Prepping for if you get the call.

[luckylady2]

I know this is covered over several threads years ago, but I'm lazy and haven't gone to look for them.

SO - here's a few things that you CAN prep for the day that the Magic Phone Call comes.

1) if you were ever a federal employee or in the mlitary, make sure that you have a scanned copy of your last SF-50 (employee) or DD-214 (military) showing your last paygrade & step.  If you get an offer, historically, it was always at ground, entry-level (ALJ-3/A)  If you have prior federal/military experience that puts your BASE pay (not including locality supplements) at the same or higher than the entry level BASE pay, you can ask for a step increase in your starting pay instead of accepting at the lower salary.  BUT you'll need to be able to send them the SF-50 or DD-214 to them ASAP, so they can come back ASAP with an offer with the step increase.  (Sorry folks in private practice, you are more or less expected to take pay cuts . . . )

2)  Talk with your family.  If you have more than 1 location in your GAL (and if you really want this job, you should), make sure that you have a plan for how you'd manage working in each of the locations.  Assume you'd be starting in 3-4 weeks.  Make sure that your loved ones are on board.  You won't have weeks to discuss it with your family once you get the offer, so you can pre-load that discussion while you're waiting. 

3) If you're in private practice, you'll need a plan if you have to wind up your job/practice in 3-4 weeks.

4) Look at your summer plans.  If you can, arrange them so that any vacations are re-arrangeable/refundable. 

As a side matter, if you are a current or former federal employee, it's a good idea to have a full copy of your personnel folder from OPM.  Now it's all electronic, so easy for current fed employees to download all the forms, but unless it's changed recently, you have to do it basically one at a time.  If you are a former federal employee, you can write to OPM and ask for a copy of your personnel folder.  It takes some time to get a response, so the earlier you do it, the better.

[neufenland]

Jun 13, 2023 13:43:23 GMT -5 luckylady2 said:

I know this is covered over several threads years ago, but I'm lazy and haven't gone to look for them.

SO - here's a few things that you CAN prep for the day that the Magic Phone Call comes.

1) if you were ever a federal employee or in the mlitary, make sure that you have a scanned copy of your last SF-50 (employee) or DD-214 (military) showing your last paygrade & step.  If you get an offer, historically, it was always at ground, entry-level (ALJ-3/A)  If you have prior federal/military experience that puts your BASE pay (not including locality supplements) at the same or higher than the entry level BASE pay, you can ask for a step increase in your starting pay.  BUT you'll need to be able to send them the SF-50 or DD-214 to them ASAP, so they can come back ASAP with a decision on the step increase.  (Sorry folks in private practice, you are more of less expected to take pay cuts . . . )

2)  Talk with your family.  If you have more than 1 location in your GAL (and if you really want this job, you should), make sure that you have a plan for how you'd manage working in each of the locations.  Assume you'd be starting in 3-4 weeks.  Make sure that your loved ones are on board.  You won't have weeks to discuss it with your family once you get the offer, so you can pre-load that discussion while you're waiting. 

3) If you're in private practice, you'll need a plan if you have to wind up your job/practice in 3-4 weeks.

4) Look at your summer plans.  If you can, arrange them so that any vacations are re-arrangeable/refundable. 

As a side matter, if you are a current or former federal employee, it's a good idea to have a full copy of your personnel folder from OPM.  Now it's all electronic, so easy for current fed employees to download all the forms, but unless it's changed recently, you have to do it basically one at a time.  If you are a former federal employee, you can write to OPM and ask for a copy of your personnel folder.  It takes some time to get a response, so the earlier you do it, the better.

This seems like the kind of post I’d see if something was imminent. Is that just wishful thinking, or did someone see their cousin’s former roommate at Whole Foods on Saturday with the skinny on calls?

[luckylady2]

Jun 13, 2023 13:55:52 GMT -5 neufenland said:

This seems like the kind of post I’d see if something was imminent. Is that just wishful thinking, or did someone see their cousin’s former roommate at Whole Foods on Saturday with the skinny on calls?

I have NO inside knowledge whatsoever.  I periodically follow the Board, and when it looks like offers may be coming out (interviews have happened, lots of chatter, folks waiting for The Call), I hope to help with things that people might not know.  I benefited a lot from having that SF-50 handy, and wouldn't have even known that I could ask for a step increase if it weren't for the Board. 

Just hope to pay it forward.