Federal Salary Negotiations -- Is it possible? (how much, transfer)

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I work for the DoD and once you are in the government and jump to the next grade, you cannot negotiate higher. You just go to the first eligible step in that grade and, correctly, for you, it is a GS-13 Step 1. I have never heard of an existing employee being able to negotiate a promotion higher than what the "formula" allows.

Good to know! Maybe you'd know the answer to this: What if you're going from a GS position to a paybanded position? Say I'm a 13-3 (96K) and (since I would theoretically have time in grade) want to get an offer equivalent to a 14-1 (106k). Do hiring managers in payband systems have the flexibility to do that? Thanks!

[mlv311]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I work for the DoD and once you are in the government and jump to the next grade, you cannot negotiate higher. You just go to the first eligible step in that grade and, correctly, for you, it is a GS-13 Step 1. I have never heard of an existing employee being able to negotiate a promotion higher than what the "formula" allows.

Christine is correct in that, in your case, it would be a GS-13/step 1 given your current grade and step. What you usually do when going up a grade is to go two steps forward from your current grade/step (e.g., GS-12/2 to a GS-12/4) and find the step that is as much or more than that salary.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Good to know! Maybe you'd know the answer to this: What if you're going from a GS position to a paybanded position? Say I'm a 13-3 (96K) and (since I would theoretically have time in grade) want to get an offer equivalent to a 14-1 (106k). Do hiring managers in payband systems have the flexibility to do that? Thanks!

I can't say this for certain; however, I think that once you are "in" the government, your ability to negotiate salary, even going into a paybanded position, is gone. At least in our agency, there was always a formula for it when this happened. I believe that you got a 5-6% increase over you current salary when you were hired into a paybanded position.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I can't say this for certain; however, I think that once you are "in" the government, your ability to negotiate salary, even going into a paybanded position, is gone. At least in our agency, there was always a formula for it when this happened. I believe that you got a 5-6% increase over you current salary when you were hired into a paybanded position.

Wow, you guys are cheap! (Actually, that's pretty much in line with the two-step increase one gets when going to another GS position in the same grade--about 6.4%).

Thanks for the info.

[notinks]

Does anyone know if there is a similar ability to negotiate with judiciary jobs covered under the CPS - court personnel system pay scale? Also, I currently work 32 hours per week. While the salary they are offering for the federal 40+ hour per week job is higher than my current salary, it is not higher than what my salary would be based upon a 40+ hour week.

Thanks!

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by notinks

Does anyone know if there is a similar ability to negotiate with judiciary jobs covered under the CPS - court personnel system pay scale? Also, I currently work 32 hours per week. While the salary they are offering for the federal 40+ hour per week job is higher than my current salary, it is not higher than what my salary would be based upon a 40+ hour week.

Thanks!

Everything is negotiable till someone refuses to negotiate; I would bet they have enough salary flexibility to give you more than they're initially offering. Can't hurt to ask.

If your judicial pay is calculated hourly (as it is for salaried full-time GS employees), you could simply use that as the basis for negotiation. If they offer X annually, use the OPM salary PDFs for Wash/Baltimore/NOVA to see how their hourly rate compares to what you're getting now:

General Schedule

[jb124]

I was able to negotiate my salary when I joined the govt. I got an initial offer at GS-# Step 1 but I countered saying I wanted salary-matching, which would put me at a Step 7. I had to give them a copy of my paycheck stubs and an updated copy of my resume, but eventually (2-3 months later) I got a new offer letter at the Step 7. The trick is you have to be willing to wait an extra couple of months and the hiring agency has to like you enough to be willing to do the extra paperwork drill.

[kc103]

This may be too old of a thread to get a response but I'll give it a try. I was offered a federal job at GS-7 step 1. The salary is significantly less than what I currently make and I responded asking if there was room for negotiation. The HR person called me and said that I needed to submit a letter requesting the higher salary based on superior qualifications and include the pay stub. My question is about how to write the letter. Does anyone have experience with this and know how long it should be (get it to one page or is it okay to be longer) and should it be an attachment or in the body of the email? Thanks for any advice!

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by kc103

This may be too old of a thread to get a response but I'll give it a try. I was offered a federal job at GS-7 step 1. The salary is significantly less than what I currently make and I responded asking if there was room for negotiation. The HR person called me and said that I needed to submit a letter requesting the higher salary based on superior qualifications and include the pay stub. My question is about how to write the letter. Does anyone have experience with this and know how long it should be (get it to one page or is it okay to be longer)
and should it be an attachment or in the body of the email? Thanks for any advice!

I am just going through hiring someone now. They have really, really tightened up on superior quals.

So, yes, you will need the paystub to prove that you currently make $XXXX. Then you need to write a justification outlining how the skills you have today from your current/past experience DIRECTLY relate to the skills you need for this job you may accept. You have to prove to them that you are beyond an entry level GS-7 Step 1. It's not really all about the level of salary you make right now because, despite what the press says, some private industry folks' salaries are fairly inflated yet they don't have the skills to command the "expert" level of awarding you a GS-7, Step 10, unless you can prove that you already have those skills.

I would write it up as an attachment to the e-mail with it titled "Justification for Superior Qualifications." Although, it would also be fine to put it in the e-mail. They won't make the determination on the format. They will solely make the determination on your skill level.

[kc103]

Thanks for the information, much appreciated!