Student Volunteer (Unpaid Position)

About the role

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Inspector General (OIG) serves as an independent and objective unit within DOL. OIG is responsible for auditing, investigating DOL programs and operations to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of the programs; and to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in the programs and operations.

What you will do

• Make an impact while you learn, as a student volunteer.
• The Spring 2027 program offers students an opportunity to volunteer to support a program-based project that supports real federal missions, gains hands-on experience and valuable career-ready skills.
• The Student Volunteer program, authorized by 5 CFR Part 308, enables Federal agencies to engage students in uncompensated work assignments that provide educational experience, career exploration and skill development.
• Provide the student with practical exposure to federal human resources operations, employee benefits administration, worklife programs, customer service, and government workplace policies while developing research, communication, analytical, and administrative skills.
• Supervision: The student will perform assigned duties under the guidance and supervision of HR professionals.
• Assignments will be tailored to the student's developmental goals and provide opportunities for learning and skill-building.
• Program Support and Administration: Assist with the administration and coordination of employee worklife and benefits programs and services.
• Employee Communications and Customer Service: Assist in preparing employee communications, informational materials, presentations, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and reference guides.
• Respond to routine employee inquiries by providing general program information and referring complex questions to HR specialists.
• Data Management and Program Evaluation: Assist with maintaining program records, updating spreadsheets and tracking systems, compiling data, and preparing reports to support program monitoring, analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Special Projects and Process Improvement: Support special projects and initiatives within the Worklife and Benefits Branch, including developing standard operating procedures, updating SharePoint resources, preparing materials for employee benefits fairs and outreach events, and identifying opportunities to improve administrative processes.

Education

To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution. You also must be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Attach a copy of your transcripts to your application package for verification.

If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete, and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.

An academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university and vocational or technical institution. See the Required Documents section of this announcement.

If you do not submit a transcript (unofficial or official) indicating your possession of the required education, you will not be considered for this position. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

If the student is not currently enrolled or is between academic programs, the student may have a brief interim period of not more than five months during which the student must demonstrate a bona fide intention of continuing to pursue a course of study immediately after the interim period has ended.

This documentation may be provided through an official letter from the academic institution confirming the student's status as a continuing student, or similar documentation.

How you will be evaluated

Applicants are encouraged to address their education, experience, and motivation for applying for this opportunity with the Department of Labor on their resume. Experience is defined as paid, unpaid, volunteer, and lived experience as it demonstrates the knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs in this announcement.

You may preview questions for this vacancy here: *** The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, volunteer, and other lived experience, as it demonstrates the knowledge, skills or abilities related to the project needs in this announcement.

Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.) Agency personnel will make the final determination concerning your referral status.

Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses.

Failure to do so may result in your removal from consideration.

Documents you must provide

• The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.
• To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: The following documents are required from ALL applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): Resumes: Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing your work experience if any to include start and end dates (Month/Year).
• Any knowledge, skills or abilities you've gained through education that relate to the vacancy.
• Proof of Eligibility: Academic transcript, evidence of enrollment (e.g., acceptance letter or equivalent), or other official documentation from a qualifying educational institution, career technical education program or service program showing that you meet the eligibility requirements as described in the Education section of this announcement.
• Proof of Qualifications: Academic transcripts are sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, as described in this announcement, where you are seeking to qualify, at least in part, on the basis of your education.
• Unofficial Transcripts must state the student's name, name of the school, current GPA/academic standing, past and current coursework with credits for each course, enrollment status, degree program, and proof of enrollment for the current semester.
• See Qualifications and Evaluations.
• If you are a graduate-level student, you should also submit your undergrad transcripts with your application.
• Proof of Enrollment: Academic transcript or other official documentation from the educational institution proving your status as a student who is currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis at a qualifying educational institution.
• See Qualifications and Evaluations.
• The following documents are required if applicable: Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - If you are using education as a basis for qualifying for this position, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex.
• BA/BS, MA, JD, Ph.D., etc.).
• If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit.
• You may upload your unofficial transcript(s) as one document with a maximum size limit of 5 MB.
• NOTE: OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date.

Benefits

This is a Student Volunteer (Unpaid position). A Student Volunteer is not an employee of the Federal Government for any purposes other than injury compensation and laws relating to the Federal Tort Claims Acts. Therefore, service time is not creditable for leave accrual or any other federal employee benefits.

Students are not eligible for noncompetitive conversion to positions in the Federal service. Student Volunteers are eligible to receive transit benefits.

What to expect next

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. You will be notified of the outcome.

A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of the issuance date of the certificate. For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide. USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications.

You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS).

If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position.

The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement.

You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

Additional information

Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.

As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements.

This announcement is to recruit Student Volunteers for Spring 2027. **Student Volunteers are not employees of the Federal Government. Therefore, their service time is not creditable for leave accrual or any other federal employee benefits.** "This position is physically located in an OIG office at a work location listed on this job announcement.

Unpaid interns are not eligible to telework and must report to the physical office a prescribed number of days each pay period." "Note: Veteran's Preference does not apply. "This is a volunteer position and does not qualify for benefits."