Student Trainee (Recruitment & Placement)

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. This position starts at a salary of $39694.00 (GS-4 Step 1) to $51604.00 (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 managements discretion.

Typical Duties Include:

• 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.

• 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
• As an employee of CBP you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. 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. Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify an internet-based system to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

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. Review Pathways Interns for additional eligibility information

In addition to meeting the 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 associates 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.

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.

Background Investigation: 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 in order to promote the agencys core values of vigilance service to country and integrity. 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 (e.g. marijuana cocaine heroin LSD methamphetamines ecstasy) and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation possession sale receipt manufacture cultivation production transfer shipping trafficking or distribution of controlled substances.

For additional information on the preemployment process review the following link: Applicant Resources CBP Careers

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) 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

Required Experience:

Intern