An Introduction to the Pathways Program for Students & Recent Graduates to Federal Careers

Hello all! My name is Amy Lynn and I am an Environmental Science and Policy student in my fourth semester with AAP at Johns Hopkins! While attending school, I work full time as a Pathways intern for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in D.C. in the Office of Mission Support. I owe my acceptance to this amazing internship program in large part to the skills, knowledge, and friendships I have gained during my time at Johns Hopkins. For this reason, I would like to share some more detailed information on the Pathways program with my fellow students in hopes that more people will be able to take advantage of this exciting career opportunity!

     The Pathways program was developed as part of a 2010 executive order to improve federal recruiting efforts, creating a 'pathway' to careers in federal government for students and recent graduates. The program consists of three different paths, including the internship program, the Recent Graduates program, and the Presidential Management Fellows program. The internship program is a paid opportunity for students currently in high school, college, graduate school, or trade school to explore federal careers while still attending school. The Recent Graduates program is a developmental experience for individuals who have graduated within the past two years with an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, or technical degree. The Presidential Management Fellows program is a leadership development program for those currently pursuing advanced degrees or have received an advanced degree within the previous two years.

     The Pathways Internship program, which is the program that I am a part of at the EPA, is a great opportunity for students looking to pursue a career in the federal government after graduation. Each individual Pathways position differs in duties, requirements, and expectations depending on the hiring agency and department. Agencies can hire Pathways interns on a temporary basis, which lasts for up to one year, or on an indefinite basis, which lasts for as long as it takes the student to complete their educational requirements. The internship work schedule is meant to accommodate the student's course load, so the opportunity exists to switch between working part- or full-time hours as the number of classes being taken changes. Pathways interns have the opportunity to be converted to a permanent position in federal government within 120 days of successful completion of their academic program. To be eligible for the conversion, interns only need to complete at least 640 hours of work experience through the internship program, complete their degree, and meet any agency-specific requirements for the position to which the intern will be converted. The Recent Graduates program also offers the opportunity to be converted to a permanent position after successfully completing at least one year of continuous service. Once converted to a permanent, competitive service position, your time spent in the program will be counted towards your total competitive service time. Recent graduate positions as well as interns hired on a long-term basis are eligible for health, life, dental, and vision insurance as well as paid time off. All available Pathways program opportunities can be found on the USAJobs job board. Federal jobs open to students and recent graduates will be marked with either a graduation cap or book icon, or you can narrow your search using the students or recent graduates filter.

     I highly recommend this program for anybody looking to gain experience or pursue a career with the federal government after graduation. I greatly appreciate the emphasis that is placed on learning and training during the program, all while accommodating a student's busy schedule. Additionally, not having to worry about sending out hundreds of job applications before graduation is a major perk! Please follow these links if you would like more general information on the Pathways Program or more specific information about Student Internships at the EPA! I would also be happy to answer any questions about the program or my experience in the program at the EPA, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]!