Federal GS employees- question about time in grade

[Cindy B]

Got a few questions for you. I employed at an agency under the FCIP program in a 7-9-11 position. I've been at this agency for over 6 months.


I've been told that a general public USAJOBS announcement from my agency may be coming soon-- but it is a higher grade than my current grade and is not a FCIP position. I would be considered qualified for the position due to my degrees and Superior Student status. I would still be "competing" with the veterans prefence candidates


Do I need to meet my time in grade requirement? Since it is an "outside" person announcement-- does that TIG requirement even "fit"?

I'd like to get out of my current position and the FCIP program if at all possible.

 

[CapeMayMommy]

I am a federal gs employee and am still confused about all of the rules.

How many grades higher would the new position be?

 

[doxdogy]

Are you applying as a member of the general public or as GS employee? I believe if you are applying as a member of the general public then time in grade does not apply. I would imagine that if you are applying as a GS employee then time in grade does apply. It is highly unusual that a job will open up to general public status BEFORE agency employees, veteran's preference or employees that are in danger of a surplus status.

I currently work for the Army as a contractor and I have been doggedly trying to get into the system as a Army employee.

 

[Cindy B]

This would be a GS12 start-- so it would be higher then my current salary and OUT of the FCIP program.

From what I have been told, this position is going to be open to general public because the last time this position was offered to agency employees first.

Since it is a general public announcement, I guess that time in grade won't apply.

 

[micki7337]

Time in grade may not apply but you will still need to qualify. Without knowing the job series, most job series do not allow you to substituted education for the required experience. You will need to demonstrate in your application that you have a minimum of one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. Unless the series is in a Research position where they will allow substitution of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree.

In all my 29 years with the government, I only know of a few incidents where someone came into the government at the GS-12 level. Most highly educated (masters/+) applicants came in at GS-9 or GS-11 and quickly moved up.

 

[jsmith]

I currently work for the Army as a contractor and I have been doggedly trying to get into the system as a Army employee

Me too-although ive about thrown in the towel on that-for one-my current job will eventually be rated GS -although right now im paid at the equivlant of an 11 step 4 and they are rating it a 7 step 3-thats frustrating. The other issue is that for every GS job i apply for im competing with people who are 10 or 15 point vets-and i can get a spouse prefence because my hubands duty station is outside standard commuting distance. Keep trying tho-it can take 8 to 15 months from when a job is posted to when you get hired. Also dont forget to look on CPOL as well as USAJOBS

OP sorry for the hijack

 

[Cindy B]

Time in grade may not apply but you will still need to qualify. Without knowing the job series, most job series do not allow you to substituted education for the required experience. You will need to demonstrate in your application that you have a minimum of one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. Unless the series is in a Research position where they will allow substitution of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree.

In all my 29 years with the government, I only know of a few incidents where someone came into the government at the GS-12 level. Most highly educated (masters/+) applicants came in at GS-9 or GS-11 and quickly moved up.

Interesting. Hard to say what is really going to happen. I've heard it is a gs12 because the current position I am in goes to 11-- and they want the people in my current position to reach higher== so to speak. I don't even know the job series either. This 11 position I am in requires a degree now but others don't have them-- so its sort of backwards.

Of course I am pretty new to this.. so I'm still confused about some of the qualificaitons.

 

[Cindy B]

Me too-although ive about thrown in the towel on that-for one-my current job will eventually be rated GS -although right now im paid at the equivlant of an 11 step 4 and they are rating it a 7 step 3-thats frustrating. The other issue is that for every GS job i apply for im competing with people who are 10 or 15 point vets-and i can get a spouse prefence because my hubands duty station is outside standard commuting distance. Keep trying tho-it can take 8 to 15 months from when a job is posted to when you get hired. Also dont forget to look on CPOL as well as USAJOBS

OP sorry for the hijack

No biggie.. I have to compete with the vets as well. I don't even have the spouse preference but I do have the education and the superior student achievement. It took me almost 4 months from application to hire which is pretty quick in federal hiring time.

 

[duketennisgal]

No biggie.. I have to compete with the vets as well. I don't even have the spouse preference but I do have the education and the superior student achievement. It took me almost 4 months from application to hire which is pretty quick in federal hiring time.

That's very quick in federal hiring time! It was almost a full year for me.

To the OP, from what I can tell it would be very rare for someone to start at the GS12 level. Even if they try to hire from outside there is going to be an 11/12 out there with the experience or preference that CPAC is going to push as the hire.

I think when you are in a federal position the best advice is to wait it out for a few years, get to that 11 and then you can get a 12 pretty easily. I came in as a 5/7/9/11 and am now being told that my position is being moved to a 12, I have two more years to get there, but once I do I plan to stay at that level for a couple of years before I seek out my 13.