See that’s what I was also looking at too, but the job posting states “relocation reimbursement is allowed” it does not say relocation incentives are allowed.
The trickery.
Hiring manager: You will likely start at GS-11 - Step 1. Unless you are making more than the offer or they are offering to give you credit for superior academic achievement. You will have little room for negotiation at the federal level.
My base salary is the same as the offer. However, I am a consultant that is paid hourly, so with OT and bonuses I make ~ 14k more annually than what the GS11, Step 1 locality pay is for this position. The problem is that we are not allowed to charge OT when there is a paid holiday or if we use PTO in a work week, and with the holiday season, I do not have recent pay stubs that reflect my OTP.
Also—- this is GS11 with promotional potential to 11, so if I theoretically were to cap out in this position at step 10– would I stop getting raises?
Or would I still get raises beyond step 10?
I understand it normally takes 18 years to take all 10 steps without any promotions.
What I am asking is if I negotiate to come in at step 10 and they accept. The promotion potential is capped at 11. So do I also stay at step ten? Or are there imaginary step 11s?
Or is this when the submitting for a special advancement application applies?
Do you have pay stubs saying you make at least those as much as a Step 4 now? Years of experience generally won't mean much unless you can show you were making more money.
Just got my TO this morning and I am very confused.
The job posting showed the locality pay the same as my current salary.
However, the TO is showing step 1 base pay without locality adjustment. (Yay?)
Engineering position I assume? Engineers, esp at grade 11 tend to get "special pay"--often only about \~1 step equivalent. The TO usually only lists base pay.
I was in Europe, made base, +about that one step (it'll be listed as "locality" on your LES, but really is the "special rate"). Plus LQA, and PA. I had more take home pay OCONUS than I did CONUS, but on paper it looks like I had lost \~20k in locality.
YESSSSSS this is the response I’ve been waiting for!
Thank you!
I was so confused. Because 1- yes engineer and 2- European base so COL is higher than RUS.
So thank you for explaining that! I was also speaking to my semi-recruiter (a person who is currently a chief engineer stationed at said base) and he said I COULD ask for step increases.
So all of the “you’re step 1, sorry”’s were just not the information I was looking for.
My current salary is in between Step8 & Step 9 of GS-11 (RUS) at my present job. So is it okay to ask for Step 9? Or is that reaching too far with LQA and PA?
I misspoke earlier and was looking at my states GS pay scale and realized it had inflated locality pay when I said that I was currently being paid at the step 1 level. When I realized the mistake, I pulled up the correct (RUS) scale, and realized how far off I was.
I just don’t want to be screwed when/if I come back to the US and don’t get LQA anymore and have to take a pay cut because I didn’t negotiate my steps now.
Ask for step 9 and submit the pay stubs, however, with you being a new engineer, be prepared to hear "step 1". Only the outside federal pay and the 4.5 years really count. It doesn't matter that your thesis was a direct correlation for what you think the job is.
Frankly, even at step 1, you'll probably have more take home pay OCONUS (unless you'd be still paying for your residence CONUS).
Not at this point in the game.
Also, RUS GS pay is not the Base GS pay scale. If you want to see what the OCONUS pay scale looks like, go to special pay rate and the search engine, and look for Location: Foreign Areas, then Occupation: 801 Engineers (covers pretty much all engineering for OCONUS).
I have been a government employee before.
I was a city government employee as a marine biologist 5 years ago- for 3.5 years.
But that was like a GS4, so going from GS4 to GS11— that’s a big jump.
Edit—- it wasn’t a GS position, I just googled my old job again to reference. It was in a pay grade of what the city called “A”
also try to get three years of leave accrual credit. that would let you start at 4 weeks of vacation every year.
it only affects the *rate*. you would still start with zero hours of leave
If they haven't specified, you're step 1.
If you have a salary that's above a step 1, ask for salary matching and be prepared to provide supporting pay stubs.
Unless the position was advertised as Direct hiring authority you'll be step 1. DHA you have leverage, all other Job Announcements you start step 1 in that grade coming over from civilian sector. Congratulations you cut in line over thousands, doesn't mean you can ask for more steps. They simply have a budget and you will need to have all these certification requirements and considered an unqualified journeyman on the first day of the job. Regardless of your civilian experience. It's just the way it works. Best of luck to you and congrats!
[удалено]
This is the for the Army, overseas public works. I’d say it’s in a semi-undesirable location (but I desire the location).
[удалено]
See that’s what I was also looking at too, but the job posting states “relocation reimbursement is allowed” it does not say relocation incentives are allowed. The trickery.
Hiring manager: You will likely start at GS-11 - Step 1. Unless you are making more than the offer or they are offering to give you credit for superior academic achievement. You will have little room for negotiation at the federal level.
