Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you required to tell your current agency that you have accepted a tentative offer? NP here.

I just went through this process. If you have a recent background check, once you accept the tentative offer, security will give the OK for you to set a start date pretty quickly. For me it was 3-4 days. Once this happens they will want to set a start date. But they can't do that without release from your current agency. So that's when the new agency will reach out to the current one. Your supervisor will find out at this point. If you don't want your current boss to find out via HR then I'd tell them pretty soon after you accept the tentative offer.

Thank you for the insight! My last background check was 2013 when I came into the federal government.
So, don't know if that qualifies as recent in the fed Gov't or not!

Anonymous wrote:new poster here - why do you say do not quit job or agree to move without final offer? If contingent only on background check and you know that will be fine (I had one done 10 years ago too, fwiw), what would be the problem with moving based on tentative offer? I'm potentially in this position and want to get kids in school in the beginning of the year!

Background checks can take a while. IF there is any security aspect to the check, it can be months and months.

Anonymous wrote:Are you required to tell your current agency that you have accepted a tentative offer? NP here.

I just went through this process. If you have a recent background check, once you accept the tentative offer, security will give the OK for you to set a start date pretty quickly. For me it was 3-4 days. Once this happens they will want to set a start date. But they can't do that without release from your current agency. So that's when the new agency will reach out to the current one. Your supervisor will find out at this point. If you don't want your current boss to find out via HR then I'd tell them pretty soon after you accept the tentative offer.

Are you required to tell your current agency that you have accepted a tentative offer? NP here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:new poster here - why do you say do not quit job or agree to move without final offer? If contingent only on background check and you know that will be fine (I had one done 10 years ago too, fwiw), what would be the problem with moving based on tentative offer? I'm potentially in this position and want to get kids in school in the beginning of the year!

Because it can fall through. Mine just fell through at the 12th hour. It's not over until they tell you to give 2 weeks notice.

This happened to me too. Beyond frustrating...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:new poster here - why do you say do not quit job or agree to move without final offer? If contingent only on background check and you know that will be fine (I had one done 10 years ago too, fwiw), what would be the problem with moving based on tentative offer? I'm potentially in this position and want to get kids in school in the beginning of the year!

Because it's not final until its final. And these jobs are subject to funding issues and legal issues.

I concur, that's also why they call it a tentative offer. I wouldn't do anything until you get the final offer. My sister received a tentative offer from a federal agency. Went through a background check including having to get fingerprinted and even though everything came back clear they cancelled the job opening. She spent months sitting around thinking she had a job and had also turned down other offers also so it was a very upsetting experience.

Anonymous wrote:Do you have to accept the tentative offer before the background check process?

Yes. They aren't going through the trouble and expense until yo accept tentative offer and give them permission to do check.

Do you have to accept the tentative offer before the background check process?

Anonymous wrote:new poster here - why do you say do not quit job or agree to move without final offer? If contingent only on background check and you know that will be fine (I had one done 10 years ago too, fwiw), what would be the problem with moving based on tentative offer? I'm potentially in this position and want to get kids in school in the beginning of the year!

Because it's not final until its final. And these jobs are subject to funding issues and legal issues.

Anonymous wrote:new poster here - why do you say do not quit job or agree to move without final offer? If contingent only on background check and you know that will be fine (I had one done 10 years ago too, fwiw), what would be the problem with moving based on tentative offer? I'm potentially in this position and want to get kids in school in the beginning of the year!

Because it can fall through. Mine just fell through at the 12th hour. It's not over until they tell you to give 2 weeks notice.

new poster here - why do you say do not quit job or agree to move without final offer? If contingent only on background check and you know that will be fine (I had one done 10 years ago too, fwiw), what would be the problem with moving based on tentative offer? I'm potentially in this position and want to get kids in school in the beginning of the year!

So are you referring to the tentative offer from HR? Or the Final Offer? Tentative offer should come pretty soon if the hiring official has told you they want to hire you. Once you accept tentative offer you have to submit paperwork to authorize background check. This is what depends on agency and level of clearance you need. After this is completed you will get final offer. Do not quit your job or agree to move until you get final offer.
Sometimes you can start without the full background check contingent on having a successful one later. I don't know how often that happens. I've gone through this process twice in two Years. Much easier the second time.

No easy answer OP. Depends on agency to agency, HR to HR. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:I received an offer from the hiring manager, but how long should I expect it to take to receive the actual offer from HR, and how long will the HR process take?

I'm not sure how your agency works, but in ours, the hiring manager is not supposed to make an offer until HR has approved it, so you should be hearing from them pretty quickly. The process depends on how long your background check takes.

I received an offer from the hiring manager, but how long should I expect it to take to receive the actual offer from HR, and how long will the HR process take?