Student Trainee (Recruitment & Placement)
Summary
This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Enterprise Services, Office of Human Resources Management, Talent Management Directorate, CBP Hiring Center located in either Bloomington, MN or Indianapolis, IN.
About the Pathways Program
The Pathways Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent position in the civil service.
Duties
- Providing routine customer service support by responding to applicant and employee inquiries using standardized responses.
- Assisting applicants and employees in completing and submitting standard personnel forms and documents.
- Processing standard HR actions and applications, ensuring accuracy and compliance with established procedures.
- Utilizing office software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, USA Staffing, Salesforce, SharePoint) to enter and update data, generate reports, and maintain electronic and manual records.
- Assisting with job searches for employees seeking reassignment due to disability.
Requirements
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
- Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below).
- All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.
- You may be required to pass a background investigation.
- CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Proof of student status must be submitted with the application.
- You must be a student who has been accepted for enrollment or who is currently enrolled and seeking a degree on a full or half-time basis in one of the federally administered, organized educational programs or accredited educational institutions below such as a public or private high school; state-approved home school; technical or vocational school; two (2) year or four (4) year college or university; graduate or professional school; a registered apprenticeship program, job corps or postsecondary home school curriculum.
- As an employee of CBP, your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties.
- DHS uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
- Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
Qualifications
In addition to meeting the student eligibility criteria above, you must meet the educational requirement below:
- GS-04: Successful completion of 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate's degree. Two years of full-time academic study is defined as 60 semester hours, 90 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university.
You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 08/31/2026.
Background Investigation and Residency
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs, and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances.
Residency Requirement: Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
- Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military.
- A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government.
- Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university.
- Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government.
Schedules
Positions can be filled on full-time and part-time basis. Part-time schedules are typically 16 to 32 hours per administrative workweek, prearranged on a scheduled tour of duty.
Pay
This position starts at a salary of $39,694.00 (GS-4, Step 1) to $51,604.00 (GS-4, Step 10). Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied. Your promotion potential will ultimately be determined by your qualifications and will be initiated at management's discretion.
Additional Information
- Trial Period: The first two years served under the Internship Program counts as the participant's trial period.
- Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement: Pathways students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for undergraduate studies or lower program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for a master's program or higher program.
- Pathways Participant Agreement: A Pathways Participant Agreement will be required if you are selected for a position. This agreement must be signed by all applicable parties prior to entrance on duty. Students are required to meet enrollment requirements and remain in good academic standing for the full duration of their appointment in order to maintain eligibility for the Pathways Internship program.
- Conversions: Interns may be non-competitively converted from the internship program to a term or permanent position in the competitive service within 180 days following successful completion of all their educational requirements in accordance with section 5 CFR 362.204 given there is an available position; however, conversion is not mandatory or guaranteed. If converted, this position will likely fill a Human Resources Specialist GS-05/07/09/11/12 position.
- The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR315.707.
- Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.
- The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.