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indecisivewandering OP t1_j71wcie wrote

Reply to comment by Vortex2121 in Is renting on a GS5 salary possible? by indecisivewandering

How difficult would it be to get to a GS12, if I'm not on a ladder position? The ideal would be to get a contracting (!102, sorry) position and work my way up but that seems highly unlikely.. is it possible to get some type of FERS related certification as a civilian? Would that help me at all when applying to these jobs?

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Gumburcules t1_j728eek wrote

> How difficult would it be to get to a GS12, if I'm not on a ladder position?

If you've got a college degree and your 5-7 ladder is in the same field, you'd be on a great track.

I doubt you'd be able to jump straight from 7-12 since 12 requires a year of experience at the 11 level and it would be very hard to argue that your GS-7 job provided you with GS-11 equivalent experience, but I imagine you could probably get in on a 9-11 ladder pretty easily especially if your 5-7 job is competitive service.

From there you're just a good connection or desk audit away from 12.

Also, don't listen to the people saying you can't make it here on that salary, you absolutely can. As others have said you'll definitely need roommates, but thousands of people come here every year and find rooms in group houses. I know NPS Park Rangers start at GS-5 and there are a lot of them who work here and live together. I'm not sure how you'd connect with them (maybe there's a subreddit or message board somewhere?) but it might be a good place to look.

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Vortex2121 t1_j725efz wrote

Honestly I don't know. It really depends on your supervisor. Do you mean FAR? FERS is the retirement plan.

By the time you hit GS-7 you can transfer jobs with a different ladder. Also, I would look into Schedule-A disability hiring authority. Makes it easier for the employer to hire you.

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Vortex2121 t1_j725o7y wrote

But anyway, FAR certs are easy enough to get as a civilian if you meet the requirements and your supervisor wants you to have it. It takes a year after you get your COR I to get your COR II (at least for my agency)

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indecisivewandering OP t1_j72bkea wrote

FARS, yeah.. recognized that slip-up after posting.

Just so I sort of have this correct.. even if I'm in a 0300 role, when I hit GS7 I could potentially transfer over to a 7/9/11 1102 ladder on an internal announcement, simply because I'm already at that grade in any series (+3 yrs private sector work experience)?

I already do have a Schedule A letter.. seems like I'm either not using itt correctly, or it isn't pushing me in the direction I need to go.

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