About the role#
This is a paid student internship with the USDA Farm Service Agency. You will work in a hybrid capacity while pursuing your education. This role is part of the Pathways Internship Program, which provides practical work experience in federal government operations. You may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent position upon successful completion of the program requirements.
What you'll do#
- Perform farm loan program work at State or County offices.
- Receive on-the-job training in agency programs and activities.
- Apply knowledge and skills gained through your formal education to real-world tasks.
- Track, maintain, and report on the status of assigned projects.
- Log proposals into the electronic tracking system.
- Ensure all financial and technical reports are received and approved.
- Greet visitors and handle incoming and outgoing correspondence.
- Assemble and verify the accuracy of award documents.
What you'll need#
- Enrollment or acceptance for enrollment in an accredited high school, college, or graduate institution.
- A minimum academic course load of at least half-time.
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- US Citizenship.
- Successful completion of a background investigation and fingerprint check.
- E-Verify employment verification.
- Registration with the Selective Service for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Ability to complete at least 480 hours of work experience before graduation.
- Relevant academic focus in fields such as Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, Mathematics, or related areas.
Location & details#
- Locations are negotiable within the FSA Southwest Region, which includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
- This is a full-time position with a rolling term.
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.
