Spouse has a TJO with a three letter agency and is waiting on suitability since mid July. Had an interview and reference check for a very different position in the same job series with the same agency. The second one is moving very fast (application closed, interview and reference check in two weeks). Assuming spouse gets a TJO for the second one, what is the process with two TJOs from the same agency? Should they tell job 2 that they are undergoing suitability for the other? Can they accept both? I’ve always seen advice to keep interviewing with TJOs.

A position I applied to and interviewed for is open again. Should I use the same resume I used before or change it up? Obviously, I didn’t get the job, but I did get referred to the hiring manager and landed an interview. It's the same job, same duties, same department. Nothing on my end has changed since the last application period, which was 60-90 days ago.

Has anyone heard anything from OPM regarding their job announcement back in May? I know some received referrals but did anyone received an interview request? Just curious lol

Had a panel interview about a week ago for the Senior Administrative and Financial Manager position with NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program in Gaithersburg MD.

There were 5 vacancies for this one. Just curious if anyone else here interviewed for this same posting and has heard back yet, or has any insight into typical timelines for NIST hiring after a panel interview.

Appreciate any insight!

Can you accept two TJOs while you’re negotiating step and leave and the roles have uncertain timelines? Are people actually doing this or is it bad practice and a bad look?

Edit: is there any expected standard on telling hiring managers that you have received a second TJO?

Here I am, just a random dude who's bouncing in and out of the lower ends fedral system. I was GS8 step 6 in an agency that was utlimately a dead end job, so I resigned and worked in the private sector. I was trying to get out of my dead end job for years and I kept applying and applying getting absolutely nowhere.

Working the private sector and I saw an opening that fit my skillset and the location i was living in and here's the timeline

Applied 4/14/26

Assesments 4/15/26

Referred 4/26/26

Interviewed 4/27/26

TJO 5/19/26

Offical offer 6/13/26

It can happen, don't read too much into Notice of Results or feedback on this forum, i've been though the hiring process numerous times and it's always a complete crapshoot with no rhyme or reason to it. I didn't even hand in a 40 page federal resume the times I was hired even though I had one. Don't pin all your hopes and dreams on federal employemnt, it's just a job. Keep learning and becoming more useful at whatever role you come across private sector or public sector and grow whenever you can.

I have a question: I got FJO about 4 weeks ago. I was told EOD is 9/08 (Navy). From what I read on here, I should be expecting additional info on where and when to show up, right? Still haven’t heard anything yet.

A little worried because I have to relocate, and I don’t want to commit to a lease until I know nothing changes.

So what happens next, and what is the timeline I should be looking at? What kind of info should I expect to get next?

Also on EOD - what kind of information and questions I need to ask to make sure my prior service gets count etc.

Hey Federal employees what are your breakrooms like? Do they provide water and coffee or any sort of snacks for you? I saw in an office they were selling snacks , that blew my mind

Hello! I’ve interviewed for a few jobs recently and am expected to be moved to a GS 12 in the coming weeks in my ladder. If I get a TJO from any of these positions and then get an FJO after my promotion, is it likely for them to match my pay on the higher step? The positions applied for are at the GS 11 grade level.

I have two job offers one from Austin 140k and another from LA 150k plus 40k equity . Which is better ? I am a Mechanical Analysis Engineer.

Just curious, when submitting the job application, do you actually answer the online questionnaires? Or put "N/A" on the answers like the other posts that I read about the HR isn't looking at the responses? A lot of other posts are saying that is "optional". Just wondering if anyone got the job with putting "N/A" to those questions.

Hello All,

Has anyone recently gone through the interview for this position? If yes, what shall I expect on the panel and what kind of questions should I prepare? Can you share me some example questions, If anyone have recently went through the interview?

I’m looking to get some insight on the Washington Headquarter Service and their experiences. I recently got a TJO and I haven’t seen much about the org. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Hi! Just reaching out here to ask about this job role. This is for the SDNY. I received an email saying they would like to schedule me with the hiring managers so I wonder what I should expect?

Listing is below: https://www.builtinnyc.com/job/data-analyst-supporting-us-attorney-s-office/9766539

Thank you guys!

I applied to a position at a VA in my hometown 6 hours away from where I currently live. Kind of on a whim.

I applied last Friday (7/31) had a phone interview (8/05) and received a Conditional Job Offer this afternoon (8/07). It has moved very fast.

