About the role#
This is a paid internship position with the USDA Farm Service Agency. It operates under the Pathways Student Internship Authority, which provides students with practical federal work experience while they complete their studies. This role involves on-the-job training in farm loan programs and activities at State or County offices.
What you'll do#
- Perform farm loan program tasks to support agency operations.
- Receive on-the-job training in various program activities.
- 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 manage office correspondence.
- Assemble award documents and verify that packages are accurate.
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.
- Completion of at least 480 hours of work experience before degree completion.
- Registration with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959.
- Ability to pass a background investigation, fingerprint check, and E-Verify screening.
- A signed participant agreement.
- Completion of specific education levels: high school or GED for GS-02, one full academic year of post-high school study for GS-03, or two full academic years for GS-04.
- Relevant academic focus, such as Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, or related fields.
Location & details#
- Locations are negotiable within the USDA Farm Service Agency Southeast Region, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
- Work modality includes both On-site and Hybrid options.
- This is a full-time position.
- Candidates may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent position upon successful completion of the program requirements.
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.
