FTC: For the Consumer
Search:
Federal Trade Commission--A great place to work!

Job Opportunities

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a dynamic agency offering challenging careers in a variety of fields. The FTC is an independent Federal agency that enforces antitrust and consumer protection laws and promotes competitive markets, free of deception and undue restrictions. There are over 1,000 staff members at the FTC, including over 500 attorneys and 70 economists promoting the interests of all American consumers by supporting and protecting the free market.

Although the FTC hires primarily attorneys and economists to accomplish its consumer protection and competition missions, there are also opportunities for applicants seeking positions in other professional, administrative and support positions. U.S. Citizenship is required. We offer an excellent benefits package. The FTC's Vision, Mission and Goals statement describes the activities and business of the Federal Trade Commission.

Entry Level Attorney Positions

If you're a law student looking for a fast-paced and challenging legal career, the FTC is the place for you. The FTC recruits annually for entry level attorney positions. Honors attorneys are hired at the GS-11 and GS-12 levels and require completion of the J.D. Degree. Recent graduates are placed in fourteen month positions as law clerks pending admission to a bar. Attorneys must be licensed and authorized to practice under the laws of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Employment inquires may be sent to Human Resources Management Office, Attn: Employment Program Assistant, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. You may also reach us via the internet at HRMOEmployment@ftc.gov.

Assignments

Among the organizational units at the FTC, the Bureau of Competition generally employs the largest number of new law school graduates. The Bureau of Competition typically assigns entry-level attorneys to one of four practice areas: Mergers & Acquisitions, Anticompetitive Practices, Healthcare Services and Products and Compliance.

Other groups at the FTC including the Bureau of Consumer Protection and Office of General Counsel have a more limited number of entry level positions. For more information write to HRMOEmployment@ftc.gov or call 202-326-2021.

Economist Positions

The FTC recruits for economists in January of each year. In response to a specific FTC vacancy announcement, applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, transcript indicating a degree in economics, and three letters of recommendation. Positions may be filled at the GS-12 through GS-15 levels. Applicants may qualify based on education and/or experience. A Ph.D. or comparable experience is required at the GS-12 level. Offers for employment for the following fall are made by March of each year.

Paralegal Positions

The FTC accepts applications for Paralegal Specialist at grades GS-5 and GS-7 primarily from January through March. Appointments are competitive and include the Outstanding Scholar Program. For that program, applicants must have received a Bachelor's degree and maintained a grade point average of 3.45 or better on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate course work, or have graduated in the upper 10% of their graduating class. Applicants should apply directly to a vacancy announcement posted at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/a9ftci.htm (see "How to Find Out About Vacancies")

Summer Legal Interns

The FTC provides summer employment opportunities (for up to 8 weeks) for law students who have completed all but their last year of law school OR law school graduates who are going on to judicial clerkships.  The Commission is actively recruiting talented and dedicated law students with an exceptional level of commitment to the public interest to enforcing antitrust and consumer protection laws as mandated by Congress.  A background in economics or business is preferred, but not required.   Our goal is to offer our summer law clerks intellectually stimulating projects, similar in complexity to those given to junior attorneys, which afford them an opportunity to demonstrate writing, analytical and advocacy skills.  The 2003 salary is approximately $20 per hour (GS-9, step 1 salary scale).  The Bureau of Competition and Bureau of Consumer Protection hire summer legal interns.

Student Clerical Positions

Applications are accepted from students year round for a variety of clerical support positions. Students must be at least sixteen years of age to work. Positions are filled at the GS-1 through GS-5 levels, on an as needed basis. Applicants should submit a resume which includes the number of semester and/or credit hours completed. Most positions require typing proficiency - applicants must certify or provide proof that they can type 40 words per minute with no more than three errors). Computer literacy is also desirable.

Volunteers/Unpaid Internships

The FTC has volunteer internships available primarily for students of law or economics. An agreement with the student's school is required. The FTC also has volunteer opportunities for retired seniors.

How to Apply

You should follow the directions in the announcement carefully. Additional information may be required as listed on specific vacancy announcements. Clearly identify the specific vacancy announcement number, if applicable, or type of position for which you are applying.

Submit applications to the following address:

Federal Trade Commission
Employment Program Assistant
Human Resources Management Office
Room, 723
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

How to find Out About Current Job Openings at the FTC

Current FTC Vacancy Announcements are posted at the FTC Job Search website on USAJOBS homepage at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/a9ftci.htm. If you are NOT a current federal employee, in order to access all available jobs at FTC from the website, you must:

1. Select "All" from the "Where You Would Like to Work" Category and hit the "Submit" button.
2. If you are a status employee, follow the above directions and scroll down to "Category" and click "Yes".
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and hit the "Submit" button.

How To Apply for Current Job Openings:

You should follow the directions in the announcement carefully. Additional information may be required as listed on specific vacancy announcements. Clearly identify the specific vacancy announcement number for which you are applying.

Submit applications to the following address:

Federal Trade Commission
Human Resources Management Office
Room 723
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

How to contact us:

Phone: 202-326-2021
TTY: 202-326-3422
Fax: 202-326-2543
HRMOEmployment@ftc.gov

Last Updated: Wednesday, February 11, 2004