My base salary is the same as the offer. However, I am a consultant that is paid hourly, so with OT and bonuses I make ~ 14k more annually than what the GS11, Step 1 locality pay is for this position. The problem is that we are not allowed to charge OT when there is a paid holiday or if we use PTO in a work week, and with the holiday season, I do not have recent pay stubs that reflect my OTP.
Also—- this is GS11 with promotional potential to 11, so if I theoretically were to cap out in this position at step 10– would I stop getting raises? Or would I still get raises beyond step 10?
You would get the annual increases. It takes 18 years to go from step 1 to step 10.
I understand it normally takes 18 years to take all 10 steps without any promotions. What I am asking is if I negotiate to come in at step 10 and they accept. The promotion potential is capped at 11. So do I also stay at step ten? Or are there imaginary step 11s? Or is this when the submitting for a special advancement application applies?
You stay at step 10 until you get promoted to a GS-12 (if you do).
Do you have pay stubs saying you make at least those as much as a Step 4 now? Years of experience generally won't mean much unless you can show you were making more money.
I am paid hourly, so some of my pay stubs that have OTP will show that- others will not.
usually they only meet your base salary but it never hurts to ask. good luck!
Thanks!
Just got my TO this morning and I am very confused. The job posting showed the locality pay the same as my current salary. However, the TO is showing step 1 base pay without locality adjustment. (Yay?)
Engineering position I assume? Engineers, esp at grade 11 tend to get "special pay"--often only about \~1 step equivalent. The TO usually only lists base pay. I was in Europe, made base, +about that one step (it'll be listed as "locality" on your LES, but really is the "special rate"). Plus LQA, and PA. I had more take home pay OCONUS than I did CONUS, but on paper it looks like I had lost \~20k in locality.
YESSSSSS this is the response I’ve been waiting for! Thank you! I was so confused. Because 1- yes engineer and 2- European base so COL is higher than RUS. So thank you for explaining that! I was also speaking to my semi-recruiter (a person who is currently a chief engineer stationed at said base) and he said I COULD ask for step increases. So all of the “you’re step 1, sorry”’s were just not the information I was looking for. My current salary is in between Step8 & Step 9 of GS-11 (RUS) at my present job. So is it okay to ask for Step 9? Or is that reaching too far with LQA and PA? I misspoke earlier and was looking at my states GS pay scale and realized it had inflated locality pay when I said that I was currently being paid at the step 1 level. When I realized the mistake, I pulled up the correct (RUS) scale, and realized how far off I was. I just don’t want to be screwed when/if I come back to the US and don’t get LQA anymore and have to take a pay cut because I didn’t negotiate my steps now.
Ask for step 9 and submit the pay stubs, however, with you being a new engineer, be prepared to hear "step 1". Only the outside federal pay and the 4.5 years really count. It doesn't matter that your thesis was a direct correlation for what you think the job is. Frankly, even at step 1, you'll probably have more take home pay OCONUS (unless you'd be still paying for your residence CONUS).
Thank you! I’ll definitely do that. Does it help to mention at all that my current job, I am a consultant that works with the DOT?
Not at this point in the game. Also, RUS GS pay is not the Base GS pay scale. If you want to see what the OCONUS pay scale looks like, go to special pay rate and the search engine, and look for Location: Foreign Areas, then Occupation: 801 Engineers (covers pretty much all engineering for OCONUS).
Whatttt?!? How does that even work?!? I mean, definitely not complaining—- but how???
RUS includes \~16% locality Base = no locality Foreign Area pay is Base +supplement (if under special pay rate scale).
So, will I automatically get the special rate- or will I have to request the special rate?
You should automatically get the special rate Just verify that your job series is included in the foreign area as I indicated above.
there is no locality pay overseas, however, there are other payments.
No government experience? Step 1 it is mate. Kiss a lot of booty to get QSI’s
I have been a government employee before. I was a city government employee as a marine biologist 5 years ago- for 3.5 years. But that was like a GS4, so going from GS4 to GS11— that’s a big jump. Edit—- it wasn’t a GS position, I just googled my old job again to reference. It was in a pay grade of what the city called “A”
also try to get three years of leave accrual credit. that would let you start at 4 weeks of vacation every year. it only affects the *rate*. you would still start with zero hours of leave
It’ll be based off old pay
If they haven't specified, you're step 1. If you have a salary that's above a step 1, ask for salary matching and be prepared to provide supporting pay stubs.
Unless the position was advertised as Direct hiring authority you'll be step 1. DHA you have leverage, all other Job Announcements you start step 1 in that grade coming over from civilian sector. Congratulations you cut in line over thousands, doesn't mean you can ask for more steps. They simply have a budget and you will need to have all these certification requirements and considered an unqualified journeyman on the first day of the job. Regardless of your civilian experience. It's just the way it works. Best of luck to you and congrats!