The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development. The incumbent may work in one of the out-based offices located throughout the Regional Offices area of responsibility. The mission is to provide comprehensive counseling, vocational and employment service to eligible individuals.

Duties

This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/. 1. Customer Service: Ability to read, analyze, and apply information contained in the Code of Federal Regulation, Division directives, manuals, etc. Knowledge of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities and their effects on employability. This includes knowledge in areas such as abnormal psychology, psychological disorders (neurosis and psychosis), behavior and attitude problems, psychological dynamics, specialized medical and psychological terminology, specific medical conditions and their treatment modes, medical specialties and rehabilitation theory and techniques. 2. Therapy and Counseling: Ability to effectively deal with callers and visitors with a variety of backgrounds and levels of understanding using skill in eliciting exactly what information they wish to obtain. Knowledge of differential diagnostic assessment processes used in vocational, educational, rehabilitation or personal adjustment counseling including theories of motivation, human development, vocational and educational guidance techniques, ability to identify behavior and attitude problems, knowledge of types of jobs and required skills, appropriate work behaviors and employer expectations. 3. Planning and Evaluating: Ability to plan and accomplish a variety of tasks with minimum supervision. Ability to relate to and effectively communicate with clients of differing age, sex, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic background including ability to explain counseling decisions, elicit relevant information about the individual, gain the client's acceptance and trust and use a variety of interviewing techniques. 4. Technical Competence: Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies and procedures pertinent to payroll and finance-related issues. Ability to apply a large body of rules and regulations, follow rules and procedures, work under time pressure and adjust to changing work situations as may be found in a large structured agency setting; AND Ability to develop (prioritize, plan, schedule, set goals, and final objectives) a written plan of vocational or educational rehabilitation. Work Schedule: Full time or Part time, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6:30AM-4:00PM. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: At minimum 20 hours and maximum 80 hours each pay period depending on the student's school schedule. Not To Exceed 1 year: The agency may extend this position without regard to service limits and restrictions in 5 CFR 213.104. This is not a remote or virtual position. Telework: Yes, per Agency guidelines. Position Description/PD#: Student Trne (Social Sci); 39474A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: No Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. This is a Bargaining Unit position. The selectee must be willing to relocate.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Accepted for/currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution
• Selective Service Registration-required males (over 18) born after 12/31/59
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Not To Exceed 1 year: The agency may extend this position without regard to service limits and restrictions in 5 CFR 213.104.
• May be converted to a permanent appointment in the competitive service.
• If converted to a permanent position, selectee may be required to meet additional conditions of employment.
• This is a trial period in accordance with agency policy.
• Those appointed to temporary Internship appointments (not to exceed 1 year), serve or the time served is creditable towards meeting a trial period.
• Be at least 16 years old (by closing date of this vacancy announcement)
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• The selectee must be willing to relocate.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/04/2024. Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently 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. To qualify for a Pathways Internship as a GS-07, You must have successfully completed one full academic year of graduate-level education with a major study in education or a subject area related to the position to be filled. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Or be eligible for Superior Academic Achievement with a bachelor's degree. In order to be creditable under the Superior Academic Achievement provision, it must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - You must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (GPA) - You must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - You may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/). AND Positive Education Requirement. - Applicants must be enrolled in a master's degree (or higher) program in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university. To verify your enrollment, you must provide proof of current student status. Note: you must remain enrolled in the degree or certificate program to be eligible for this Internship. (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts and/or verification of class standing for further verification.) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer ServiceInterpersonal SkillsTherapy and Counseling 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Program Completion and Conversion Interns may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 120 days of successful completion of the program. To be eligible for conversion, Interns must: Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program Complete their degree or certificate requirements Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement, and Perform their job successfully. If converted to a permanent or term appointment, the target position and Full performance level may change based on the need of the organization at the that time. Interns must meet the qualification requirements for the position to which converted. For conversion into a GS-0101 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - Applicants must be enrolled in a master's degree (or higher) program in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university. To verify your enrollment, you must provide proof of current student status. Note: you must remain enrolled in the degree or certificate program to be eligible for this Internship. (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts and/or verification of class standing for further verification.) For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Education

This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent.

If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Oakland Regional Benefit Office 1301 Clay Street, Rm. 1400 North Oakland, CA 94612 US
• Name: Carol Fortin
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]