About the role#
This is a paid internship position with the USDA Farm Service Agency. You will work within the agency to gain practical experience in farm loan program operations. The role is designed for students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world tasks while receiving on-the-job training. This position is part of the Pathways Student Internship Program, which may offer a path to permanent employment upon successful completion of program requirements.
What you'll do#
- Perform duties related to farm loan program work.
- Receive on-the-job training in various agency programs and activities.
- Apply knowledge and skills acquired through your formal education.
- 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 and receive office visitors.
- Send, receive, and distribute correspondence.
- Assemble award documents and verify the completeness of award packages.
What you'll need#
- Must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Be enrolled at least half-time at an accredited institution.
- Pursue a degree or certificate in a relevant field, such as Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, Mathematics, or Agriculture.
- Complete at least 480 hours of work experience prior to graduation.
- Successfully pass an E-Verify check.
- Ability to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
Location & details#
- The role is based in the USDA Northeast Region, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.
- The work modality is a mix of hybrid and on-site work.
- This is a full-time internship appointment.
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.
