Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

PP here, just make sure you fill everything in. The contractor for the background investigation (which I think is out of business now) made a big deal about something relatively trivial during my background check interview. IIRC it was something like I put the dates of one job from like 1/10 - 8/12 and the second job from 8/12 - present and they wanted to know how I could be working in two places at once.

Oh wow, that's scary. They will ding you for making these trivial mistakes? If so, maybe I should get the investigation all cleared before quitting my current job. I feel I'm a good person, but you never know what little things they are going to ding you for.

So for past jobs, they want you to be precise to the exact dates? That sounds impossible, I can barely remember the month in which I start/quit prior jobs, let alone the exact date. Like, I think I started a job in Jan 2009, but I wasn't sure if it was Jan or Feb. Surely they wouldn't be happy about that.

I mean I still got the job, it's just something that came up in the background interview and they were really aggressive about it. On the dates, just make sure your resume and background check form are consistent. It's unlikely they'll check and even if they did you can still just say "oops" it was a mistake. It's not an intense background check like a TS clearance.

I found my dates for a previous job was off by 1 month on the resume. Maybe I will call HR and send in a revised resume just so the forms and resume are fully consistent. Good idea?

Does this "public trust" investigation take place after EOD? If so, how long did this take? Must be stressful to be working and also have this thing hanging over your head.

I work in HR at SEC. The preliminary investigation takes place before EOD. Once you are cleared to work, you will EOD. After EOD, your full background investigation will take place by another agency. Yes, it is hanging over your head while you are working, because if you are eventually found unsuitable, you will be removed from your position. That doesn't happen often though.

Thanks for HR process at SEC. I have specific question about timeline for contractor background check by SEC. How that process works and any insight on detailed steps and timeline will be extremely helpful.

I didn't. I also heard they hired. Oh well.

I'm in the same situation. Did you ever hear back from them?

Any advice?

I went through the final round and the written exam two weeks ago but have not yet been contacted and they never asked for references. I called Hr on Monday and they said they will be making s decision in the next three weeks. Is it a bad sign that they have not asked for references?

I work in HR at SEC. The preliminary investigation takes place before EOD. Once you are cleared to work, you will EOD. After EOD, your full background investigation will take place by another agency. Yes, it is hanging over your head while you are working, because if you are eventually found unsuitable, you will be removed from your position. That doesn't happen often though.

I have been working at the SEC for a couple of month but haven't heard anything about this full background investigation. Should I be contacting OPM about this (they are the agency handling this right?)

Anonymous wrote:I am not familiar with the SEC's process but I did recently receive a formal offer with the DOJ from HR after passing the public trust security clearance. I was asked for a start date and thereafter received an email with an orientation schedule and reporting instructions. I'm still waiting for a formal letter from OARM, but I felt confident giving notice after I received the orientation schedule.

Hi PP here. Actually just received formal offer letter from the SEC. Now I'm good to go.

I am not familiar with the SEC's process but I did recently receive a formal offer with the DOJ from HR after passing the public trust security clearance. I was asked for a start date and thereafter received an email with an orientation schedule and reporting instructions. I'm still waiting for a formal letter from OARM, but I felt confident giving notice after I received the orientation schedule.

Anonymous wrote:Is a verbal offer always given? I did phone, in person interviews and was asked for a reference, who was also subsequently contacted. When I followed up, I was informed that HR will contact all candidates. I couldn't tell if this means I did not get the job?

I guess different people can approach this differently.

In my case I was told by my interviewer that I was selected and would be referred to HR for further processing. I was then contacted by HR for certain information before receiving the tentative letter a few days after that.

I have since cleared security and ethics check, and have also worked out a start date with HR just before they switched gears to do shutdown preparation. I'm wondering whether I should be received a formal offer letter at some point? Can anyone familiar with the process please chime in? I want to give my current employer plenty of notice (they have been good to me, so I'd like to leave things in very good order) but don't want to do so until I have my firm offer in writing.

Anonymous wrote:Is a verbal offer always given? I did phone, in person interviews and was asked for a reference, who was also subsequently contacted. When I followed up, I was informed that HR will contact all candidates. I couldn't tell if this means I did not get the job?

Unfortunately, I think that's the case. Never say never because the process could just be taking longer than expected, but you won't get an initial offer from HR.

Is a verbal offer always given? I did phone, in person interviews and was asked for a reference, who was also subsequently contacted. When I followed up, I was informed that HR will contact all candidates. I couldn't tell if this means I did not get the job?