When to get offer from fed agency?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you required to tell your current agency that you have accepted a tentative offer? NP here.

I just went through this process. If you have a recent background check, once you accept the tentative offer, security will give the OK for you to set a start date pretty quickly. For me it was 3-4 days. Once this happens they will want to set a start date. But they can't do that without release from your current agency. So that's when the new agency will reach out to the current one. Your supervisor will find out at this point. If you don't want your current boss to find out via HR then I'd tell them pretty soon after you accept the tentative offer.

Thank you for the insight! My last background check was 2013 when I came into the federal government.
So, don't know if that qualifies as recent in the fed Gov't or not!

I started in 2014. I was told mine was good for 10 years. I think some others are good for 5. This is assuming you aren't getting some type of high level security clearance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you required to tell your current agency that you have accepted a tentative offer? NP here.

I just went through this process. If you have a recent background check, once you accept the tentative offer, security will give the OK for you to set a start date pretty quickly. For me it was 3-4 days. Once this happens they will want to set a start date. But they can't do that without release from your current agency. So that's when the new agency will reach out to the current one. Your supervisor will find out at this point. If you don't want your current boss to find out via HR then I'd tell them pretty soon after you accept the tentative offer.

Thank you for the insight! My last background check was 2013 when I came into the federal government.
So, don't know if that qualifies as recent in the fed Gov't or not!

I started in 2014. I was told mine was good for 10 years. I think some others are good for 5. This is assuming you aren't getting some type of high level security clearance.

Np here, I'm applying for an attorney position.

[Anonymous]

OP here - wow this is terrifying! I thought once I had the tentative offer I was golden. What caused all of these offers to fall through at the last moment?

[Anonymous]

I was talking to our background check division and HR today. Apparently only about 60% of our tentative offers become formal offers. Many fail at background checks, many fail due to funding and then others choose not to take the job after all.

My offer fell through at the last minute because HR said I didn't have the right qualifications. Even though my boss knew my resume, I have done the job for years and the agency wanted me. They were looking for a lawyer when I'm a business type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - wow this is terrifying! I thought once I had the tentative offer I was golden. What caused all of these offers to fall through at the last moment?

HR. My agency is usually a HR snafu and candidates see the writing on the all, and move on to someplace else. Preferably, with their shit together!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was talking to our background check division and HR today. Apparently only about 60% of our tentative offers become formal offers. Many fail at background checks, many fail due to funding and then others choose not to take the job after all.

My offer fell through at the last minute because HR said I didn't have the right qualifications. Even though my boss knew my resume, I have done the job for years and the agency wanted me. They were looking for a lawyer when I'm a business type.

Are you at an agency where security clearance is difficult? My job is at HHS so not heightened clearance, but now I am freaking out the job will fall through...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was talking to our background check division and HR today. Apparently only about 60% of our tentative offers become formal offers. Many fail at background checks, many fail due to funding and then others choose not to take the job after all.

My offer fell through at the last minute because HR said I didn't have the right qualifications. Even though my boss knew my resume, I have done the job for years and the agency wanted me. They were looking for a lawyer when I'm a business type.

Are you at an agency where security clearance is difficult? My job is at HHS so not heightened clearance, but now I am freaking out the job will fall through...

Which Agency?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was talking to our background check division and HR today. Apparently only about 60% of our tentative offers become formal offers. Many fail at background checks, many fail due to funding and then others choose not to take the job after all.

My offer fell through at the last minute because HR said I didn't have the right qualifications. Even though my boss knew my resume, I have done the job for years and the agency wanted me. They were looking for a lawyer when I'm a business type.

Are you at an agency where security clearance is difficult? My job is at HHS so not heightened clearance, but now I am freaking out the job will fall through...

No. I'm in a regular agency. You just wouldn't believe the records that people have that apply. I doubt your job will fall through if your background is clear.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you need to be freaking out. I don't think it's common for a job to be funded, listed, have a series of interviews, offer someone a job and then fall through for non background investigation related purposes. That 60 percent number included people who failed background or had just gotten tired of waiting and said "f--- it," and took another job.
HR is the group that sends out the tentative offer. They won't send it out if you're not qualified. In the instance of the job I just took, they wanted to hire me, but HR squawked that my resume didn't match the description in the listing. My supervisor-to-be just had me send a tweaked resume. If you got a tentative offer HR has approved you.

I think it's unlikely that your job will fall through. But what I think people are saying is that selling a house and moving cross country and buying another house is a big gamble on an offer that is labeled "tentative." The risk may be small, but on the one percent chance it goes bad, you're really screwed with no
Recourse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you need to be freaking out. I don't think it's common for a job to be funded, listed, have a series of interviews, offer someone a job and then fall through for non background investigation related purposes. That 60 percent number included people who failed background or had just gotten tired of waiting and said "f--- it," and took another job.
HR is the group that sends out the tentative offer. They won't send it out if you're not qualified. In the instance of the job I just took, they wanted to hire me, but HR squawked that my resume didn't match the description in the listing. My supervisor-to-be just had me send a tweaked resume. If you got a tentative offer HR has approved you.

I think it's unlikely that your job will fall through. But what I think people are saying is that selling a house and moving cross country and buying another house is a big gamble on an offer that is labeled "tentative." The risk may be small, but on the one percent chance it goes bad, you're really screwed with no
Recourse.

Thanks, I feel better. I live in DC so no move here - I just want it to come through!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - wow this is terrifying! I thought once I had the tentative offer I was golden. What caused all of these offers to fall through at the last moment?

Because there may be a funding shortfall somewhere in the agency, and it's easier to simply not hire someone who is not already there than fire someone who is or shut down programs.