Student Trainee (Administrative Support)

Summary The Small Business Administration (SBA) invites students to apply to our Intern positions. The ideal candidates are current Certificate Program, Undergraduate or Graduate students who demonstrate innovation and self-initiative. You will have an opportunity to train and develop your skills in a variety of career fields and have a positive impact on the people and communities that SBA serves. Learn more about this agency Duties As a Student Trainee, you will actively engage in the following duties: Receives telephone calls and visitors; using tact, diplomacy, and judgment, ascertains the nature of the calls or business of the visitors. Answers phones and transfers calls to appropriate individuals. Logs trouble calls and ensures appropriate department is notified. Proactively and professionally facilitates the setup, coordination and scheduling of office meetings and teleconferences with internal and external organizations. Reviews incoming correspondence and distributes correspondence to staff members and prepares replies to general inquiries and routine actions. Maintains office files and ensures they are compliant with applicable regulatory guidance and that confidential material is properly protected. Uses office automation systems and various software packages to accomplish work. Under supervision, assignments include preparing correspondence, reports, records, statistical and narrative material, and messages in final format. This is a temporary position not to exceed 90 days. Extensions: If hired on a temporary appointment, it may be extended without further competition based on the need of the organization for the work to continue and provided the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen You must successfully complete a background investigation. Appointees must sign SBA Pathways Program Participant Agreement. Selectee must complete a trial period while on the Pathways internship appointment. Qualifications To meet the Intern Eligibility requirements, you must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled). Certificate programs must be at least one-year duration of full-time academic study in post-secondary education. Accepted for Enrollment: If you have been accepted for enrollment in an institution or career or technical education program, but have not yet begun coursework, you must submit an Acceptance Letter from the institution and your most recent academic transcript from your previous program. NOTE: You will NOT be considered under Pathways unless you provide supporting information from your school. Documentation may be provided in letter format from your academic advisor, school counselor, admission office, etc. to prove enrollment OR it may be provided in the form of several official documents from your school such as a copy of your official transcripts and a copy of your class schedule for next semester. Copies of documents from your school website are acceptable if they contain all relevant information as listed above. Letters from advisors or other school officials must be on school letterhead. Official transcripts will be required prior to final offer of employment. You must meet the experience or education requirements detailed below by the close of the vacancy. GS-5: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector, which includes: 1) Assisting staff and customers serving as a point of contact for customers and maintaining data; and 2) Supporting an organization's administrative functions. These qualifications must be fully supported in your resume. OR Education: Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree. If you do not meet the specialized experience requirements, you may also qualify with education. You MUST submit transcripts (official or unofficial) with this application if you wish to qualify based on education. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications web site: Pathways Internship Positions - Student Trainee 0399 Series Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 04/24/2026. Education APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify School accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. *** If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. *** For further information, click on: Foreign Education. Additional information This is a bargaining unit position. This is not a drug testing position. Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For additional information visit www.sss.gov. Consistent with work requirements and current SBA Policy, and all applicable provisions of the collective bargaining agreement with AFGE the SBA offers employees opportunities to perform work at an alternative location (e.g. home). Telework may be available. For information on Telework visit: http://www.telework.gov/ For more information about the Pathways Internship program please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Facts-Sheets Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement if additional vacancies occur within 180 days of the date the certificates were issued. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.