It is time to #ApplyinJuly for virtual internships with the federal government though USAJOB’s Open Opportunities VSFS Community. There are over 600 internship opportunities across all government agencies. Some projects that may be of interest to English majors include the American Studies Book Club and Essay Writing Workshop, creating brochures for Death Valley National Park, writing for transparency and digital engagement, mentoring aspiring college students in writing, writing about U.S.-Pacific history, and many more.
Since 2009, more than 10,000 U.S. citizen college students have advanced the work of the federal government through Virtual Student Federal Service internships. The time commitment is about 10 hours per week during the school year. There are opportunities for all, from political analysis to speechwriting. Internships are unpaid but may be eligible for course credit.
New features that applicants have requested include:
- real-time applicant tally for each internship
- individual text box for each statement of interest so applicants have more space to address each internship
- the option to upload an existing résumé rather than only having to use the USAJOBS résumé builder
- the option to use a different, customized résumé for each internship
- a status dashboard to review application materials
- Each of the 600+ internships has an applicant cap of 300.
Here are the simplified instructions:
- Click “Join community” to create a Login.gov account and Open Opps profile
- Click “View internships”
- Apply for up to three internships through July 28
For more detailed instructions, students can visit the Open Opps Help Center and watch a How to Apply video. We provide the following guidelines to students on their internship application materials:
- Résumé.
- College transcripts.
- If you are a rising college freshman, please upload your high school transcript.
- If you are starting graduate school, please upload your undergraduate transcript.
- If you don't have an official transcript, an unofficial copy will suffice.
- Contact information for your references.
- A statement of interest for each internship pursued. The statement of interest is the most important part of the application package. Express enthusiasm for the internships that interest you and apply for up to three projects. The character count for each statement is 3,000.
- You'll also answer the questions “I have experience with ...” and "I want to develop …” The character count for each of these questions is 966.
For technical support, applicants may visit the Open Opps Help Center or email OpenOpps@usajobs.gov. Email VSFS@state.gov for all other questions.
