Student Trainee (Administrative Support)

Clarification from the agency

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.

As a Student Trainee (Administrative Support), your typical work assignments may include:

• Establishing and maintaining office files.
• Receiving incoming calls and visitors.
• Providing callers and visitors with general information.
• Preparing a variety of standardized documents from rough draft and/or oral instructions.
• Processing and distributing mail to appropriate individuals.
• Developing documents using a variety of office automation applications.
• Performing special projects.

As a Pathways Student Trainee at the NIH, you will be engaged in projects/tasks related to your position and program area. The NIH Institute will share further information on the structure and content of the program with you during the interview process.

This announcement can be used to fill a variety of administrative positions such as: Auditor, Accountant, Human Resources Assistant, Human Resources Specialist, Program Specialist, Extramural Support Assistant, Program Support Assistant, Administrative Technician, Administrative Officer, Management/Program Analyst, Budget Analyst, Engineer, Purchasing Agent, Property Management Specialist, Ethics Program Assistant, Grants Management Specialist, and/or IT Specialist.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
• The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be at least 16 years old by the closing date of this announcement.
• Must have obtained and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. GPA is based on current enrollment.
• Pathways Inerns and their supervisors must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement which outlines expectations for the internship prior to entrance on duty.

Qualifications

To be eligible, you must be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis in an accredited educational institution for Fall 2026. These institutions include (but are not limited to):

• High School
• College (including 4-year colleges/universities, community college, and junior college)
• Professional, Technical, Vocational, and Trade School
• Advanced Degree Program
• Certificate Program*
• Registered Apprenticeship Program
• Other qualifying educational institutions

*A note about certificate programs: Certificate programs are defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institute and must be equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study. The certificate program must also be a part of an accredited college-level, technical, vocational, trade, or business school curriculum.

To qualify for the GS-3 grade level: You must have completed at least 1 full year of post high school education OR have 6 months of general work experience equivalent to a GS-2 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: performing clerical tasks related to processing paperwork, preparing correspondence, receiving visitors and telephone calls and referring them to the appropriate staff members.

To qualify for the GS-4 grade level: You must have completed at least 2 full years of post-high school education or completed the requirements for an associate's degree OR have one (1) year of general work experience equivalent to a GS-3 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: performing clerical tasks related to creating filing systems, using computer software, and organizing and maintaining manual and reference guides.

To qualify for the GS-5 grade level: You must have completed 4 academic years of post-high school education leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree OR have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: performing clerical tasks related to processing paperwork related to administrative duties, utilizing automated systems and software applications, inputting information into databases, assisting with providing logistical support for program staff, preparing travel documents, providing general office support to staff.

To qualify for the GS-6 grade level: You must demonstrate in your resume, at least 1 year of qualifying experience equivalent to a GS-5 in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector. Examples of qualifying experience include: receiving visitors/phone calls, directing caller to appropriate staff; maintaining files; maintaining policies/procedures/docs for ready reference; maintaining office supplies; arranging equipment repair, and/or office moves; performing travel-related duties; utilizing automated systems and software applications, inputting information into databases, assisting with providing logistical support for program staff, etc.

To qualify for the GS-7 grade level: You have completed one (1) full academic year of graduate-level education, if related OR demonstrate eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree OR 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-6 in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing administrative support functions re: HR, security, travel, training, files management, budget, supplies and inventory, property accountability, or space management; developing/implementing office procedures; maintaining employee records, performance appraisals, job descriptions, etc.

Superior Academic Achievement: If you are claiming SAA you must provide evidence such as a copy of your official transcript at the time of application. .

To be eligible under Superior Academic Achievement at the GS-07 level you must meet one of the following requirements: a) graduating within the upper-third of the graduating class in a college, university, or major subdivision such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; b) obtain a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; c) being elected for membership in a national scholastic honor society. Note: SAA must be based on a related curriculum that is qualifying for the position being filled

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12985778

How you will be evaluated

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

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications.

Veteran's Preference does apply. If you are claiming Veterans' Preference, you MUST submit supporting documents with your application package to verify your preference claim and receive preference. These documents may include but are not limited to: DD-214 member 4 copy (which indicates character of service), SF-15, VA Letter and/or Activation/Deactivation orders. If you are a veteran, click here for additional information and about required documents.

Selections will be made in preference order. All individuals in the highest preference group must be selected before making selections from the next lower preference eligible group. All preference eligibles must be selected before making selections from the non-preference eligible group.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Problem Solving
• Self-Management
• Technology Application

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS.

Required for All Applicants
RESUME:

Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. While cover letters provided with your application will be shared with hiring officials, they will not be used for initial qualification determinations. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history. If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed.

Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins. Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text. You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position:

1. Job title
2. Employer name
3. Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY)
4. Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated)
5. Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable)
6. Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions)

If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.

For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Help Applying, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Guidance.If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you need to list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS
You must provide the documentation listed below AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire.

• Veteran Documentation: (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.). Reference Standard Form 15 (SF-15) for required documentation if you are a 10-point preference eligible. Submission of SF-15 is not required, unless you have derived preference (XP) as described in questions 7, 8, or 9 on the SF-15. In those cases, you must submit a completed SF-15 and the required documentation. For 5 point preference eligibles, you must submit your DD-214 (if separated) or any written documentation from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package Do not submit documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official(s).

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