Federal Job Question: Skipping a Grade in the Government

[Anonymous]

I am a current Federal employee performing at a grade below my private-sector experience. There is a job being advertised that I am eligible for but I still have 7 months left in my current grade level before I can apply. Can I apply for a higher grade level using my private-sector experience? What would I need to do? Are there any HR laws that I need to read?

[Anonymous]

You probably can. But read the announcement to make sure.

[Anonymous]

Yes. You can apply.

[Anonymous]

I found this answer to a similar question on the OPM website:

The time-in-grade requirement is a restriction that applies to Federal employees in competitive service General Schedule positions at grades 5 and above. These employees qualify for promotions to higher grades if they have: (1) At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty to the next lower grade level or (in some cases) the equivalent education; and (2) service of at least 52 weeks at their current grade. In some cases where Federal employees have education or have gained previous experience outside of the Federal Government they can apply for positions that are open to the general public. These are positions advertised as “WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED: United States Citizens.” You would be considered as an external candidate regardless of your Federal Government status but you will be required to meet the education and/or specialized experience requirements. I suggest you review positions advertised as stated above and review the qualifications requirements for the position. It was not necessary for you to quit your job to be able to move to a position with more promotion potential. I really hope this information helps.

I read this as saying you can only do this if the position is an outside hire position.

[Anonymous]

Yes. And don't forget to toll your time from closing date.

[Anonymous]

If you are applying to a merit promotion announcement - advertised to current fed etc you cannot skip a grade. You will have to meet the time in grade requirements. If it is a delegated examining announcement they can consider your private sector however your resume would have to written in such a way that it would be evident that that exp is qualifying.

Signed
Fed HR

[Anonymous]

I did. Went from a 13 to a 15. Qualified as a 15 based on outside experience (had only been a 13 for about a year). The job posting was one of those that's advertised for an outside hire, but they already had an internal candidate (me). I was actually already working at that position on a detail from my old position. The new listing was to move me from detail to permanent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did. Went from a 13 to a 15. Qualified as a 15 based on outside experience (had only been a 13 for about a year). The job posting was one of those that's advertised for an outside hire, but they already had an internal candidate (me). I was actually already working at that position on a detail from my old position. The new listing was to move me from detail to permanent.

Jobs can be tee'd up for individuals like this, but it is an inside, buddy system deal. You can try to a skip-a-grade application, but I would not hold my breath.

[Anonymous]

Would Veterans preference qualify an individual for a Merit Promotion Only job?

[Anonymous]

It's possible but the few I've known who have done it, were on the friends and family plan in that agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would Veterans preference qualify an individual for a Merit Promotion Only job?

No, but a current federal employee cannot skip a grade on a MP posted job.

[Anonymous]

For positions in pay bands, you could, correct?

[Anonymous]

Can a wage grade employee skip grades to be promoted?

[Anonymous]

technically yes but my recommendation is that you clearly not this on your resume and don't assume that the HR person reviewing your file will be able to add two and two together. If you are current employee they will sometimes default to time in grade and close the file. I did not do this for a 15 job and I was just shy of 11 months in grade at a14 (so I just missed the cutoff but I plenty of experience to qualify but did not clearly note it).

[Anonymous]

I don't think you can if you are a current Fed and haven't met the time in grade requirement. I was a GS-13 PhD scientist but had other GS-14/15 level experience. Despite my experience I could never clear the HR screen for GS-15 positions. So I left for a senior position at an NGO for a couple of years and then re-applied back in the government for a GS-15 and got it. Because the NGO paid decent it only made sense for me to take the new GS-15 job at the max salary. It was a risk to leave but my other Fed friends think I am a genius. Of course you're only a genius when the risk works.