Federal internships can be a great way to start a career in government. But before you get an internship, you have to find it, which in some ways can be trickier than finding a job.

The big difference between job hunting and looking for an internship is that internships are “excepted” positions, not “competitive” positions. What that means is instead of using Monster Gov’t/Public Service and USAJOBS to search all agencies at once, you have to go to each agency’s Web site.

Here’s how you to start your hunt:

• Make a list of agencies that are of interest to you.

• Go to each agency’s home page.

• Look for a link for employment, careers, students or interns.

• If you can’t find any of the above, use the search field to look for “student internships.”

• Read through descriptions of internship programs.

• Once you find a program you like, try putting the name of the program in the search field to find more information.

• Look for actual program announcements with dates, pay and instructions for how to apply.

• Bookmark these pages and write information down or print it out.

• Write a federal-style resume that covers the skills in the announcement.

The Bottom Line

Yes, finding the good federal internship listings and descriptions with each agency can be time-consuming, but the time you spend is very worthwhile. Federal internships can pay well and include advancement and benefits.