FAQs for DFC Careers

DFC generally announces internship opportunities under the Pathways Program at the beginning of the calendar year but can announce them at any time throughout the year. We recommend you set up a saved job search on USAJOBS so you can be notified when these opportunities become available.

Internship opportunities under the Student Volunteer Experience Program are announced throughout the year.

To view and apply to current internship opportunities at DFC, please visit DFC's Student & Recent Graduate Opportunities page on USAJOBS.

Interns must maintain a 2.5 GPA.

Yes, you can participate in multiple DFC internships within the same year, e.g., summer and fall, provided you are in a current student status.

You can immediately reapply to internship job announcements if not selected.

DFC does not currently appoint recent graduates on a cyclical basis, which means opportunities will be announced on a case-by-case basis. We recommend you set up a saved job search on USAJOBS so you can be notified when these opportunities become available.

The College Graduate Hiring Authority is for recent college and graduate students who completed their degrees within the past two years. This authority is separate from the Pathways Programs and allows an agency to noncompetitively appoint an eligible and qualified college graduate to any position classified by OPM in the administrative or professional series at or below the GS-11 level to a permanent position. More information can be found here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/05/2021-23871/hiring-authority-for-college-graduates

Veterans who are disabled, who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over others in hiring for certain federal government jobs. More info about determining Veterans' Preference, types of preference, and using it to apply for federal jobs can be found on OPM Feds Hire Vets.

Military Buy Back, also known as a Military Service Deposit, is a benefit of Federal Civil Service that gives you the ability to receive retirement benefits based on your military service. As a general rule, your military service time is creditable for Federal Civil Service leave accrual purposes if it was active service terminated under honorable conditions. To buy back military time, veterans must make a service deposit into their Federal Employee Retirement System account.

Veterans working as federal employees have access to special leave benefits to accommodate their unique circumstances. These benefits include:

• Military Leave: Eligible veteran employees who are members of the National Guard or Reserves are entitled to 15 days (120 hours) of paid military leave each fiscal year for active duty, active-duty training, or inactive duty training.
• Disabled Veteran Leave: Newly hired veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more are eligible for up to 104 hours of disabled veteran leave for medical treatment related to their service-connected disability. This leave is available for use within the first 12 months of employment.
• Paid Parental Leave: Allows for up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave, which can be used for the arrival of the employee's new child by birth, adoption, or foster care placement. Generally, there is a 12-month service requirement, but specified active-duty service performed by employees who are members of the National Guard or Reserves is counted toward the 12-month service requirement, as is past honorable active service in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or Marine Corps.
• Annual Leave and Sick Leave: Veterans, like all federal employees, accrue annual and sick leave that can be used for a variety of reasons, including addressing medical issues related to military service.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the leave benefits available to veterans and how to apply them, veterans currently employed by the federal government can review the detailed guidelines on the OPM Feds Hire Vets Leave Administration page.

Yes. DFC holds immense pride that thousands of federal employees serve in the National Guard and Reserves. We are committed to supporting our staff members who fulfill these important roles alongside their civilian careers with us.

Yes, there are federal protections in place for Reservists and National Guard members. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 provides robust safeguards to ensure that those who serve in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard, or other uniformed services are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their duty.

Under USERRA, service members are entitled to the following protections:

• Career Protection: Individuals are protected against being disadvantaged in their civilian careers due to their military service obligations.
• Prompt Reemployment: Upon returning from duty, service members have the right to be promptly reemployed in their civilian jobs with the same status, pay, and seniority.
• Non-Discrimination: The law also prohibits discrimination in employment based on past, present, or future military service.

DFC is committed to honoring these protections and ensuring that our employees who serve are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve. For more information on USERRA, employees can visit the Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve websites.

DFC supports transitioning military members by offering resources as part of the agency's new employee orientation. Additionally, our HR Specialists and Veteran Employment Program Officers are readily available to provide further assistance. For more comprehensive information about transition assistance, please visit the DoD Transition Assistance Program.

For veterans and members of the military community seeking additional resources, the Office of Personnel Management provides a comprehensive resource through their "Feds Hire Vets" website. This platform is dedicated to federal employment information for veterans, transitioning service members, their families, and federal hiring officials. To explore the range of resources available, please visit Feds Hire Vets.

The Military Spouse Non-competitive Appointing Authority is a provision that enables federal agencies to expedite the hiring of eligible military spouses by bypassing traditional competitive examining procedures. This authority grants agencies the flexibility to appoint military spouses to competitive service positions on a temporary (up to 1 year), term (more than 1 year but less than 4 years), or permanent basis, depending on the agency's needs and the job's nature. It's important to note that this appointing authority does not guarantee an appointment over other applicants; rather, it is an option available at the discretion of the agency to facilitate employment opportunities for military spouses. For more information and details on eligibility, military spouses can visit the Feds Hire Vets website at Feds Hire Vets-Veteran Family Members.

Yes, accommodations will be made upon an applicant's request during the application and/or interview process. Please contact the point of contact listed on the JOA under the "How to Apply" section. If the JOA has closed and no longer appears on the USAJOBS website, you may contact DisabilityEmployment@dfc.gov for additional information and assistance.

Yes, DFC has a Selective Place Program Coordinator, and they can be reached at DisabilityEmployment@dfc.gov.

Schedule A is a special appointing authority that federal agencies can use to non-competitively appoint individuals, including eligible veterans, who have a severe physical, psychiatric, or intellectual disability. For more information, visit USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities page.

Applying using Schedule A can be a great way to get a federal job, but it is one of many options that may be available, and you still have to compete with other eligible applicants. Federal agencies hire people using many options, so applying under Schedule A does not guarantee you a job.

You can apply for jobs using Schedule A if you are a person with an intellectual disability, a severe physical disability, or a psychiatric disability. To be eligible for Schedule A, you must provide a proof of a disability letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. You can get this letter from your doctor, a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any federal, state, or local agency that issues or provides disability benefits.

Yes, there are some requirements for a Schedule A letter, including:

• Letterhead: The letter should be printed on the letterhead of a licensed medical professional, such as a doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist.
• Signature: The letter must include a signature.
• Content: The letter should state that the applicant has a disability that makes them eligible for Schedule A. It should not include details of the applicant's specific medical condition, medical history, or what accommodations they may need.

Sample Schedule A letter.

The Pathways Programs is an initiative by the U.S. federal government designed to offer clear paths to federal internships and potential careers in government for students and recent graduates. It consists of two key components:

1. The Internship Program: This program is for current students and provides paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore federal careers while still in school. Internships can provide valuable work experience and sometimes may lead to permanent employment.
2. The Recent Graduates Program: Aimed at individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs, this program offers career development with training and mentorship. It's designed to provide a smooth transition into a potential career in the civil service.

Individuals who successfully complete a Pathways Program may be eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a term or permanent job in the federal civil service.