Programs provide opportunities for internships, jobs Published June 1, 2015 By Janis El Shabazz Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Recent college graduates interested in federal employment can take advantage of current open recruiting for the Recent Graduates Program as well as three other programs offered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to make becoming a federal employee easier. The Recent Graduates Program, the Air Force Summer Internship Program, the Internship Program and the reinvigorated Presidential Management Fellows Program are developmental programs collectively known as the Pathways Program. Recent Graduates Program: This program offers careers positions in the civil service for individuals who graduated in the last two years from a qualifying educational institution with an associate’s, bachelor's or master's degree; professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate. Program selectees receive developmental experiences in the federal government, guided career planning, professional development and competitive opportunities for career advancement. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of completing a degree or earning a certificate, with the exception of veterans who have up to six years after degree or certificate completion to apply. For more information about federal employment information for veterans, go to OPM's Feds Hire Vets website. "The federal government benefits from a diverse workforce that includes students and recent graduates," said Susan Long, assigned to the Air Force Personnel Center Civilian Force Integration Directorate. The Pathways Program lessens the complexity of the rules governing recruiting and hiring for entry-level jobs to promote employment opportunities for students and recent graduates." The other Pathways recruit programs are as follows: Summer Internship Program: The Pathways’ Summer Internship Program provides the flexibility to appoint students to jobs that may or may not be related to the student's academic field. These appointments may be extended in one year increments as needed for as long as the intern meets the definition of student. The Summer Internship Program does not offer life insurance or retirement benefits, but it does offer vacation and sick time, and paid holidays. Recruitment is currently underway for this program. The closing date for announcements is July 31 and the program ends Sept. 25. Participation in the program varies from base to base. Internship Program: This program is for current students. The program provides students in high schools, colleges, trade schools and other qualifying educational institutions with paid opportunities to work in federal agencies and explore federal careers while completing their education. Presidential Management Fellows Program: For more than three decades the PMF program has been the federal government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. Executive Order 13562, “Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates,” expanded the eligibility window for applicants, making it more "student friendly" by aligning it with academic calendars and allowing those who have received a qualifying advanced degree within the preceding two years to participate. "Pathways Programs have significantly improved our recruiting efforts by offering clear paths to federal internships for students from high school through postgraduate school and to careers for recent graduates," Long said. "These programs provide meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their federal service. The Pathways Programs have proven to be a great success placing more than 700 students and recent graduates during (fiscal year) 2014." Announcements for all programs will be posted at usajobs.gov. More information about the Pathways Programs can be found at on myPers. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can find out how to request one by clicking here.