Exciting News!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:15 pm

So, as many of you may or may not know, I've been patiently waiting and trying to get hired by the FAA for an Air Traffic Controller position. Well, after almost 3 years, I've finally got an Email from the folks down in Oklahoma City, and I'll be interviewing and doing all my medical, psych. and security clearance stuff in November down in Kansas City! This is the farthest I've been able to get in this process, and I've been on the referral list for different announcements a couple times, and got skipped because the people had picked some veterans' preference guys that were not supposed to be on the list... I guess it all works out, ad the best part of this? I don't have to move.

They're offering Minneapolis Center, which is a little south of the cities, but close enough that I can commute for a while till we decide where we want to live, or if we even want to move.

Is that cool, or what?

BlackRider · Post by **BlackRider** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:56 pm

That is AWSOME! Congrats!

XMEN Iceman · Post by **XMEN Iceman** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:46 pm

Woot! Congrats Hat!!!! Good Luck!

Starmage21 · Post by **Starmage21** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:40 pm

wow dude. I get it now, the hat's a radar dish!

BlackRider · Post by **BlackRider** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:17 pm

haha, look-it what google found for you!

Conga Rats!

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:47 pm

Woohoo!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:54 pm

Thanks guys.

I've been in contact with he Agency again today, and things are really happening.. it's all kind of surreal at first, especially after the first contact, but we're all systems go here.

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:55 pm

I'm really surprised it's taken this long, considering the well-publicized shortage, retirement dates, etc.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:24 pm

That's the FAA for you... The current administrator hasn't been the most helpful when it comes to making things happen, and there's a bunch of steps to get hired, but the biggest thing, is they wait so long after an announcement closes to move on it, that even if they get on it "right away", it's still 6-9 months before you know what's going to happen... It's frustrating to say the least, but that's how they play that game.

FaLLGuY · Post by **FaLLGuY** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:00 pm

Isn't that a real stressful job with all that money they give you???

Congrats!!!!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:20 pm

It can be stressful, but the money isn't as good as it once was.. Current 'leadership' decided to impose a nontract on the controllers instead of negotiate in good faith.. Things are hopefully going to change soon, once W. is gone...

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:44 am

SH: one thing I've found with the government:

If they want you for something, they'll keep posting the job until you get in.

And it does take a while, you just got to be patient. Anything personnel related for the government takes literally about 5 times as long as you'd think.

Good luck!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:46 pm

Thanks Asha.

I've actually applied for a few other open announcements besides this one, so I'm fully aware how long it takes. Took a year from my first application to get a test date set, so this isn't a big deal, but at least I have an interview date, and we'll go from there.

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:47 am

Well... I've found that if you make it to the interview pool, you've made the top 15 cut. They'll pare it down to just a couple after interviews, and they have been known to tell a candidate: Apply for this job when you see the announcement, it's only open for 3 days. 3 days is the shortest that the HR folks will allow a job to be posted.

From the sound of things, it's just a waiting game for you. Hang in there!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:55 pm

That's what I'm hearing from my friends on the inside so to speak, guys I went to college with who're working in ATC now. The HR folks will never come out and say it, but since the PEPC dates in Kansas City are full, I'll be interviewing at the facility I'd be working at, so this could actually work out better than intended.

AND I have a few friends working down there..

(Extra good for me.) I'll play the game and wait it out, just thankful I currently have gainful employment, and I'm not going to live or die by this decision. (Metaphorically speaking.)

Moral of this story: Be patient, be persistent, and set goals. They WILL come through if you've got the drive. (You know who I'm talking to.

)