Thursday, December 17, 2009

The Air Force Personnel Process

Marie asked for the status of my job offer (thank you for asking!!!) so I thought I would give you all a little lesson in the Air Force civil service hiring process.

The hiring manager decides he needs a new civilian employee. If the position hasn't already been created there is a long, drawn-out process to create what is called a personnel document(pd) or job description. The pd goes to the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) at Randolph Air Force Base for classification. This classification determines what the new civilian's salary will be. If you are interested you can go to the Office of Personnel website & search salary tables. A civil service employees salary varies based on location of work. Another story for another day.

After the pd is classified the job is advertised. Initially it is advertised internally only--only current AF civilians can be considered for the position. If a selection isn't made at this level the position is then advertised externally. Only current AF civilians, other DoD employees, & retiring military members can apply. If no selection is made it is then advertised as a delegated external unit which means the general public can apply (this is how I got my current position).

During each level of advertising three applications are selected and sent to the hiring manager. The applicants are not notified of the selection unless the applicant checks the personnel website periodically -- I did & have known that my application was sent forward for two months. Oh yes, let me say I applied for this job in September and was confirmed as having had my application "referred" in mid-October.

Anywho...The hiring manager can interview all 3 applicants, select an applicant from the three, or reject all three without an interview at all.

After the selection has been made by the hiring manager, he notifies AFPC at Randolph who does some behind the scenes woo woo. The applicant is notified some time later. In most cases the applicant does not know that they have been selected so knowing that I have been selected is a blessing and a curse because knowing means I know I am soon going to be making the same salary for potentially less stress but I also know AFPC is sitting on my paperwork & trapping me in my current hellish situation.

AFPC is supposed to notify the applicant within 10 business days of their receipt of the hiring manager's selection. I know I will probably have to wait until after the holidays before I can begin to get really stressed because my office are in minimal manning (no one working) between now and the new year.

After the applicant is notified that the selection has been made the applicant must provide their current manager a minimum of two weeks notice but the employee must start their new position at the beginning of a pay period so it could be three weeks. The losing manager has the right to request a longer notice period. If I'm not allowed to leave with a max of three weeks notice I will cry!!!

My plan of action is to wait until 8 January. If I have not received notification of selection by that date I will call LtCol Lenderman to ask him to follow-up with AFPC. My plan is to say something along these lines...

I just wanted to let him know that I haven't heard anything about the offer but wanted to follow up with him because I wanted to do the right thing by Col Yap (really his name) and gave him notification that I would be leaving. At that point it would be three weeks so I am going to say something about needing to put some end point on this for Col Yap and ask LtCol Lenderman to follow up with AFPC.

I will keep you posted about the status of the job. Those of you that I have cell numbers for will get a text message!!!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmm, interesting.

It's very similar to the process in the corporate world, only it tends to be very time intensive on the front end (i.e., getting a position approved). Once you've actually made an offer, though, it tends to move very quickly.

Everything crossed for you!

Deb said...

Unfortunately it can take as long as 90 days for the hiring process. The hiring manager actually isn't even supposed to tell the applicant they've been selected.

Oh & what I forgot to say is that they don't even call the applicant--they email.

Can't wait until Monday when I can check my email.

Thanks for the well wishes EVERYONE!

Deb said...

Unfortunately it can take as long as 90 days for the hiring process. The hiring manager actually isn't even supposed to tell the applicant they've been selected.

Oh & what I forgot to say is that they don't even call the applicant--they email.

Can't wait until Monday when I can check my email.

Thanks for the well wishes EVERYONE!

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