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            Program Summary
              Working for 
                the Congress Mentoring and TrainingPotential for Permanent EmploymentSalary and Benefits 
                 Other BenefitsPromotion 
                Potential
              IntroductionThe Graduate Recruit Program is a 
                two-phase program designed to attract the nation's top graduate 
                students to career opportunities with the Congressional Research 
                Service. It is also the cornerstone of CRS's overall effort to 
                achieve greater diversity within the Service. Phase One of the 
                Graduate Recruit Program consists of an initial summer experience 
                during which participants work closely with senior CRS staff on 
                a variety of research and analytical projects intended to expand 
                their academic knowledge and skills and enhance their familiarity 
                with the work of CRS. Participants who perform successfully during 
                this initial summer experience are then considered for Phase Two 
                of the program -- non-competitive placement in a permanent position 
                with CRS.
              Few organizations in Washington offer such a powerful 
                professional combination. If you are a graduate student considering 
                a career in public policy, then consider the Congressional Research 
                Service Graduate Recruit Program.
              Working for the CongressPolicy AnalystsInformation Resource LibrariansReference Librarians 
                As a 2000 CRS Graduate Recruit, you will have 
                  the opportunity to perform research and analysis exclusively 
                  for the United States Congress on a confidential, nonpartisan 
                  basis. Working alongside CRS's team of nationally recognized 
                  analysts and information specialists, you will be assigned a 
                  variety of projects designed to hone your research and analytical 
                  skills, strengthen your writing and communications skills, and 
                  cultivate your understanding of the Congress and the legislative 
                  process. You will work closely with a supervisor who will ensure 
                  that your work assignments are substantive and consistent with 
                  your academic background and experiences. At the same time, 
                  you will be encouraged to take initiative in your work and to 
                  work independently when appropriate. Indeed, in the words of 
                  one recent Graduate Recruit:
                "One thing I have enjoyed and that has 
                  also surprised me is the high level of autonomy we are accorded 
                  in our work. I have the flexibility to balance my research workload 
                  with training opportunities, for example. At the same time, 
                  my supervisor and other senior staff are very helpful and collegial 
                  in providing information and assistance that I cannot find on 
                  my own."
                The exact nature and scope of Graduate Recruit 
                  projects will vary by position and subject area. However, the 
                  following descriptions provide general information on the type 
                  of work typically performed by CRS Graduate Recruits in various 
                  positions:
                Policy Analysts: 
                  Graduate Recruit policy analysts are assigned a wide range of 
                  both short-term and longer-term projects. These projects typically 
                  include responding to congressional inquiries on legislative 
                  and policy issues in your assigned subject area, writing analytical 
                  reports and memoranda, assisting senior CRS analysts with research 
                  on major analytical projects, participating in meetings and 
                  briefings with congressional staff, and contributing to group 
                  analytical projects with senior analysts in your subject area. 
                  Most Graduate Recruit policy analysts describe their "typical 
                  day" as a combination of writing, reading, assisting congressional 
                  clients over the phone, meeting with one or more senior analysts 
                  to consult on a project, researching information on the web 
                  via in-house or commercial databases, and locating information 
                  in CRS division libraries.
                Most of the jobs being offered under the 2000 
                  Graduate Recruit Program -- 18 out of 21 positions -- fall into 
                  the policy analyst category. A complete listing of available 
                  policy 
                  analyst positions is contained on pages 8-10 of the Graduate 
                  Recruit application brochure.
                Information Resource 
                  Librarians:As a Graduate Recruit information resource librarian, 
                  you will be assigned to a specific subject area in which you 
                  will provide specialized information support to both Members 
                  of Congress and CRS research staff. As an information "expert" 
                  in this subject area, you will provide bibliographic and reference 
                  assistance; advise Members of Congress and CRS research staff 
                  on information resources and reference tools pertinent to their 
                  speciality; provide training in various electronic resources; 
                  create and maintain web pages in your subject area; and participate 
                  in the planning and implementation of information outreach programs. 
                  For additional details on information 
                  resource librarian positions, please see page 10 of the 
                  Graduate Recruit application brochure.
                Reference Librarians: 
                  Graduate Recruit reference librarians perform a variety of assignments, 
                  many of which are conducted with very quick turnaround. You 
                  will respond to congressional requests for information on a 
                  broad range of topics by searching print and on-line sources. 
                  You also will conduct Internet and commercial database searching, 
                  prepare written information products, and contribute to on-line 
                  resources on CRS's internal staff website. Additional information 
                  on Graduate Recruit reference 
                  librarian positions may be found on page 10 of the Graduate 
                  Recruit application brochure.
                Mentoring and TrainingAs a CRS Graduate Recruit, you will work with 
                  senior research analysts or information specialists in a collegial, 
                  "campus-like" environment that fosters and encourages 
                  collaboration across issues and disciplines. To facilitate this 
                  interaction, you will be assigned a mentor who will be available 
                  throughout the summer to provide informal counsel and guidance 
                  on work-related issues; acquaint you with CRS's culture, practices 
                  and procedures; share information on upcoming professional development 
                  opportunities; and introduce you to other colleagues in CRS. 
                  Graduate Recruit mentors typically are senior analysts or information 
                  specialists who work in or are knowledgeable about the subject 
                  areas to which Graduate Recruits have been assigned. In order 
                  to promote trust and ensure comfort in the mentoring relationship, 
                  your mentor will always be someone other than your immediate 
                  supervisor.
                Graduate Recruits also are offered a number 
                  of training and orientation sessions during their initial summer 
                  experience. These include formal instruction from CRS experts 
                  on the legislative process, congressional procedure, and the 
                  federal budget process; briefings on issues of current legislative 
                  interest; and training on the various research tools used by 
                  CRS to conduct our work for the Congress, including on-line 
                  databases and the Internet.
