Duties

Summary

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. We accomplish our mission by providing objective and reliable information and analysis to the Congress, to federal agencies, and to the public, and recommending improvements, when appropriate, on a wide variety of issues to make government work better.

This vacancy is for Spring Analyst internship positions. The anticipated start date is January/February 2021.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a GAO intern, you will learn how to conduct federal audits and program evaluations and apply that knowledge as part of a team. You will assist GAO analysts in planning and conducting in-depth reviews of executive and legislative branch programs. You will collect appropriate data, analyze the data, develop data-based findings and conclusions, and present the information both orally and in writing to diverse audiences.

Specific duties are:

•Planning, prioritizing, and/or balancing own work assignments, identifying feasible work management approaches that address required activities and timelines.
•Developing, identifying, contributing to, and/or using techniques, tools, and processes that are methodologically sound and targeted to job requirements.
•Collecting relevant information that is aligned with objectives/planning decisions and meets needs.
•Conducting analyses that yield quality information aligned with needs; identifying relevant information, patterns/inconsistencies, relationships, interdependencies, and potential implication.
•Preparing quality written work that meets relevant writing and evidence standards, and that is appropriately targeted to the audience and purpose.
•Communicating relevant and accurate information during formal or informal presentations, meetings, or interviews.
•Partnering or collaborating with others to address issues or solve problems; following up with others to ensure needs are met.
•Contributing to team efforts through participation in activities/meetings, soliciting and listening to others' opinions, and working collaboratively to accomplish team goals.
•Soliciting, listening to, and considering diverse perspectives, approaches, or viewpoints, and incorporating others' perspectives into decision-making (when appropriate).

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel may be required depending on job assignment.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
NA

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Be enrolled and in good standing in an accredited undergrad degree program.
• Selective Service registration if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959.
• Will be subject to a background investigation/ suitability determination.

For the essay question of this vacancy announcement, any application that does not provide an "actual narrative response" that addresses the KSA listed below, or that says "Please see resume" or the equivalent or "N/A" will not be accepted.

You must be currently enrolled and good standing in an accredited degree program throughout the duration of the internship.

All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited institutions.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the start of the internship.

To qualify for the GS-4 level you must be enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program, and meet one of the following criteria:

1. You must have completed 60 semester hours or 90 quarter credits of Bachelor's level education.

2. You must possess an Associate's degree.

NOTE: You must be a current student enrolled in a Bachelor's program seeking a degree from an accredited educational institution on a full or half-time basis. See the Qualifications section of this announcement for more details on who may apply and how to qualify for a May 2021 GAO internship. If at any point during the internship (and for any reason) your status as a student changes to that of a non-student, your internship will be terminated.

Education

Additional information

This position does not have promotion potential.

This position is not in the bargaining unit

Salary for this position is at a GS-4, step 1:

Salary for Norfolk location: $31,359

Salary for Washington DC location: $35,119

Appointments for student intern positions are nonpermanent and generally last from 10 to 16 weeks. Student interns may have an opportunity for a permanent or term position based on a successful intern experience (completion of a minimum of 400 hours of work, not to exceed a total of 640 hours) and successful completion of degree requirements. The ability to convert to a permanent or term appointment with a minimum 400 hours of work experience is contingent upon budgetary conditions and staffing needs at the time of eligibility.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

There is an application limit associated with this announcement. The announcement will close at 11:59 ET on the day we receive 500 applications, or at 11:59 PM eastern on 10 /23/2020 , whichever comes first. Any required documents must be submitted at the time that you apply as documents will not be accepted past the day the application limit is reached, if applicable. If you choose to edit your application after it has been submitted, it will be removed from consideration until you re-submit your application. The date your application is last submitted will be used to determine whether you meet the cut-off criteria.

OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL SELECTIONS: Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO.

Males born after 12/31/59 and at least 18 years of age must be registered with the Selective Service System. Visit http://www.sss.gov.

Selectees will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. If selected, at the time of appointment, selectees will be required to update the OF-306.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees (and interns) with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov

The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

To learn more about working at GAO, see why work for GAO

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

After you submit your application, it will be reviewed to determine whether you have submitted all of the required documents as set forth below by the closing date of the announcement and meet the eligibility and qualification requirements. If you have submitted all required documents in a timely fashion and meet the eligibility and qualification requirements, your application will be reviewed by a screening panel. The panel will assign a score to your application based on the answer you provide to the essay question contained in this announcement and your resume. If your application receives a sufficient rating by the panel, you will be placed in one of three appropriate categories based on your rating: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Follow all instructions carefully as incomplete answers, errors or omissions may affect your rating.

It is important to have a well-written, thoughtful response to the essay question that is supported by your resume. You should draw upon academic, volunteer, and/or work experience as a basis for your response. The essay cannot exceed 3,000 characters including spaces. You must provide an actual narrative response. Any application that says "Please see resume" or the equivalent or "N/A" will not be accepted. It is important that you do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability.

All applicants will be rated based on their response to the essay question, in conjunction with the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's):

- Knowledge of and experience with analytical concepts, principles, and practices (methods) that provides the ability to analyze and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data to make logical inferences and/or draw logical conclusions.
- Ability to prepare written documents that effectively communicate information, some of which are complex, that are complete, organized, and grammatically correct.
- Ability to learn new and complex material quickly in order to understand the issues and obtain relevant and sufficient information about the research problem/issue.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

You are required to submit the following documents by the closing date of this announcements:

-A resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional). Your resume must show the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment.

- All applicants must submit college or university undergraduate transcripts (official or unofficial) that support the number of hours completed or degree conferred.

- Current proof of enrollment (i.e., transcript, proof of registered courses, or letter from school registrars office)

-If you are submitting a transcript from a non-US educational institution, applicants must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials, commonly called a credential evaluation service. For additional information please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp

- If you are claiming veteran preference you must submit adequate proof of active service in the Armed Forces including Member 4 copy of your DD-214, which indicates character of service. Other copies WILL NOT BE accepted. To claim 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15 and a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs verifying the percentage of your disability and preference in hiring. If you are currently active duty and are within 120 days of discharge or release from active duty, you must submit certification of expected discharge or release under honorable conditions with your application. The certification must be an official statement of service from the armed forces command.

Veterans Preference applies to this announcement. For more information regarding veterans' preference please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/index.aspx

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

All applicants must submit their academic transcripts in order to be eligible. The transcripts may be unofficial and must show your status as a student. If you are selected for this position you will be required to provide an official transcript on the day of your orientation or within 3 business days after orientation. This transcript must show that you meet the education requirements for the GS-4 grade level, and that you are currently enrolled through at least May 2021. Failure to meet the requirements or provide the transcript will result in Termination of your internship.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.