Student Trainee (Clerk/Office Automation)

Summary

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana is the federal government's legal voice in the region. We're now accepting applications for Student Trainee Clerks through the Pathways Program-an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience and build skills in federal service. For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao Applications will be reviewed on a rolling bases.

Duties

The United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Indiana is now accepting applications for Student Trainee Clerks (Office Automation) through the Pathways Program. As a Student Trainee Clerk, you'll play a key role in keeping daily operations running smoothly by supporting legal, technical, and/or administrative staff with a variety of clerical and administrative tasks. If selected, you'll become part of a highly respected team, providing essential automated support to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Fort Wayne. Your work may involve using tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, desktop publishing, graphics, project management software, calendars, and email-skills that will serve you well throughout your career. You'll receive both formal and on-the-job training, giving you the chance to build real-world experience while contributing to meaningful work in a federal environment. Duties include: Producing a variety of documents using varied and advanced word processing software functions; Storing, retrieving, editing, and printing a variety of documents with complex formats such as graphics or tables within the text; Sorting, calculating, and retrieving data from electronic databases or spreadsheets to produce reports, charts, and graphs. Answering telephones and referring callers to staff members or taking messages as appropriate; Operating a copy machine; Collating and stapling materials; Sorting, filing, and retrieving materials in alphabetical, numerical, or chronological order; and Making recurring and special messenger trips as necessary. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. At the successful completion of the program requirements, you may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional appointment. Qualifications

To be eligible for this internship ALL of the following requirements must be met: Student Status: Definition of a student - applicant must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, two-year or four-year college or university, graduate/professional school, or certificate program equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study (go to http://www.ed.gov/accreditation to verify accreditation status) pursuant to 5 CFR 362. You must be considered in good academic standings by the school. Individuals must be taking at least a half-time academic, vocational, or technical course load leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate. "Half-time" is defined by the school in which the student is enrolled. Citizenship: Student Interns must be United States citizens or owe permanent allegiance to the United States. (Currently, natives of American Samoa, Swains Island and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are the only groups that owe permanent allegiance to the United States.) Background Investigation: You must successfully complete a background investigation to determine your suitability for Federal employment. Pathways Participant Agreement: All interns are required to sign the Participant Agreement. Qualification requirements as outlined below. To be qualified, you must type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5 minute sample with three or fewer errors. (A typing test may later be required.)

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov. Foreign Education Note: You may use foreign education to meet qualification requirements if you send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency in with your transcript. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. How You Will Be Evaluated

Your complete application package (resume/supporting documentation, online questionnaire, and USA Hire Competency Based Assessment) will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, you may be referred to the selecting official or if Veterans' Preference must be adjudicated, your application will be placed in one of three grouping categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Within each of these groupings, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles. All CP/CPS preference eligibles that meet minimum qualification and eligibility requirements will be included in the "Best Qualified" grouping. You will be rated on the following Competencies: Attention to Detail Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Learning Problem Solving Self-Management Technology Application Go to OPM Website for the definition of each competency. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Other Information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees http://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits Veterans' Preference: If you are entitled to Veterans' Preference, you must indicate the type of preference you are claiming by checking the appropriate box in the assessment questionnaire to indicate your preference and submit the documentation as specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy announcement. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline. Political Appointees (Current or Former): 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 or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.