Students interested in summer jobs with the federal government are asked to come by the counselor’s office and complete applications for the Summer Employment Examination.
This examination provides an opportunity for applicants to compete on a merit basis for a summer job according to Mrs. Georgia McFaul, counselor. The exam will last one and onehalf hours and will measure vocabulary, reading comprehension, abstract reasoning, and table and chart interpreta tion.
Each summer there are a limited number of opportunities for summer jobs with the federal government. The positions vary from office jobs to Park Rangers and are located throughout the United States.
The number of jobs avail able is relatively small, and a student’s chances of appoint ment depend upon the number and kind of summer jobs in the area where he applies, the num ber of applicants in that area, and his qualifications. There are many more applicants than positions available. Only a small percentage of those who apply are hired, so it is not recommended that a student apply for summer work solely with the federal government.
Various federal agencies have special workstudy programs. Applicants appointed partici pate in specific training pro grams during vacation and at tend college fulltime during academic periods. These are not temporary summer jobs, students selected under this program receive careerconditional appointments and are promoted to professional positions upon graduation.
Each year the federal government also participates with pri vate industry in providing sum mer jobs for educationally and economically disadvantaged youths aged 16 through 21. This program is specifically de signed to provide jobs for young people from low income fami lies and for youths who need in comes from summer jobs in or der to return to school in the fall.
Youths who are employed under this program have the opportunity to make use of the skills they already have, and through special training and on thejob experience, are able to develop new skills. The rate of pay under this program is the local minimum wage in the area where the student works (not less than $1.60 per hour).
Special summer intern pro grams are sometimes available. These are usually designed for outstanding college students who have demonstrated leader ship potential. Since they are designed as model programs, the methods of merit selection will vary; top rated eligibles from the Summer Employment Examination and nominees from colleges have both been used in previous summers.