Haha ask FEMA HR that. Can you tell I’m still bitter af? I saw that guys leave and earning statement myself, no work experience. What I’m saying is the rules are arbitrary and you’re your only advocate. |
NP everyone knows FEMA is the worst. Glad you got out! I've heard many horror stories. |
Are you at State by chance? While your position itself may be in a career ladder (i.e. promotion potential to a GS-13), the PMF program is by nature excepted service and at least where I am, ends at conversion at the GS-12 level. You were not hired into that specific career ladder but a PMF excepted service PD. So, you individually are not automatically eligible for non-competitive promotion to the top of that career ladder. You can absolutely compete for it under normal circumstances - this hiring freeze is not a normal environment. I’m sorry but that’s just the way it is. They’re not wrong. |
Also, the hiring freeze has demeaned ALL of us for the past year and a half. I personally know dozens of people including myself who have been barred from competitive promotions they’d otherwise easily get, and we’re totally short-staffed everywhere. There’s just nothing you can do but wait. We are all in the same boat. |
Thanks, your explanation at least makes some sense. Does this mean there is no way to fight it, I guess? |
I’m not aware of any way to fight it at this time besides an exemption. But honestly, it’s probably a low priority because it’s just a competitive promotion. Vacancies are the focus. I’d apply for GS-13 jobs elsewhere on USAJobs if you don’t want to wait. |
OP have you been there for 3 years? I had to wait 3 years to be converted to competitive from excepted service. I came in under the Honors program which was similar to PMF. Our PMFs also had to wait 3 years. Once you were converted to competitive you could apply for other jobs. |
I was converted almost a year ago. It's been almost 4 years at this job. I could apply to other jobs but honestly I am sort of ready to move on from government at this point. It has been a valuable experience but I sort of want to have more control over my life and my salary and I am sick of the bureaucratic bs. |
Freeze is officially over at State and first new hiring policy directives have come out, so this could possibly get sorted out soon. Some bureaus (L) have gotten permission to really jump on hiring. Do you know what position your bureau is in? If you're in OES or DRL or GCJ, you're likely screwed, unfortunately... but EB or INL, hiring has started already. |
Depending on the position the person may never be competitive service. I came in as a PMF and converted into yet another excepted service position. My group generally takes a PMF per year and the target conversion is always a GS 12. |