Feds: Negotiating salary/step
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Anonymous
| I'm a current fed and was referred to the hiring official for a position in another city to which I am considering relocating. I know this doesn't guarantee I get the job by any stretch, but it is a promising first step. The problem is, it's at a grade lower than I'm currently at (I somehow failed to be referred at my current grade even though the work is similar) and it's really not feasible for me to take the huge pay cut. I would take the grade decrease if I could talk them up in step. Does anyone have any experience negotiating this? |
Anonymous
| Yes, tell them you want a 5 or whatever you want. Tell them exactly what skills/experience you bring. |
Anonymous
| By the way, you do this after you get an offer. |
Anonymous
| Since you're taknig a step backwards by taking a lower grade - i think there is a rule (formal or not, i dont know) that they give you the step equivalent to where you were. the more i think about it, perhaps this is old school, or when you're applyign for a lateral, but it's worth talking to someone about - start by googling or asking at the fedsoup message boards. |
Anonymous
| I did this- took a lower grade. The agency was able to match the salary (so my step matched my previous salary). It is not automatic. The hiring official needs to provide a justification. I believe it's called highest previous rate (HPR) or at least it is at my agency. It MUST be negotiated before you start or it won't happen. |
Anonymous
| FYI, you can negotiate for extra vacation too ... |
Anonymous
I have never heard of this... |
Anonymous
Yup. 
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Anonymous
| How many days of vacation would you ask for with a20+ year work history and applying for a GS14 position? |
Anonymous
| Dropping a grade is a big mistake, IMO. Agencies have the ability to pay you the highest rate you have made as a fed. A common reason they might not do so is due to "morale" issues. I had a boss who insisted that she be a higher grade than the people who reported to her. This meant that two of us were stuck at the top of GS-14. With a change of bosses, and a change of view, my position was re-classified as a GS-15. If you are going to be doing work at the level of your current grade, why should you take a hit? |
Anonymous
How exactly does this work? I'm a former fed and have never heard of this; actually I thought this could not be done. But if it can I want to know because I will likely be returning to the govt soon! |
Anonymous
But if someone's not referred at their current grade, is it possible to make an argument to HR that they should have been and actually be hired at their current grade? |
Anonymous
You negotiate that accruing leave at, say, 6 rather than 4 hours a pay period is a more direct match to your current compensation package than starting at 4 would be. I know of at least one colleague who was an in-sourced contractor who did this. |
Anonymous
| The vacation thing doesn't work if you are transferring. It only works for new hires based on private sector experience. I dropped a grade but still get same salary. Worth it bc it is a prestigious stepping stone job, not a permanent fed job. |