Hired directly into the promotion potential level?

[Anonymous]

I currently hold a federal job as a ZA-03 (GS 11/12 equivalent) with no promotion potential. I applied for a similar job at my agency, different location, but it's a ZA-03 with promotion potential to ZA-04. If I were to be offered the job, could they direct promote me to the 04 level? I have more than a year experience at the 03 level but the announcement doesn't say I can qualify as a 04 from the announcement - it just says it has the promotion potential to be a ZA-04. Any insight on this particular situation and/or how promotion potential in general works would be great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I currently hold a federal job as a ZA-03 (GS 11/12 equivalent) with no promotion potential. I applied for a similar job at my agency, different location, but it's a ZA-03 with promotion potential to ZA-04. If I were to be offered the job, could they direct promote me to the 04 level? I have more than a year experience at the 03 level but the announcement doesn't say I can qualify as a 04 from the announcement - it just says it has the promotion potential to be a ZA-04. Any insight on this particular situation and/or how promotion potential in general works would be great.

They may, but usually they put you in the lower band for a year with a raise and then they can promote. It is worth it because the promotions are usually either automatic, or practically automatic (easy to promote into but not just on a timetable).

[Anonymous]

If it's advertised as a 03/04 they can hire you at the 04 level. However, if it's advertised as 03 with promotion potential to 04 - they can only fill the position at 03, but they may be able to move you to a 04 quickly.