Student Trainee (Management and Program Analysis) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. PDP-25-DE-12707415 Department Government Accountability Office
Salary $19.76 to $19.76 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Part-time
Open Date 5/5/2025 Close Date 5/19/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. We accomplish our mission by providing objective and reliable information and analysis to the Congress, to federal agencies, and to the public, and recommending improvements, when appropriate, on a wide variety of issues to make government work better.

This vacancy is for Fall Undergraduate internship positions. The anticipated start dates begin in August 2025.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Current student enrolled in a undergraduate program seeking a degree from an accredited educational institution on a full or half-time basis.

Duties

As a GAO intern, you will learn how to conduct federal audits and program evaluations and apply that knowledge as part of a team. You will assist GAO analysts in planning and conducting in-depth reviews of executive and legislative branch programs. You will collect appropriate data, analyze the data, develop data-based findings and conclusions, and present the information both orally and in writing to diverse audiences.

Specific duties include:

  • Planning, prioritizing, and/or balancing own work assignments, identifying feasible work management approaches that address required activities and timelines.
  • Developing, identifying, contributing to, and/or using techniques, tools, and processes that are methodologically sound and targeted to job requirements.
  • Collecting relevant information that is aligned with objectives/planning decisions and meets needs.
  • Conducting analyses that yield quality information aligned with needs; identifying relevant information, patterns/inconsistencies, relationships, interdependencies, and potential implications.
  • Preparing quality written work that meets relevant writing and evidence standards, and that is appropriately targeted to the audience and purpose.
  • Communicating relevant and accurate information during formal or informal presentations, meetings, or interviews.
  • Partnering or collaborating with others to address issues or solve problems; following up with others to ensure needs are met.
  • Contributing to team efforts through participation in activities/meetings, soliciting and listening to others' opinions, and working collaboratively to accomplish team goals.
  • Soliciting, listening to, and considering diverse perspectives, approaches, or viewpoints, and incorporating others' perspectives into decision-making (when appropriate).

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Selective Service registration if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959. Visit http://www.sss.gov.
  • You will be subject to a background investigation/ suitability determination.
  • Student must work a minimum of 400 hours, not to exceed a total of 640 hours.
  • You must be currently enrolled and in good standing in an accredited undergraduate degree program throughout the duration of the internship.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the start of the internship.

To qualify for the GS-04 level you MUST be enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program, AND meet one of the following criteria:
  1. You must have completed 60 semester hours or 90 quarter credits of Bachelor's level education; OR
  2. You must possess an Associate's degree.
NOTE: You must be a current student enrolled in a Bachelor's program seeking a degree from an accredited educational institution on a full or half-time basis. 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.

Education

All applicants must submit their academic transcripts in order to be eligible. The transcripts may be unofficial or official and must show your status as a student, as well as support your educational claim.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www.ed.gov/

Additional information

This position is not in the bargaining unit.

This position does not have promotion potential.

The anticipated start date is August 2025. Work schedules can be Full-time or Part-time. Part time student interns are required to work at least 16 - 32 hours per week. Students who will graduate in December 2025 may be required to work full time in order to meet the required 400 hours.

Appointments for student intern positions are nonpermanent and generally last from 10 to 16 weeks when working full-time or part-time. Student interns may have an opportunity to convert to a permanent or term position based on a successful intern experience (completion of a minimum of 400 hours of work, not to exceed a total of 640 hours) and successful completion of degree requirements. The ability to convert to a permanent or term appointment with a minimum 400 hours of work experience is contingent upon agency needs, budgetary conditions, and staffing needs at the time of eligibility.

The pay for these intern positions are at the:

  • Washington, DC, GS-4, Step 1: $19.76.
Applicants who are selected for this position will be required to provide an official transcript on the day of your orientation or within 3 business days after orientation. This transcript must show that you meet the education requirements for the GS-4 grade level, and that you are currently enrolled through at least December 2025. Failure to meet the requirements or provide the transcript will result in termination of your internship.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL SELECTIONS: Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO.

Selectees will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. If selected, at the time of appointment, selectees will be required to update the OF-306.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees (and interns) with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be evaluated in accordance with the Category Rating procedure as defined in the GAO's Order for Competitive Examining. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be referred to the Rating Panel. The panel will assign a score to your application based on the answers you provide to the essay questions contained in this announcement and your resume. Applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement placed into a Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as described by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. If your application receives a sufficient rating, you will be assigned to one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.

Follow all instructions carefully as incomplete answers, errors, or omissions may affect your rating. It is important to have a well-written, thoughtful response to the essay question that is supported by your resume. You should draw upon academic, volunteer, and/or work experience as a basis for your response. Each essay cannot exceed 1,000 characters including spaces. You MUST provide detailed and descriptive narrative responses that explains how you have gained the experience that demonstrates that you meet each knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA). Any application that says "Please see resume" or the equivalent or "N/A" will not be accepted. One word or one phrase responses such as "advance," "basic," or "well," will not meet the requirement for the narrative and may result in a disqualification. The information you provide in your essays must be supported by your resume. Failure to provide a narrative may result in a disqualification rating.

All applicants will be rated based on their response to the essay questions, in conjunction with the following competencies:

  • Analysis
  • Writing
  • Research
Veterans' preference applies to this vacancy. The Category Rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligible applicants within each quality category. For more information regarding veterans' preference please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/
It is important that you do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the assessment, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12707415

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: Resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional). Your resume must show the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment.

All applicants must submit college or university undergraduate transcripts (official or unofficial) that support the semester/quarters number of hours completed and/or degree conferred.

Current proof of enrollment (i.e., transcript showing coursework through Spring/Summer 2025, copy of registered courses for Fall 2025, OR a letter from school registrar's office confirming enrollment status for the duration of the internship). Note: a letter of acceptance does not qualify as proof of enrollment.

Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login). All of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

GAO Recruitment
Address
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email.

Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. Applicants who meet the basic requirement will be sent to the rating panel for rating and raking to be placed in a quality category. Applicants who are determined to be "best-qualified" may be contacted for an interview.

GAO may contact applicants to determine the most appropriate method for conducting the virtual interview. If you do not meet the key requirements, basic qualifications or fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.

You can check the status of your application at any time through your personal USAJOBS account.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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