                In addition, you will have the opportunity to 
                  participate in special group activities with your fellow Graduate 
                  Recruits. These activities could include brown bag lunches with 
                  CRS analysts and information specialists; lectures by key Members 
                  of Congress and other national figures; personalized tours of 
                  the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and the 
                  White House; and informal volunteer and social events in and 
                  around Washington, DC.
                Potential for Permanent EmploymentIf selected as a 2000 Graduate Recruit, you 
                  initially will be hired as a temporary summer employee. Your 
                  summer employment will begin during the summer of 2000, following 
                  completion of the 1999- 2000 academic year, and will last for 
                  up to 120 days.
                At the end of your summer experience, you will 
                  receive a formal written evaluation from your supervisor. If 
                  that evaluation indicates that you performed successfully, you 
                  will then be considered for placement in a permanent position 
                  with CRS upon completion of your graduate degree. For students 
                  who already have completed their degree requirements, the conversion 
                  to a permanent position could occur immediately at the end of 
                  the summer. Otherwise, the conversion to a permanent position 
                  will be delayed until such time as the student's degree requirements 
                  are completed.
                Salary and BenefitsCRS Graduate Recruit positions are paid federal 
                  jobs. Your salary will be commensurate with your education and 
                  experience and will follow the standard federal government "GS" 
                  pay scale. Salaries for Graduate Recruit policy analysts typically 
                  start at the GS-7 ($27,508- $35,760 per annum), GS-9 ($33,650-$43,747 
                  per annum), or GS-11($40,714-$52,927 per annum) level. Salaries 
                  for Graduate Recruit reference librarians and information resource 
                  librarians typically start at the GS-7 or GS-9 level. [These 
                  salary figures do not include an anticipated cost of living 
                  increase in January 2000.]
                The benefits available to you during the initial 
                  summer portion of the Graduate Recruit Program consist of four 
                  hours of annual leave (vacation) and four hours of sick leave 
                  per two-week pay period. Once you are converted to a permanent 
                  position, you will become eligible for the full complement of 
                  federal health, life, and retirement benefits, as follows:Health Insurance: As a federal employee, you may choose 
                  from a wide selection of health benefits plans. Coverage under 
                  these plans is immediate and is provided without a medical examination 
                  or restrictions due to age, current health, or pre-existing 
                  medical condition. The cost of your health insurance plan is 
                  shared by you (through payroll deductions) and the Library of 
                  Congress.
                Life Insurance:The federal government 
                  offers employees basic life insurance coverage under the Federal 
                  Employees' Group Life Insurance Plan (FEGLI). Employees pay 
                  two- thirds of the cost of this coverage; the Library of Congress 
                  pays the remaining one-third. Additional coverage is also available, 
                  at full cost, for the employee's self and family members.
                Retirement Benefits: In addition to 
                  traditional social security and other basic retirement benefits, 
                  the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) offers you the 
                  opportunity to contribute up to 10% of your basic pay to a Thrift 
                  Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP operates much like a 401-K plan. 
                  You may contribute up to 10% of your basic pay to your choice 
                  of three investment funds. The Library of Congress will match 
                  your contributions to the TSP up to the first 5%. Earnings in 
                  TSP accounts grow tax free until they are withdrawn.
                Other BenefitsAs Library of Congress employees, there are 
                  other benefits available to Graduate Recruits, including book 
                  borrowing privileges from the Library's general collections, 
                  membership in the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union, 
                  and access to the Library's many events and exhibits. The Library 
                  also operates a "Little Scholars" child development 
                  center for children ages 3 months to 5 years. The center's facilities 
                  are located just blocks from the Library, and first priority 
                  for enrollment is given to children of Library of Congress employees. 
                  Graduate Recruits also have the benefit of working in a prime 
                  Capitol Hill office location. Located directly across the street 
                  from the U.S. Capitol, CRS is just minutes away from the House 
                  and Senate congressional office buildings, the National Mall, 
                  the Smithsonian, Union Station, the Supreme Court, and all modes 
                  of public transportation.
                Promotion PotentialPerhaps one of the greatest benefits to joining 
                  CRS as a policy analyst under the Graduate Recruit Program is 
                  the potential for rapid advancement. Once you are converted 
                  to a permanent position, you will have the potential, through 
                  annual promotions, to reach the highest GS salary level available, 
                  the GS-15 (currently $80,658 - $104,851 per annum). Your advancement 
                  will be based solely on your own performance. As you meet the 
                  requirements of the next highest grade, you will be promoted 
                  based on your own merit and accomplishment. You will not have 
                  to compete for promotions against your colleagues, nor will 
                  you have to serve in a supervisory role in order to be promoted. 
                  In the words of one CRS Graduate Recruit:
                "The CRS promotion ladder is truly outstanding. 
                  I was hired as a GS-11, and was promoted by one GS-level every 
                  year. Thus, I reached the GS-15 rung of the promotion ladder 
                  in just four years. There are few government agencies that can 
                  match such a rapid rise, and I don't believe there are any private 
                  sector organizations that can provide the combination of good 
                  pay, great benefits, ability to have a full life outside the 
                  office, and collegial working environment that I have found 
                  at CRS."
                CRS reference librarians and information resource 
                  librarians have similar potential for rapid advancement -- Graduate 
                  Recruits hired under these positions are eligible, through annual 
                  promotions, to reach the GS-13 salary level (currently $58,027 
                  - $75,433 per annum). Promotions beyond these levels, to more 
                  senior positions, are also possible, but are not part of the 
                  regular promotion ladder. These promotions depend on the level 
                  of skill required by the position, the budget situation, and 
                  the availability of vacant positions. Typically, senior positions 
                  are filled through open vacancy announcements using the regular 
                  competitive hiring process.
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