EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TAKES STUDENTS FROM THE CLASSROOM
TO THE WORK ROOM

Washington, D.C. -- As part of OPM's on-going commitment to streamline the federal government's cumbersome hiring process, a new customer-friendly system has been developed to simplify the student employment program for college and high school students.

OPM Director Jim King said, "This program is designed for students interested in acquiring general work skills or career experience with the federal government while continuing their education."

The Student Educational Employment Program is open to students pursuing a diploma, academic or vocational certificate, or degree. It replaces familiar student employment programs such as the Stay-in-School and summer employment programs and consolidates 13 student hiring authorities into one streamlined authority consisting of two components.

The first component, the Student Temporary Employment Program, introduces students to the work environment and teaches basic workplace skills. The second component, the Student Career Experience Program, provides experience that is related to the academic and career goals of the student.

Approximately 26,000 students nationwide were employed at some point in 1993 by the federal government. Students earn a salary for their work with the Student Educational Employment Program.

"The employment of students by the federal government is an investment in the future success of services and programs that must be delivered to our nation's citizens," said Jim King. "Quality student programs will help groom our next generation of employees. I encourage federal agencies and students at the high school or college level to take advantage of these developmental opportunities."

The Student Temporary Employment Program and the Student Career Experience Program connect the learning place to the workplace, helping students apply learned lessons to the actual work experience.

Students in the Career Experience Program may qualify for conversion to a career or career-conditional appointment. Conversion may be with the employing agency or other federal agency. Eligibility for conversion requires that students graduate from an accredited school, complete at least 640 hours of career-related work in the Career Experience Program, and be hired into a position related to their academic training and career work experience. No competition is required.

Appointments to jobs under the Student Temporary Employment Program can last up to one year; extensions in one-year increments are possible. Employing agencies, at their discretion, may establish academic and job performance standards that students must meet to continue in the program. There is no conversion element under the Temporary Employment Program.

Students interested in the Temporary Employment Program or the Career Experience Program can find out about job opportunities through their high school or college Cooperative Education Office. In addition, information on job openings nationwide are available via telephone or personal computer through OPM's electronic bulletin boards.

Job openings can be obtained via telephone by calling OPM's Career America Connection at 1-912-757-3000. Openings also can be obtained using a personal computer equipped with a modem and communications software by calling OPM's Federal Job Opportunities Bulletin Board at 1-912-757-3100.

-End-

• To Website Index
• To OPM Homepage

Web page created 2 December 1997