Students and Recent Graduates

Eligibility Requirements

Recent College Graduates

Eligibility Requirement: All candidates must have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an institution of higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. §1001 within two (2) years of applying for employment. For applicants who have completed a degree and served at least four years in the uniformed services, the 2-year eligibility period begins on the date of the applicant’s discharge or release from the uniformed service.

Promotion: Employees are eligible for promotion if the individual meets the qualification requirements for the higher grade and the applicable time-in-grade requirements in accordance with agency policy.

Post-Secondary Students

Eligibility Requirement: All candidates must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment and seeking a baccalaureate or graduate degree in a qualifying educational institution as defined at 20 U.S.C. §1001, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled.

Promotion:

• Initial appointment of more than one year: Employees are eligible for promotion if the individual meets the qualification requirements for the higher grade and the applicable time-in-grade requirements in accordance with agency policy.
• Initial appointment less than one year: Employees are not eligible for promotion while serving on this appointment type.

Conversion: Employees may be converted to a permanent appointment in the competitive service within the Department of Homeland Security (including components) without further competition when the student has completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree and meets the OPM qualification requirements for the permanent position.

Qualification Requirements

Post-Secondary Students qualify for the GS-04 grade level if you have completed two academic years of post-high school study or an associate’s degree with specialization in or directly related to the position being filled such as, but not limited to, business administration, finance, marketing, public relations, or journalism.

Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates may qualify at the GS-05 or GS-07 grade levels based on fully meeting one of the below requirements.

You qualify at the GS-05 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• Three years of general experience, one year of which is equivalent to the GS-4 level in Federal service, that demonstrate the ability to analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather
  pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively orally and in writing; OR
• Four years of post-high school study leading to a bachelor's degree in any field; OR
• A combination of successfully completed post-high school education and general experience as described above. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of
  courses/course hours submitted with your application.

You qualify at the GS-07 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to perform entry-level professional work in marketing, administration
  or project support. Examples include assisting with preparing reports or presentations; gathering and analyzing data for projects; coordinating meetings or events; or providing administrative
  support to program staff. OR
• One full year of graduate level education at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that
  your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your
  graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate
  study. OR
• A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of
  courses/course hours submitted with your application. OR
• A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership:
  • Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School
    of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
  • Grade-point average (GPA) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
  • Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

Recent Graduates may qualify at the GS-09 grade level based on fully meeting one of the below requirements.

You qualify at the GS-09 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to perform independent professional work in marketing, administration, or project management. Examples include developing or evaluating marketing materials or outreach strategies; managing project timelines and deliverables; conducting research and analysis to support program decisions; or preparing and presenting recommendations to management. OR
• A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related to administrative or management positions; OR
• A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first year may be used to qualify for the GS-09 level.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

We are currently accepting applications through September 8, 2025. Candidates are asked to submit the following to DHSfaca@hq.dhs.gov by September 8, 2025.

• Cover letter
• Resume: Please limit your resume to 2 pages.
• Transcripts: You must submit a copy of your transcript. An unofficial transcript or a list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned can be used as a substitute for the official transcript at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.

Due to the large number of applications received, we are unable to respond to all applicants individually. Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted, and only email applications will be considered.

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion or national origin.

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should contact brent.prather@hq.dhs.gov. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

This opportunity does not fall under Executive Order 13562 for OPM's Pathways Programs. Appointments will be made in accordance with the Hiring Authority for Post-Secondary Students and the Hiring Authority for College Graduates.

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.
• To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement in this non-sensitive position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• Management officials may extend the time-limited appointments of Post-Secondary Students until the selectee’s educational program requirements have been completed, up to the maximum time period allowed by regulation.
• Post-Secondary Students serving on a time-limited appointment who reach the Not to Exceed (NTE) date must be terminated upon expiration of the NTE date unless separated earlier.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.