled in a school that has been accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Enrolled at least half-time as defined by your school.
• Be in good academic standing (i.e., must have at least a 3.0 GPA or its equivalent).
• US Citizen or if you are not a citizen you must meet one the following criteria:  1. owe permanent allegiance to the United States (for example, natives of American Samoa and Swains Island); 2. be a lawfully admitted for permanent residence and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B); or 3. be admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or have been granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and have filed a declaration of intention to become lawful permanent resident and then citizen when eligible.

How you will be evaluated

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

Optional Four Essay Questions

At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.

What is the Rule of Many

The FCC adheres to the Rule of Many. The Rule of Many means that more than one applicant can be referred to the hiring manager, not just the top few, nor will candidates be placed into scored qualification categories (i.e. Best Qualified, Fully Qualified, Minimally Qualified).

Everyone who meets minimum qualifications and scores 70 or higher may be referred, even if many applicants qualify. There is no fixed limit on how many people can be referred.

What this Means for Applicants

• You do not need to be the highest scorer
• You do need to meet qualifications and score at least 70
• Multiple applicants can be considered fairly
• Selection is based on overall qualifications, not just test scores
• Veterans preference applies

SME REVIEW

At the time of application you are required to take an external skills-based assessment which is based upon government-wide recognized competencies and consistent with OPM Merit Hiring Plan requirements and the Chance to Compete Act. Should you receive a passing score of 70 or higher, your application will be reviewed by subject matter experts to determine if you meet the OPM qualification requirements for this position.

• Oral communication
• Written communication
• Skill to interact effectively
• Ability to determine effective communication techniques

Merit Hiring Plan Resume Requirements

In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement.

Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:

Contact Information

Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.

Relevant Work Experience

• Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
• Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022)
• The number of hours you worked per week

Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.

Resumes must be formatted as outlined above. If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.

• Resume
• Copy of your transcripts showing total credit hours earned and cumulative GPA.
• Veterans MUST submit form DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," or an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.

Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s).  All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Additionally, you may not receive the special consideration, e.g. Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible without the appropriate supporting documentation. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents.  If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.

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