Student Internship and Recent Graduate Opportunities

If you have a passion for our mission and a calling to reimagine the way the world moves, jumpstart your future with the DOT Pathways Internship Program.

1DOT Internship Program

We intentionally recruit our Pathways Interns based on long-term potential and alignment with the Department of Transportation’s evolving mission to ensure a fast, safe, and efficient national transportation system. By providing multi-semester developmental experiences, the DOT Pathways Internship Program equips you with the technical and professional skills necessary for a career in public service, offering a direct pipeline to permanent federal employment within the DOT upon successful completion of program requirements and graduation.

Pathways Opportunities
While our current application window has closed, the next journey is just around the corner. Stay in the driver’s seat—keep a lookout for our upcoming opportunities.

Who We Look For
We’re looking for students who are driven by our Vision, Mission, and Core Values and embody the spirit of public service. Our top candidates are well-rounded leaders bringing a wide range of perspectives and demonstrating innovation, curiosity, collaboration, and a passion for modernizing the way the world moves. If you bring excellence, agility, and resilience to the table, you’re ready to help us lead the future of transportation.

Field of Study We Welcome

• Business • Finance • Engineering • Policy
• Communications • Data Analytics
• Human Resources • Information Technology
• Environmental Studies
• Public Administration — and more!

Eligibility Requirements
All Pathways Interns must meet the following eligibility requirements: 

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be at least 16 years of age;
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis in an accredited educational institution and maintain enrollment at least half time as defined by the institution;
• Be pursuing a degree or certificate;
• Currently have and maintain a cumulative 2.9 grade point average on a 4.0 scale;
• Be able to complete at least 480 hours of work prior to completing your degree/certificate requirements.
• Required to sign a Pathways Participant Agreement.
• Required to undergo a pre-employment background investigation
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
• Vacancies also require that applicants be available to begin work between a predetermined timeframe, typically the subsequent two semesters following the closing date of the vacancy for which you applied.

Recent Graduate Program

The DOT Recent Graduate Program (RGP) provides individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions with the opportunities to apply academic training and knowledge in a professional job. As a Recent Graduate appointee, you will be placed in a one to two-year career development program.

Eligibility:

• Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
• Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.

If you have questions about DOT Internship programs, please contact OSTHiringEvents@dot.gov

The Secretarial Internship Program (SIP) will provide current college students with a 10-week paid summer internship.  Appointments are made using the Post-Secondary Hiring Authority, which offers current college students who are pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree on at least a part-time basis the opportunity to work with DOT’s Transportation experts. 

Program Eligibility

• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Students enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an institution of higher education.
• Pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree on at least a part-time basis as determined by the academic institution.
• Meets the minimum qualification standards prescribed or approved by OPM for the position to which the individual is being appointed.
• Be able to complete at least 640 hours of work prior to completing your degree/certificate requirements
• Students must be able to work in the National Capital Region (DC Metropolitan Area).
• An unofficial transcript is required with the application to show proof of enrollment.
• An official transcript is required if selected.

If you have questions about DOT Internship OSTHiringEvents@dot.gov. 

Program Overview

There are many ways to get your professional life off the ground at FAA and you don't have to have years of flying or aviation experience to do it. We offer various entry-level careers, training and development programs as well as full-time and internships opportunities for students and college grads. Take a look at the many ways you can join FAA to Advance Aerospace…Enhance Your Career https://www.faa.gov/jobs/students/internships  

Program Overview

The Pathways Internship program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service.  

Pathways Internship Program | FHWA 

Program Overview

Whether you are looking for your next career step or just starting out in the workforce, there is a place you can fit in and impact change at DOT-OIG. The following are ways way in which you can join our team:

• Competitive & Excepted Service
• Pathways Recent Graduates Program
• Pathways Internship Program
• Volunteer Interns

Volunteer Undergraduate and Law Student Internships with OIG's Office of Chief Counsel | DOT OIG

Volunteer Student Internships with OIG's Office of Investigations | DOT OIG 

The Workforce Recruitment Program

The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs. Annually, trained WRP recruiters from federal agencies conduct personal interviews with interested candidates on college and university campuses across the country. Candidates represent all majors, and range from college freshmen to graduate students and law students, and with various levels of experience, even including some Veterans.

Home - Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) 

Program Overview
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking to fill a Business Operations Specialist position through the College Graduate Hiring Authority.  This authority is being utilized to bring independent, energetic, self-sufficient, and highly motivated students into the federal workforce, offering them invaluable government experience while contributing directly to the mission of the DOT.

Available Position: 
•    Business Operations Specialist (College Graduate) – GS-0301-09

Eligibility Criteria:
To be hired under this authority, an applicant must meet the following criteria under accompanying OPM regulations (5 CFR § 315.614). To include:

• Degree Requirement: Must have received a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education within the previous two years and prior to the closing date of this announcement.
• Two-Year Window: An application must be submitted no later than two years after the date the individual completes their degree.
• Military Exception: The two-year window may be extended or delayed for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education and were unable to apply within two years of obtaining their degree due to a uniformed service obligation of at least 4 years. These individuals may apply within two years of their discharge from uniformed service.
• Qualifications: Must meet the minimum Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualification standards for the position being appointed to.

Qualification Criteria:

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria listed above, an applicant must also meet the minimum qualification standards.  An applicant may qualify based on education and/or specialized experience described below if met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement:

To qualify based on Specialized Experience:

Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the duties below:

• Analyzing administrative and human capital operational processes to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.
• Gathering, organizing, and analyzing data to support human capital decision-making, reporting, and workforce initiatives.
• Managing and tracking Congressional correspondence and coordination actions, ensuring timely processing and compliance with established deadlines.

OR

To qualify based on Education:

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master’s or equivalent graduate degree; or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or an LL.B. or J.D., if in a field relation to the position being filled. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. [NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application]

OR

Combining Education & Experience: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-9 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 18 semester hours of graduate level education that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for a GS-9 position. For example, an applicant who has 27 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the GS-9 position.  

All documents must be received, and eligibility and qualification requirements must be met, by the closing date of this announcement.  Your supporting documentation (i.e. resume, transcript(s), etc.) must be well documented with specialized experience and/or education, otherwise you may be deemed ineligible.

Applicant Requirements & Background Check:

Transcripts: You must provide a transcript (official or unofficial) with your primary application. If selected for an intern position, a certified official transcript will be required before onboarding.

Background Investigation: All selected candidates must successfully complete and pass a federal background and security investigation as a condition of employment.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Current Federal employees may need to complete a probationary period (unless already completed). 

PROBATIONARY PERIOD (New Federal Employees only): As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• the needs and interests of the agency;
• your performance and conduct;
• whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service

Contact Information & Inquiries:

To apply, please submit a resume, transcript and any additional supporting documents to: osthiringevents@dot.gov by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/01/2026.

Fair and transparent:

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance:

Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probationary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service
Signature and false statements
Social security number request