How much time does it take (typically, though I am sure there is range) from applying to a fed job to getting an offer?

Anonymous wrote:Boss called me and offered me the job, with the caveat that the offer wasn't the official one. That would come by letter from an HR drone.

This.

OP here--many thanks to all who responded! I did contact the HR person today, who told me that I had been selected conditional on "second budget approval," and that the approval has come through & she'll send a "tentative" offer "shortly." (I'd love it if that meant today, since I won't do much celebrating until I have something official.)

Anyways, thanks again!

I've had two federal jobs, both of whose HRs called me to offer me the job first. I can't remember if I got an official letter after- I think for the first one I did, but can't remember with the 2nd one. Surely I did.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got a letter I think.

Seriously, "you think" ????

Not the PP, but it's been 22 years since I got my first fed job... It was probably an unofficial phone call followed up with an official letter.

I do remember when I applied for a job about 15 years ago at another agency, and got the job... about 6 months after I started the new job, I got a form letter from my new agency's HR telling me I didn't get the job.

Phone call from HR. I called back and left a message and didn't hear back for weeks. Finally, someone from the actual office called to see what was going on.

Anonymous wrote:I got a letter I think.

Seriously, "you think" ????

Boss called me and offered me the job, with the caveat that the offer wasn't the official one. That would come by letter from an HR drone.

Mmm I'm a fed and have hired a lot, but not sure on notification - the only thing I do know is when I pick someone I am not allowed to contact them until HR has notified them that they have been selected, so if I were you I'd def contact your hr contact. Selected is def the term for getting offer though!

Anonymous wrote:I got a letter I think.

A paper letter, in the mail?

I got a letter I think.

Even if you're "selected" per USAJobs, it doesn't mean anything until you get formal notice via letter from the agency you applied to. So yes, give them a call to ask what's going on. And even a letter offer can be conditional (meaning they offer it but you still have to get through the clearance process). Welcome to bureaucracy!

It sounds like you got it and they're starting the security clearance process. That's my guess since HR contacted you. Ask HR. I dont know why you would do the security clearance forms otherwise.

OMG that would be so cruel if you didn't get the job after receiving those emails! Please post an update so we know what happened!

I'm a non-Fed, and have been interviewing for a job at a Federal agency. The interviews have gone well, and two days after the most recent one, I got a 3 am e-mail from usajobs informing me that my status had been updated to "selected." However, that was Saturday morning, and since then I've heard nothing from the agency about salary, start date--anything at all. (I did get a note from HR on Friday asking me to fill out an OPM form for applicants listing my name, aliases, ssn, place of birth...)

Feds, is this common? Should I contact the agency (it's been two business days now with no word), or just keep waiting?

And do folks think that I'll be offered the job, or is this just a usajobs glitch?