Fed Jobs - What's negotiable?

[Anonymous]

I've only worked in the private sector and looking at some federal job postings (not contractor but via USAJOBS). Wondering what exactly is negotiable during the hiring process? i.e. if they give you a salary range e.g. $50,000 - $60,000 - can you negotiate to something in between at the least? Is vacation time negotiable? Curious about how rigid the benefits/salary are.

[Anonymous]

Honestly it's all pretty rigid. You'd have to see what you qualify for and it's listed in the application. See if you qualify for a GS 9 or 11.

Vacation time is not negotiable unless you're highly recruited and they're desperate for you, which I doubt applies to you. Some agencies will never negotiate vacation time.

Benefits are rigid.

[Anonymous]

You can negotiate within the posted range. Your leave category is open to negotiation, but if you're fresh out of grad school, they aren't likely to entertain much negotiation at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly it's all pretty rigid. You'd have to see what you qualify for and it's listed in the application. See if you qualify for a GS 9 or 11.

Vacation time is not negotiable unless you're highly recruited and they're desperate for you, which I doubt applies to you. Some agencies will never negotiate vacation time.

Benefits are rigid.

Not sure what agency you work for - but this is not correct in my agency. Depending on what experience you have, annual leave is completely negotiable depending on the experience you have. I am working now on negotiating additional annual leave for a new staff person who is starting at my agency - and we did not "highly recruit" her.

Also, you can negotiate "step" which would be increased salary.

[Anonymous]

OP here! The example range I posted is actually not accurate, just an example. I've been in the workforce for 10 years (graduated 10 years ago from college) and one of the positions I applied to I'm very qualified (might even be slightly overqualified). The starting part of the range is about 4k below what I make now and ending range is about 19k more. Was hoping to get at least what I make now and of course it would be amazing to get a little more than what I make now to make it a bit sweeter. As for vacation time, I think just based on how long I've been working it would be nice to get more than the typical 2 weeks... just feels like I've worked too long to go back to the bare minimum. Was just curious to see if opening that up for conversation was even a possibility or if they'd just view me as undesirable for even trying

[Anonymous]

No harm in asking, especially since you're coming from private sector. I never negotiated when I first became a fed, since the offer I got was double my non-profit salary (ha!). When I recently switched jobs within the same agency (lateral grade change), I asked for a step increase but they said no. No harm, no foul. Never hurts to ask "Is salary negotiable" and then proceed with your case.

[Anonymous]

No one in federal service gets 2 weeks vacation (you start with 13 days).

[Anonymous]

If you're coming from a non-fed position, there's a lot more room for negotiation as long as you can provide justification for the hiring manager to use on their end to advocate on your behalf. Of course, they'd have to be willing to advocate for you too.

I've been able to negotiate a salary a little over what I was making at my industry job - justification was that my benefit at the industry job was superior to what I would get with the govt (my healthcare was 100% paid by company).

It would help to familiarize yourself with the GS pay scale and specify exactly what step you are looking to get and why.

In terms of leave, that can also be negotiated. However, I would probably not ask for a salary increase AND leave increase from the original offer. Pick one that matters to you most.

[Anonymous]

It's also usually going to be easier to negotiate something on the lower half of the GS-scale for which you qualify. I think agencies may differ, but I think at ours the agency can only approve up to a step 4 or step 5. Above that might need an approval from HQ, and you're not likely to get the agency HR to go to bat with HQ over a step increase.

[Anonymous]

And honestly, I'd also talk to your hiring official that you interviewed with. Because I've gone to bat for someone we were hiring to argue that their private sector experience qualified them at a higher level. That assumes it was a multi-level job posting (like a 13/14 or something like that).

[Anonymous]

I was able to negotiate salary when I started but it was solely based on the fact that I had been making more than Step 1 of the grade I was being brought in at. I brought it up with the person who interviewed me and he was willing to go to bat. They asked me for a copy of my current paystub and then offered me the next highest step (which was Step 6). I tried to neogtiate leave with him -- at first he was open to it but then he changed his mind about going to bat for me about that. I did learn later though that another new employee who started in another division at my agency around the same time was able to negotiate both Step and leave. So from that I gather out HR dept. has no problem with it if the selecting official is willing to go to bat for their selectee.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your feedback!

[Anonymous]

I was able to negotiate from a step 1 to 9 and also 6 hour leave accrual. My prior private sector experience was virtually the same as the job listing.

[Anonymous]

When I took my fed job I had over 15 years prior experience. I had 24 days of vacation in my private sector position. Two graduate degrees and passed the bar. I was expecting a higher end of the pay scale but they offered the low end. I asked about negotiating the pay/vacation time. I also need to postpone my start date a few weeks because I didn't have anyone to take care of my kids and it was summer time. The recruiter told me... and I quote "take it or leave it... we are in a depression and I can get someone else... I need to know by the end of the day." I was very shocked by his attitude. I was out of work so I took it.

After I joined I spoke with other people that got hired the same month as me..... one girl was able to negotiate her salary and start date. She had no prior work experience and was given the same salary as me. Another girl was able to delay her start date because she wanted her kid to start school first. I can only surmise that because I'm a man they didn't want to negotiate but they wanted to negotiate with females.

[Anonymous]

Getting your foot in the door is the hardest part as a fed. Just because you see a position posted that would be perfect for you, doesn't mean you will make the cert, get an interview and get an offer. You also need to take into consideration that it does start out at 4 hours of leave per pay period (approx. 2.6 weeks) which can possibly be negotiated to 6 (4 weeks). You also get a pension AND a 401K (TSP). You will be competing against internal candidates who potentially really know the program or the hiring officials as well as vets, who (rightfully so) get preference. I would not make $4 your battle to chose. If you are offered a position, you can potentially discuss a higher step increase to match your current salary, but they may or may not match it.