Waiting on the fed - WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I am in the process of waiting for a federal position that I have been connected with through a personal contact to post the advertisement so that I can be formally considered. My resume has already been presented to their superior (hiring manager) and I know from my personal contact that I will receive an interview but bureaucratic delays are causing the wait.

In the meantime, I've received an offer for a new job that is about a 20% salary increase from my current position. Would it be a total asshole move to take the new position, continue with the federal process (which I can imagine takes several months, since it would require a security clearance, intensive background check, etc etc after the several rounds of interviews I am expecting), and possibly leave the new job in only 2-4 (?) months if I get the fed job? I don't really want to stay in my current position while the fed takes their sweet time. I know everything with the gov't takes longer. But, I think I would have a guilty conscience if I "screwed over" this new company. What would you do?

FWIW, the fed position starts at a GS scale that only pays $400 annually less than the salary I am being offered at this new position, so they are very comparable. The upside is that I would be guaranteed annual GS scale increases for 3 years, and my personal contact teleworks 2 days/week. I know that is not to be expected right off the bat, but probably would be a future possibility, whereas at the new position there is no opportunity for telework and I am uncertain as to potential future salary increases.

[Anonymous]

I would take the offer for the new job because a) you don't know if you'll even get the fed job yet and b) as you said, the process will take A LOT of time if you are selected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would take the offer for the new job because a) you don't know if you'll even get the fed job yet and b) as you said, the process will take A LOT of time if you are selected.

This. And when they post the opening, there is a good chance someone with preference will apply and you may not even get it. I've seen that happen in my office several times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would take the offer for the new job because a) you don't know if you'll even get the fed job yet and b) as you said, the process will take A LOT of time if you are selected.

This. And when they post the opening, there is a good chance someone with preference will apply and you may not even get it. I've seen that happen in my office several times.

This. Don't count on the government. I hear you on the guilty feelings, but like, things happen.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- Good advice, all. I've never dealt with the fed, but am really interested in the position and would definitely take it if offered, so I guess it's just my guilty conscience I'd have to deal with in a few months. I will likely accept the offer, barring any extreme circumstances. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP again - another question: if you were in my situation and ended up getting the fed job after a few months, would you even put this "interim" position on your resume? I just don't want it to look like I'm bouncing around from employer to employer (...even though that's what I'd be doing).

[Anonymous]

Yes put the interim job on your resume.

I would take the private sector job. I'm a fed and it's not what it's cracked up to be. I applied in June 2013 and started in February 2014 at the new job. It takes forever to get hired!!

[Anonymous]

Absolutely take the offer you have in hand.

As others have mentioned, MANY things can happen between where you are (job hasn't even been posted yet) and an offer... budget cuts or other FTE issues could mean that it never gets posted, you could not make the cert (I have seen this happen to hand-selected candidates more often than I'd like to admit), a vet could out-preference you... the list goes on.

If you do get an offer, the security clearance process you are describing could take almost a YEAR, not the 2-4 months you are imagining.

Take the offer you have. If you get an offer for the fed position, you will likely have been in the new job for long enough that it won't look bad on your resume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes put the interim job on your resume.

I would take the private sector job. I'm a fed and it's not what it's cracked up to be. I applied in June 2013 and started in February 2014 at the new job. It takes forever to get hired!!

OP here. I am in a field that doesn't have many opportunities for salary increases in the private sector (probably would top out at around $70k and it would take me probably a decade or two to get to that compensation) whereas the GS scale for this position would be at GS 11 (I think around $63k) in only 3 years and there's no way I could be at a comparable level in the private sector in such a short amount of time. This is one aspect of the fed job that is really appealing to me (in addition to the actual responsibilities and agency), so I understand the gripe about the private vs. public sector but in my particular field I think it would be wise to go the fed route.

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely take the offer you have in hand.

As others have mentioned, MANY things can happen between where you are (job hasn't even been posted yet) and an offer... budget cuts or other FTE issues could mean that it never gets posted, you could not make the cert (I have seen this happen to hand-selected candidates more often than I'd like to admit), a vet could out-preference you... the list goes on.

If you do get an offer, the security clearance process you are describing could take almost a YEAR, not the 2-4 months you are imagining.

Take the offer you have. If you get an offer for the fed position, you will likely have been in the new job for long enough that it won't look bad on your resume.

Wow, I had no idea that clearances could take such a long time. With that in mind, I think I would be foolish not to take the 20% salary increase in the meantime. If it does really take that long, I would definitely put the new job on my resume because that would be a very long gap to explain away. I figured with 1-2 months it might not be worth it but it's clear that the fed doesn't work even that quickly. Thank you all for the advice!!

[Anonymous]

If you do get an offer, the security clearance process you are describing could take almost a YEAR, not the 2-4 months you are imagining.

Hmm, when I was hired as a fed, I was allowed to start on an interim basis while the remainder of my clearance was completed (secret), after some initial investigation had occurred (that was five years ago, though, perhaps things have changed???).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you do get an offer, the security clearance process you are describing could take almost a YEAR, not the 2-4 months you are imagining.

Hmm, when I was hired as a fed, I was allowed to start on an interim basis while the remainder of my clearance was completed (secret), after some initial investigation had occurred (that was five years ago, though, perhaps things have changed???).

Depends on the clearance level, and not everyone is granted an interim. With a secret, it's possible, but anything higher not so much.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I believe it is at a secret clearance level. There are 5 levels, correct?

[Anonymous]

Take the new job and know you may quit if being a fed is important to you. You do not infant know that you will make it through the HR screen with a high enough score for an interview. Even if you get the in person interview, you don't know you'll get the job.

My husband is starting a fed job in April. He applied to the posting in December - and this one moved crazy fast for the Feds. His current fellowship with a fed agency he applied in February, interviewed in May and started in September. And these jobs are only public trust - no secure or top secret clearances.

[Anonymous]

Infant = in fact

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't count on the fed job either, unless I had a written offer. I was told a couple of times that I was a shoo-in for a job and then the funding for the job fell through, or the job was withdrawn for some reason. There are alot of hoops to jump through in getting a federal job. Take the sure thing. You can always leave.