Telework flexibility is worth its weight in gold.

Door #2 and look for other 14 opportunities.

Working in a SCIF sucks. I would not want to do it.

The thing about the skif job is you can never telework. If you have to work late you are in the office. You can’t just log into a computer for a few extra hours. You will have to go to the office and that can be extra complicated if you have kids.

I have done both and flexibility of tele-work can’t be beat.

Given the choice, non-telework job sounds better assuming that you are able to commute to office everyday AND it's a career ladder GS13/14. If this is the case, and you perform satisfactorily, you would get the promotion to GS14. But confirm this.

Whereas the telework job has no potential to move up. If you want the GS14, you have to start all over and apply for another position. Which means, you are competing with everyone else, including vets and disabled and hope that you make the cert.

60% is not worth worrying about.

As mentioned earlier, what are your ambitions? If you'd like to eventually get a 15 or into the SES, take the role which shows more promise for eventual promotion. If you don't care, and/or value a more flexible work environment, i.e., not in a SCIF, over other career dimensions/experience, go for the less promising role while recognizing that you may become a terminal GS-13.

A promotion is not really guaranteed. A colleague had that same opportunity but the person didn’t retire so no promotion for them until the person finally vacated his seat which was five years later and not two.

Do they have a SCIF location near you that you can use? Friend’s govt office is in dc, but they have a satellite SCIF 15 mins from their house. There are times they have to go to DC, but other times they can work in the satellite location.

I really depends on your goals, the lifestyle, and work/life balance you want.

Anonymous wrote:IMHO, in Govt, when you have an opportunity to move up a grade, you take it first, then you can decide whether you want to stay or move to a different spot. In your case, it's two years down the road and a lot can change between now and then. I'd take telework position and look for a promotion opportunity. I just can't imagine going in full time.

I am the opposite. I’d give up telework for a good chance to get promoted soon. Then, after promotion is final, I might look for options with at least partial telework. Its really personal preference, but higher salary lets one put more into TSP or have more disposable cash - for every future year.

IMHO, in Govt, when you have an opportunity to move up a grade, you take it first, then you can decide whether you want to stay or move to a different spot. In your case, it's two years down the road and a lot can change between now and then. I'd take telework position and look for a promotion opportunity. I just can't imagine going in full time.

Anonymous wrote:lol. I gotta ask, how did you come up with 60% chance? Very precise.

It isn't preceise, I guess I should say more than 50/50 but not a slam dunk. If I explain more I will potentially out myself to people who know me.

lol. I gotta ask, how did you come up with 60% chance? Very precise.

Which would you pick?

GS-13 with no telework, work in SCIF, 60% chance of becoming a GS-14 in 2 years

OR

GS-13, 2 days in office per PP (rest telwork), may increase to 4 day per PP at some point, no clear promotion potential.