Summary
The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development. The incumbent may work in one of the out-based offices located throughout the Regional Offices area of responsibility. The mission is to provide comprehensive counseling, vocational and employment service to eligible individuals.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Current students in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.
Duties
This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. Pathways Internship positions provide for development and training. Assignments become more responsible as incumbent increases knowledge and skills through work experience and academic training.
As an intern, you will be assigned to a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) or group of counselors. You will be assigned tasks designed to familiarize you with different aspects of the occupation. The purpose, objectives, services, and outcomes are developed by the VRC during the evaluation. The program's primary focus will be on helping the veteran find work and set goals and objectives to help them become more independent in their daily lives.
- Provides services for employer consultation, employment development and placement, career counseling, and vocational planning and assessment.
- Initiates evaluations to determine the presence of a vocational handicap, whether it qualifies as an employment handicap, the degree of the handicap, the viability of reaching a vocational objective, eligibility for Chapter 31 rehabilitation benefits, and the requirement for independent living services.
- Under the discretion of the rehab counselor, explores treatment and other services for Chapter 31 Veterans.
- Observe interviews conducted by counselors with veterans to learn about their psycho-social histories, and helps veterans make well-informed decisions about their careers using a variety of approaches, including Tele- counseling, depending on the needs of the Veteran.
- Assists counselors with establishing partnerships with administrators at schools, Vet Centers, military bases, and federal, state, and local agencies to determine the individual needs of service members and veterans and to provide the essential assistance.
For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/ and https://www.usajobs.gov/help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/students/
Work Schedule: Full time or Part time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: At minimum 20 hours and maximum 80 hours each pay period depending on the student's school schedule.
Not To Exceed 1 year: The agency may extend this position without regard to service limits and restrictions in 5 CFR 213.104.
This is not a remote position.
Telework: Yes, per Agency guidelines.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#:Student Trainee (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor), 41363-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: No
Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion.
This is a Bargaining Unit position.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
- Be at least 16 years old (by closing date of this vacancy announcement)
- Accepted for/currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution
- Selective Service Registration-required males (over 18) born after 12/31/59
- Subject to a background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
- Not To Exceed 1 year: The agency may extend this position without regard to service limits and restrictions in 5 CFR 213.104.
- May be converted to a permanent appointment in the competitive service.
- If converted to a permanent position, selectee may be required to meet additional conditions of employment.
- This is a trial period in accordance with agency policy.
- Those appointed to temporary Internship appointments (not to exceed 1 year), serve or the time served is creditable towards meeting a trial period.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/09/2024.
A. Applicants must meet the Basic Pathways internship eligibility requirements, minimum qualifications requirements, and the selective placement factor to qualify for this GS-0199-7 Student Trainee (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor) position.
Basic Pathways Internship eligibility
Are you currently a student that has been accepted for enrollment at least half-time in an accredited high school, college, professional, technical, vocational, or trade school and will be pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate?
OR
Are you currently a student in good academic standing that is enrolled at least half-time in an accredited high school, college, professional, technical, vocational, or trade school and will be pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate?
You must remain enrolled and in good academic standing throughout the Pathways Internship Program and will be required to provide proof of current student status to be eligible for this program.
For more information, review USAJOBS Student and Recent Graduate resources. ( https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads)
AND
Minimum qualifications for a GS-0199-07
You must meet minimum qualifications for this GS-0199-07. You must submit transcripts to support your response if needed.
Applicant can qualify if they have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the federal service utilizing rehabilitation counseling skills, techniques, and resources needed to work with individuals with disabilities.
B. I have completed one (1) full academic year of graduate level education.
C. I have completed a bachelor's degree and meet eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) Provision. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 1) Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. 2) Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their 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 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. 3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies - https://www.achshonor.org/.
AND
Selective Placement Factor. To qualify for potential conversion into a GS-0101-09 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor VRC applicants must have completed or be enrolled in following specific degree programs: rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.
(NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts and/or verification of class standing for further verification.)
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Customer Service
- Interpersonal Skills
- Therapy and Counseling
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Program Completion and Conversion
- Interns may be converted into a GS-0101 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 120 days of successful completion of the program.
- To be eligible for conversion, Interns must:
- Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program
- Complete their degree or certificate requirements
- Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted
- Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement, and
- Perform their job successfully.
- If converted to a permanent or term appointment, the target position and Full performance level may change based on the need of the organization at the that time. Interns must meet the qualification requirements for the position to which converted.
- For conversion into a GS-0101 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - Applicants must be enrolled in a master's degree (or higher) program in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university. To verify your enrollment, you must provide proof of current student status. Note: you must remain enrolled in the degree or certificate program to be eligible for this Internship. (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts and/or verification of class standing for further verification.)
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.
Education
This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent.
If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Benefits
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.
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.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use an Assessment Questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education and training. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are: - Customer Service
- Interpersonal Skills
- Therapy and Counseling
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "Best Qualified," "Well Qualified," and "Qualified." Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "best" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12447017
The Category Rating Process does not add veteran's preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).
For more information on category rating, please go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Category-Rating .
Veterans' Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) or an official statement from your command if currently on active duty 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 signed. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) and the required supporting documents listed on that form. For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.
Required Documents
Do NOT include the following types of information in your application:
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Date of Birth (DOB)
- Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you may not be considered for this position)
- Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Proof of Enrollment
- Resume
- Transcript
NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
- Proof of Enrollment
- Resume
- Transcript - You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, etc. You will not be contacted for additional information.
- Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (VA)
- Professional Certification
- Proof of Enrollment
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
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
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/09/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12447017.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
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/.It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the M ore Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Next steps
Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing USAJOBS. The status will be visible next to the corresponding position. The four points of notification are:
- Application Received or Application Incomplete;
- Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
- Referred or Not Referred; and
- Selected or Not Selected
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
If you are unable to apply online please contact vbacohcsosoghostsoutheast@va.gov.
Additional Locations
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Montgomery, AL
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Fort Walton Beach, FL
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Jacksonville, FL
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Orlando, FL
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Saint Petersburg, FL
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Sunrise, FL
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Atlanta, GA
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Fort Campbell, KY
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Fort Knox, KY
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Lexington, KY
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Charlotte, NC
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Jacksonville, NC
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Raleigh, NC
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Winston-Salem, NC
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San Juan, PR
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Columbia, SC
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Greenville, SC
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Clarksville, TN
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Knoxville, TN
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Nashville, TN
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Hampton, VA
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Norfolk, VA
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Richmond, VA
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Roanoke, VA
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