NJITCS

cds: Thank you for that little known fun fact i'll keep that in mind as it is very valuable. I'm realizing if i were to leave civil service and come back i might actually be able to skip a few grades based on my experience. former fed: Thank you. I've heard of a desk audit and my direct supervisor and their manager would support me in both a step increase/grade increase and most likely a desk audit. However, the ultimate authority above them would likely deny everything possible and potentially retaliate based on what i've observed has happened to others. The reason all the experienced personnel is leaving when given the opportunity...

I'm under the impression that negotiating a step increase at your annual appraisal is achievable and allowable. If this is true can you negotiate more than one step increase and what is the process and required documentation to achieve? Currently many long term experienced contracting professionals within my office have moved on and it looks as though more will continue to follow. As a result we've had continuous shuffling of remaining personnel and reorganizations. My workload overnight has increased in complexity and magnitude to that of a few experienced contracting professionals that were at least two grades higher than my current position. I'm a fast learner and still have much to learn, which i welcome but in consideration of the fact that i'm expected to do so at a rapid pace since its the end of the fiscal year and executive management fails to address the staffing and workload situation accordingly i feel i am in a position to negotiate. I've also been passed up for promotions over the past few years internally but have successfully negotiated several federal employment opportunities outside of my agency at higher steps and grades within the last year but turned them down due to relocation. Any advice would be welcomed and greatly appreciated!

I'm a non veteran civilian employee at the VA within Contracting. I've worked at the same office for an extensive amount of time and I've been very successful in my work assignments, education, certificates, appraisals, etc. from the start. It is very clear to my peers, direct management and management beyond that I grasp everything quickly and with a clear understanding. When it came time to be eligible to apply for an advancement opportunity within my office years ago I was referred and interviewed. The advancement is what i would consider to be low level for my area of NJ so it should be very attainable. However, many positions were filled and I was not selected the first time around. The unofficial feedback I received as to why was because a hiring freeze was on the horizon and many veterans applied. I was surprised and disappointed but as time went on and I interviewed multiple times over the years there were always an unofficial excuse and it became daunting. Often times the hired individuals possess less experience and knowledge after they are hired and it is evident. I've had to train selections that come in possessing less knowledge then myself, some aren't veterans but affiliates of someone in the hiring division of our office. The hiring division of our office reports directly to the selection authority and doesn't possess HR roles or titles. The HR office that instructs us is external but still VA. However, after much research it seems as though the HR office really can't enforce anything or have much authority involving our hiring office following the rules other then instructing us to put in a FOIA request. At this point it is my understanding that I have been eligible and a preferred candidate for the advanced position from the beginning but the selection authority doesn't want me to progress but since ultimately she possesses the authority to select whomever she wants I must apply elsewhere. I know they don't follow policy in the process in many ways but I'm also unsure of my rights and what exactly a FOIA request would grant me. My assumption is that a FOIA request would just upset them so much that they would retaliate. Looking for suggestions or advice as this is very new to me.