About the role#
The USDA Farm Service Agency is hiring Student Trainees for the Loan Specialist program. This internship is part of the Pathways Student Internship Authority, which provides paid work opportunities within federal agencies for students currently enrolled in school. Selected interns may become eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent position upon graduation, provided they meet all program requirements.
What you'll do#
- Perform farm loan program work while receiving on-the-job training at State or County offices.
- Apply knowledge and skills learned in your formal education to practical work assignments.
- Track, maintain, and report on the status of assigned projects.
- Log proposals into the electronic tracking system.
- Ensure financial and technical reports are received and approved.
- Greet visitors and handle incoming and outgoing correspondence.
- Assemble award documents and verify the accuracy of award packages.
What you'll need#
- U.S. Citizenship or National status.
- Enrollment at least half-time in an accredited high school, college, or graduate institution.
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Completion of at least 480 hours of work experience prior to graduation.
- Registration with the Selective Service if you are a male born after December 31, 1959.
- Ability to pass a background investigation, fingerprint check, and E-Verify.
- Completion of a signed participant agreement.
- For GS-02: Completion of high school or a GED.
- For GS-03: Completion of one full academic year of post-high school study.
- For GS-04: Completion of two full academic years of post-high school study.
Location & details#
- Locations: Positions are available in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
- Modality: On-site and hybrid options are available.
- Schedule: Full-time.
- Compensation: $35,749 to $48,535 per year.
About USDA
The United States Department of Agriculture is a federal executive department. It manages government policy regarding farming, food, and agriculture. The agency works to support ranchers and farmers while promoting agricultural trade. It also oversees food safety, rural community development, and natural resource protection. The department maintains offices in Washington, DC and other locations.
How to get in at USDA
Securing an internship at the USDA requires a proactive approach to navigating federal hiring cycles. Because early applicants are often reviewed before the applicant pool becomes unmanageable, Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, helping you apply among the first. This timing can be the difference between your application being seen and getting lost in a large volume of submissions. You can also improve your response rates by reaching out to the recruiters behind these roles directly. Intern Insider surfaces the specific recruiters behind the USDA roles, allowing you to ask relevant questions about the position or inquire about a referral. Connecting with the right person often provides the clarity needed to stand out in a competitive government hiring process.
