NFT: In need of info from federal employees regarding GS scale

that the scale a position is advertised at, can still be negotiated through steps. When I did it, I was fresh out of school, so it's not like I could have asked for much else, but a buddy with more experience did and was several steps higher, even though we were the same GS-#.

That's all I can tell you. I am a GS-11 the key is to have your resume get past the computer that is screening everything that is submitted the best way to do it is print the job posting and use the language from it in yours. Also when filling out the application and they ask you questions you need to put yourself as a expert in every question or you will never get looked at because everybody else does not answer them honestly.

the Key is just get into the Govt system that is the hardest part once your in it gets a lot easier to move up and around since most positions are restricted to Federal employees only.

is also based on where you live so you get Locality Pay


GS Locality Pay Scale - ( New Window )

In comment 13083257 jtfuoco said:

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That's all I can tell you. I am a GS-11 the key is to have your resume get past the computer that is screening everything that is submitted the best way to do it is print the job posting and use the language from it in yours. Also when filling out the application and they ask you questions you need to put yourself as a expert in every question or you will never get looked at because everybody else does not answer them honestly.

Thanks for that, every little bit of info helps.

in your responses to the vacancy announcement, they can fire you later. Just saying...

...I'm guessing QA Mgr would probably fall there or GS-13.

Good luck!

In comment 13083262 X said:

Quote:

is also based on where you live so you get Locality Pay GS Locality Pay Scale - ( New Window )

I'm not sure how to interpret that. So, if a job is placed in a certain locality, wouldn't they already reflect the locality pay in the job posting?

...Took about 7 months from application to seated at my desk. Phone interview (odd), months before I got the offer, THEN months before I was officially hired.

What they don't tell you is that once you accept the offer, they then post the job NATIONWIDE to make sure there aren't any gov't employees who want it first.

Civilians are at a disadvantage - military background gets a leg up (as it should). I was lucky enough to get hired as a civilian.

And I really dig the job. DCMA isn't for everyone - but for a QA guy, it's right up your alley. Pay isn't as good as private sector, but for me it was worth the move.

In comment 13083262 X said:

Quote:

is also based on where you live so you get Locality Pay GS Locality Pay Scale - ( New Window )

The list seems off. Albany has a 14% COLA and Boston is only 25%.

are not on the GS scale. For example, I work for a DoD Agency that evaluates employees on a merit based scale. It's a program called Acquisition Demonstration. We don't have GS grades, we have four levels of broad band skill identifiers(e.g. NH – Business Management and Technical Management Professional) and they are banded around GS grades. For example;

NH-1 = GS01-GS-04
NH-2 = GS05-GS11
NH-3= GS12-GS13
NH-4= GS14-GS15

Every year, you are evaluated/graded on 6 performance measures:
1. Problem Solving
2. Teamwork/Cooperation
3. Customer Relations
4. Leadership/Supervision
5. Communications, and
6. Resource Management.

I don't know anyone who prefers the GS system. The advantage is you can be promoted within your band without changing jobs. Also, you get promotions and/or a bonus for performance. Every annual evaluation is scored by boards in your functional area (e.g., engineering, Quality & Safety) and the better you perform, the bigger the share of the pool of money. You can always compete for promotions in a higher band...

I was hired as an attorney by a federal government agency about five years ago pursuant to an "honors program".

The hiring process took all of 10 months to complete. I was one of about 140 applicants for the particular job and, to be entirely honest, the internship i served in the region that hired me was the only reason I was selected. About three months ago I saw the region's selection write-up that was submitted to Washington. It clearly showed that the other five applicants that made it to the final round were much more academically impressive than I.

My take away is that personal relationships are much more important than hard qualifications in securing employment in any sector, public or private.

In regard to the GS system, my position started at a GS 11 with full performance being a GS 14. There is a set promotion time table that can be altered slightly based on exceptional performance or underperformance, as the case may be.

Each federal government job that utilizes the GS system, as far as i can tell, utilizes the same experiential system for promotions. Each job has a starting GS salary and a full performance GS scale rating. You make your way through the bands to full performance based on years employed and supervisor evaluations.

i hope that was somewhat helpful.

In comment 13083257 jtfuoco said:

Quote:

That's all I can tell you. I am a GS-11 the key is to have your resume get past the computer that is screening everything that is submitted the best way to do it is print the job posting and use the language from it in yours. Also when filling out the application and they ask you questions you need to put yourself as a expert in every question or you will never get looked at because everybody else does not answer them honestly.

Totally agree with this logic, I'm a former Fed. You'd be amazed how many lousy candidates are 'best qualified' b/c they said they were experts on everything.

Of course, if a vet is blocking the list then all bets are off.

Based on your experience I'd say GS-11 or 12.

If you didn't hate me so much I'd talk to you about a job, I need some QA/PM help for federal contracts. I do know a lot of folks in the Gov't space and I'd be happy to distribute your resume' and help if I can. I assume you'll tell me to GFY but I'm a nice guy so I figured I'd ask.

That's way too strong a reaction to have on the internet. I just express my disdain for some of those very powerful emotional reactions to things that happen around the team.

and having gone through the hiring process as well (turned it down as we couldn't agree on the proper step within the grade), it's a painful long process. However, that also depends on which organization/agency/department you are trying to get hired into. My specific agency takes upwards of a year to get hired with average time being around eight months (when there isn't a hiring freeze) unless you're being hired by name-request.

And while I know that veterans status gets a leg up, it doesn't really alleviate the pain. My brother is currently going through a GS-13 hiring process, and even with a veterans preference (along with 30+% disabilities rating), it's been a slow process, and he's about as qualified for the position as they get.

Good luck. The good thing is that up until you hit GS-13 or so, promotions are relatively easy and fast.