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United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service
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Veterinary Student Employment Program
Common Questions
In order to apply, what year must the student be in school?
The student must be in their first, second, or third year. We can't hire a student for this particular program after they have graduated.

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What salary and benefits will students receive?
Students will be paid at an hourly rate in the AP-799-2 Pay Band. (Your hourly salary depends on your academic credentials and/or achievements in both undergraduate and graduate studies and location of job). For more information on the Public Health Human Resources System (PHHRS), including information on its pay tables and how PHHRS will benefit employees, please visit the PHHRS pages.

Students will accrue vacation and paid sick leave based on the hours worked. Students will receive pay for any federal holidays that fall within the period of their employment with us. Students will also be automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System.

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What is the length of this employment program?
At a minimum, students will be asked to be available and commit to 6 weeks of full-time employment (a maximum of 16 weeks) during the summer. It doesn't matter when the student starts (other than the beginning of a pay period); it just depends on the student's schedule. Students MAY also work during subsequent school breaks prior to graduation, but housing would not be paid for outside of summer employment.

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When will the student begin working if selected?
Dates will depend on the student's school schedule.

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What are the locations of the positions under the FSIS Veterinary Student Employment Program?
We have FSIS Public Health Veterinarians (PHV) in various locations throughout the country to serve as mentors. In order to match students with mentors, students will be asked during the application process where geographically they are interested in working. The student duty station* will be determined based on their geographical interests and the availability of a mentor in, or close to, that location.

*duty station - the geographic location (city and state) where the student will spend the majority of their time in the summer.

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If the student needs to relocate, does FSIS help with locating housing?
If the duty station for which the student is selected requires the student to relocate from their current school location, FSIS WILL BE responsible for locating and paying for summer housing and travel costs incurred (domestic travel within the United States) in getting the student to their duty station and back to their school location at the end of their employment period. FSIS WILL NOT be responsible for finding housing that allows a student to bring pets.

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Will the student spend all summer in a slaughter plant?
Students will work directly under the supervision of a FSIS PHV acquiring knowledge of what PHV's do throughout FSIS. Students will spend time in a number of different plants and also spend time with PHV's in an office setting. (see Training Plan. Also see what Students from Previous Years said regarding their experience.)

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What are the travel requirements under the FSIS Veterinary Student Employment Program?
Depending on the students geographical location, they will spend time away from their duty station throughout the summer. This will include spending 2-4 days in the District Office for orientation during their first week of employment and occasional overnight trips throughout the summer traveling to a variety of plants and spending time with a variety of FSIS employees.

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During periods of travel, what expenses will FSIS cover?
Expenses incurred from travel required under the students training plan will be covered by FSIS in accordance with federal travel regulations. Basic travel expenses that FSIS will cover includes: airfare, or mileage if driving; the cost of lodging (hotel); a meal and incidental allowance daily; and parking/taxi/subway fees when required.

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Last Modified: November 6, 2009

 

 

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