First Career Job Looks Like Its Going To Be...

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:29 pm

SF86 submitted, printed and signed.. 65 pages all about me.

Next Stop: Post Office!

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:33 am

Any word yet? Start dates? (both of you!)

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:44 am

Nothing new on my front. Its been two weeks into the paper work process on their end. Was told it could take up to a month. I've started up a spread sheet to help calculate living expenses to help me figure out what kind of salary I need to ask for as well as help find things I can live without. I have been in contact with my future boss who has been helping me by getting parking information and such for the area that I don't have access to via the internet.

On the other hand, my Brother has expressed interest in flying me down to Austin, TX, so I can work on the projects that he and his wife have been unable to do since moving back to the states. They would like for me to install shelving, network the house, organize the garage, clean the backyard up so their 2 year old son can play back there safely, and so much more. Personally I'm hoping that my start date is no more than late March which would leave room for me to jump down to Austin for a week or two. It's been a couple of years since I was last down in my Home town for 24 hours.

I've been keeping myself busy. Doing online searches for apartments (my first choice costs $620 including all utilities but electric which I'm told costs about $55 a month), locations of stores to determine what I can easily buy down there, cleaning up old mail that piled up on my desks while I was in College in Columbus, keeping up with the news by having the TV on in the back ground most of the day, reading the book called "Third Wave" and looking at how things in the real world support the writers opinion and perspective of why, started another game in X3 as a Split but haven't figured out his story yet (only started that two days ago), and the biggest thing I've been doing is working in my parents attic installing bats of insulation (the attic is only 2.5 feet talk in the center but there is a vertical stud there and the roof line is very shallow as well as equally angles beams going up from the middle to meet the roof line 3/4's the way out).

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:56 pm

I hate those really tight attics. Had one once.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:17 am

My stuff is moving along. I mailed all my paperwork in, so the background check is underway. I go back to the center for my MMPI (Psych Eval) on Wed. before I go on vacation next week. All that's left is the medical exam (complete with EKG) provided the folks from Aviation Medicine ever get back to me.

So, we're still looking at at least a month before I'll even know if I'll be getting a firm offer letter. :/

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:31 pm

Well, they wouldn't likely be spending money on you if you weren't going to get a firm offer.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:29 pm

Very true Asha. I don't have any medically disqualifying conditions that I'm aware of, so I'm not overly concerned. I'm just getting tired of working where I work, and am more excited for actually starting my 'career' than anything...

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:22 pm

UPDATE:

I was in contact with the FAA Security Division off and on all day today, and the main HR office in Oklahoma City has been dragging their feet getting the security folks some paperwork I sent. So, I re-signed, scanned and Emailed my resume and Declaration for Federal Employment, and have been granted a Waiver to be hired into the position of ATCS! (Air Traffic Control Specialist) This is of course, dependent upon the final investigation, and Medical still has to clear me, but there's been movement on that front today too. I took the MMPI-2 today, (Psych eval) and got in contact with the Aviation Careers Medical office, and got my exam scheduled, the only hitch there is that they're 3 weeks out... So that's happening March 20th.

The more I talk to other people inside the FAA, the more I'm learning that the central people in Oklahoma City are really a hindrance to this whole process. Which is crazy, since they are supposed to be the facilitators of all the steps. They don't even call back people within their agency, or give info that's needed. (Like my paperwork.) It sucks, but at the same time, I've gotten a chance to talk to many other people in the Agency who're smart and friendly, and want nothing more than to make sure everything goes as it should. THOSE are the people who should be in central HR...

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:52 pm

Good news!

Re: OK City, that's gub'mint fer ya. I saw a bumper sticker last year that said "Thank God we don't get all the government we pay for," which I thought summed it up nicely.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:30 am

ROFL.. that's funny!

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:28 am

Heh.

Hat, welcome to the world of government employment.

At least they haven't lost your app yet (like CPO did at Edwards my first time through).

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:55 pm

The official offer came through today. I start April 13th. It would have been two weeks sooner but my Brother has asked for help while he is down for knee surgery, so I will be in Austin, Texas, from March 11 till the 30th. Then I have a week and a half to get moved down to Huntington. The pay offer is lower than I expected, bu about 10k, so I'm in the process of re-evaluating my budget to make it work. I'm to fill out some paper work that they are mailing to me before reporting for my first day.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:36 pm

Any room for negotiation? I'd imagine there's some room.. But congrats man. It's satisfying to finally reach a goal.

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:41 pm

No real room for negotiation. I think I just had higher expectations based off all the high numbers they quote in college for graduates. I just need to prioritize things. What makes it hard is that I'm paying off college loans that are basically a house payment or rent by themselves. Once those are gone I will have nearly 10k freed back up. It's all going to work out, just need to not buy anything but things I have to have and after a couple of years I should be out from under these loans and able to live like I want.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:35 pm

Bummer.... I know all about the student loans.. My payments are pretty cheap, and I'm lucky I was poor enough (and married) to get a good portion of my tuition in the form of grants... But now, my wife is studying for her MBA, and well, it ain't cheap. We'll be into her loans for a Mortgage payment by the time it's all said and done for sure.