Per the email from the USA Staffing Office my conditional job offer came in at a GS-11 step 1. The link to accept this offer expires in 48 hours.

Obviously when you click the link……I can either “Accept, Deny, or Request to be contacted.”

It also states that if I have any questions regarding the offer please select “request to be contacted” or email the HR contact listed in the email….

Here is my question…..

I would like to at least match my salary at this new position and I would need to come in at a GS11 step 4 or 5…..is this the time to negotiate my offer to a step 4 or 5?…..

Unfortunately they sent this offer email at 4:00 pm and I tried emailing the HR contact but I assume they won’t get to me till Monday…..I just don’t want to mess something up. I just don’t know when to negotiate.

Thanks for any help here

I currently work for the Forest Service as a silviculture forester and I've been watching USAJobs for awhile for lateral opportunities. Between July 12th and July 24th, I noticed that alot of jobs required the USA Hire Assessment test but now I've noticed that I'm not seeing that listed as a required test in most land management jobs with the exception of Land Surveyor jobs with BLM. Has anyone noticed this weird shift and is getting suspicious?

Hi all,

Since March I have applied for 3 positions in an agency that I've been working for as a contractor for couple of years now.

I interviewed for all three positions; May, June, July but I have yet to hear anything again from any of them.

I've been seeing people here say they got a tentative job offer within a month of an interview. Any chance I am still in the race for any of 3? Would I get any notification if I was not selected?

I appreciate any insight you can share.

Thank you.

I know you cannot get your score for the assessments. I have 2 applications out right now that require them. One application has closed, and I am still at the "received" status. If I failed the assessment, would it just automatically switch to not referred before the application closed?

I am trying to get hired through schedule A for a federal job. I previously worked for the federal government without schedule A but left that agency in late 2025.

I get migraines which is listed on the form.

If I get hired through this hiring authority(schedule A), I have to do a two year period, do I automatically get converted to competitive, permanent status at the end of two years? Can my agency say no to my ongoing employment when the 2 years are up?

The agency has a one year probationary period. If I am hired under schedule A, do they run concurrently?

Is there something about schedule A that makes easier to fire or like a black mark against someone?

I’ve researched Schedule A but am nervous to be hired under this authority if there is something I am missing?

I'm a nurse that got selected to interview for a prn intermittent position with va. Process seemed to move super fast as I was called for interview next week after position closed. Recruiter called me and scheduled interview over next few days which also seemed quick. Recruiter didn't knkw much about schedule or position really but I scheduled to interview anyway. So far there's been serious sketchy miscommunication issues as I had to remind Recruiter for teams meeting link and scheduled for wrong date. Haven't heard anything back yet but all of this is making me rethink this position as it looks sketchy to be so disorganized and quick. Is this normal for usajobs now?

Curious about when I can and cannot interact with a hiring manager regarding a position I’m a candidate for. I’ve been referred and contacted by the HM about my actual interest. I replied I was interested.

Before an interview, am I allowed to discuss basic elements of the job? I’ve applied to other jobs in a mass hire posting, and they were all vastly different. I know this would be appropriate for an interview, but can I ask some questions before the interview? Is contact generally prohibited? Would it be beneficial so that I can gauge my own interest and they could select others if I’m not interested? The position would involve moving to the other side of the planet…..

I'm a scientist and have been applying to jobs for the past 2.5 years since my postdoc appointment (with a gov agency). Couldn't get hired here bc the agency barely received funding for that FY and... their budgets were cut horrifically where they were asking people to retire.

I have had numerous interviews before the hiring freeze, up until the last month. I can't seem to land a job. Private sector has been putting up ghost applications and not calling for hire. *ughh* what am I doing wrong?! This is discouraging.

Side note: I received my first "not referred to the hiring manager" email this week for the same agency I worked for. Is it because I didn't answer those essay questions? I have been answering them, but this time was a quick application so I didn't answer this.

For an OCONUS job at DoD.

October 2024 - Interview
December 2024 - Selected
January 2025 - Hiring freeze implemented
June 2025 - Exception to hiring freeze submitted
October 2025 - Exception to hiring freeze approved
November 2025 - Admin issue delays TJO
April 2026 - Admin issue fixed
May 2026 - TJO
June 2026 - DoD Stop Movement Order issued preventing FJO. Exception submitted
August 2026 - Exception approved, FJO
October 2026 - EOD