Encourage them to check out these websites
www.usajobs.opm.gov,
http://www.studentjobs.gov/
http://www.hhs.gov/careers/elp.html - Emerging leader intern program.

Because I want to encourage FIU students to seek federal employment...I will
check back in with you around July 2006 and give you a report of my first
year.

I will also take some great photos this year so you can share with other FIU
students so they will know...that STAR really works. It helped me in the
panel interview. I stayed focus and on track. Hey, I am still using it.

THANKS Helen....I really appreciate you spending time with me last March and
explaining how to use STAR.

Best regards,
Sonja

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How are you doing? This is Sonja Clarke; a few months ago (March to be
exact) I came to your office seeking help regarding an interview in
Washington DC for the government. When I was offered the position I sent
you the email below listing links to government jobs, internships,
fellowships and scholarships.

I promise to send you more information once I was settled in my new job.

Well I am here; living and working in the Washington DC area. I have a
real nice apartment 20 minutes north of Bethesda, Maryland. I received a
discount because I am a National Institutes of Health (NIH)
employee....10% makes a difference between $929 per month and $882. I
commute to work via the subway and it's not so bad.

The federal government has been really great!!!!

[Allow me to explain how this program works. We are called Emerging
leaders Intern, but we are actually federal employees. This is a 2year
appointed position starting at a GS-9 which for me works out to over
$56,000.00 a year. During the first year we rotate throughout the
Department of Human Health services ( www.hhs.gov <http://www.hhs.gov/>
) working 60 to 90 day time frames in various agencies. The second year
we are promoted to a GS-11 and spend one full year working in an
agency...hopefully making it our home. Upon successfully completing the
two years the intern is promoted to a GS-12 and to a full time position.
By successfully completed the program we are guaranteed a
non-competitive full time position; meaning we will not have to compete
with any other applicant for the position.]

The first week (July 25th) we reported to the Humber Humphrey building
at 200 Independence Avenue, downtown Washington DC and had a week long
orientation event (56 interns altogether this year). During that week
all of the executive officers of the agencies within the Department of
Health and Human Services presented an overview of their agency and how
it fits in the federal government. Most of those positions are appointed
by President Bush and they usually change with each administration.
While the executive officers are presenting their offices to us they are
explaining to us, where we can fit into their agency.

The picture we took with Deputy Secretary Alex Azar is posted at the
following url: http://192.73.61.155/communities/content.asp?dataID=16057
<http://192.73.61.155/communities/content.asp?dataID=16057>

During that week they took our fingerprints, gave us our government ID,
beautiful messenger bags with the HHS logo on front, nice pens and a
binder. They also give us a monthly allowance to help with the cost of
the subway (which can be rather costly).

The next week we reported to our first assignment. My first assignment
is with the National Institute of Nursing Research (
http://ninr.nih.gov/ninr/ <http://ninr.nih.gov/ninr/> ) where I report
to the Administrative Officer, who happens to be rather nice and very
knowledgeable. My duties for the next two months are;

* Reviewed NINR's website for Section 508 compliance (completed),
studied work flow communications and process for SERCH, conducted
security risk assessment of NINR physical access controls, logical
access controls, configuration management and continuity of operations
and recovery, prepare a report of findings.

The next week, the NIH gave another orientation, this one only included
people who were directly hired by the NIH (16 interns). During this
orientation the executive officers of the Institutes and centers at the
NIH (27) presented their department and explained how we could fit into
their institute or center.

In this program emerging leader interns have to choose a mentor who is a
senior executive no less that a GS-15. My mentor is a woman who happens
to be the Deputy Chief Information Officer of the Center of Information
Technology at the National Institutes of Health. She is great. In this
program, mentors offer guidance to interns in career development,
suggest training opportunities, rotational assignments and job
placement.

We are given a training budget and monies for an out of area rotation.
The training budget ($4,000) pays for conferences, seminars and
professional workshops to develop business acumen and other key
leadership qualities. The funds ($10,000) for an out of area rotation
are used to offer the emerging leader intern the possibility of
investigating the inner workings of the HHS in different states. These
monies are not included in my salary, nor do they have to be repaid but
are used to help the emerging leader intern to develop a full perceptive
of the HHS mission and obtain necessary skills.

My plans are either visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in
Atlanta, GA or the National Institutes of Environmental Health Services
located in Research Triangle Park, NC. I will be there for 3 months with
travel, and living expenses paid and also receive a per diem.

The emerging leader program also offers 5 training events during the
year that brings all of the current intern class together here in
Washington DC. Our first training is in October which happens to
coincide with a grid conference I wanted to attend.

I am currently seeking my next rotation which must be outside of the
National Institutes of Health. I am considering the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Legislation. This office provides advice to the
Secretary and the Department on congressional legislation and
facilitates communication between the Department and Congress.

Well this is all I have right now.

Helen, my recommendation to FIU students considering a career with the
federal government would be-go for it.

The federal government is an exciting place to work. While getting in
the Federal government may be somewhat taxing because the interview
process is a process -it is worth it. It could never be a mistake.

The Federal government provides all the training support a person could
ever need to succeed. Also, the salary is competitive and the Federal
government really tries to offer the best benefit package it can. It is
an excellent package.

Regards,

Sonja

_____