Posted on Apr 25, 2023
SPC Infantryman
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I recently got a job offer for a medical support at the VA. I served 3.5 years active and am serving in the national guard currently (infantry)(E-4). I have an A.A degree and about 93 credit towards a bachelors in criminal justice. I was offered the job at a gs5 level and wanted to know if it’s ideal to negotiate to gs6?
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COL Randall C.
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Negotiate to a GS-6? No.
Negotiate to a higher starting step on the pay scale? You absolute CAN negotiate for a higher step, but SHOULD you. It's possible if you're not just a 'round peg for the round hole' type of job.

First, if you're not that familiar with the General Schedule classifications and pay, you should read up on it*.

The GS pay scale is much like the military in that there is a base (your rank) and a 'step' (how many years you've been in). Unlike the military though you can sometimes negotiate starting at a higher step (most of the time, but not always, they will offer you a GS-x, Step 1 starting salary).

The bottom line is "what do you have to negotiate with" .. From USAJOBS, here is the comments regarding starting salary, “A new General Schedule (GS) employee is entitled to have pay set at step 1 of the employee’s grade. An agency may also opt to use the superior qualifications and special needs pay-setting authority to hire you with at a higher pay step. Under this authority, an agency may set pay up to step 10. An agency may use this authority based on the candidate’s superior qualifications or a special need of the agency for the candidate’s services. An agency must approve each determination to use the superior qualifications and special needs pay-setting authority prior to the candidate entering on duty. Contact the employing agency for information about its policy.”

You should absolutely check it out .. filling an open job request for the federal government is a long process for you and the agency, so they have incentive to having you accept, so just asking for a step increase isn't likely to tank the offer, but make sure you have your 'sales pitch' ready about WHY you should get a higher starting step.

There's a great LinkedIn article about getting your ducks in order regarding asking for a starting step increase you should read (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-superior-qualification-special-needs-pay-setting-angel-castro).
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* https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/general-schedule/
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SGM G3 Sergeant Major
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GS positions are posted as approved vacancies.
If they posted the job as a GS-5, they are only authorized to hire that job at GS-5.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
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And, ,IF I Read His Comment Right, He Has An Associates Degree In ART?
And Working On His Bachelors In Criminology?......
With A Job Offer In The Medical Field?..
And It Already Looks As Though He Wants
A Higher Rating, For More Pay?.
Yet He Hasn't Even Started In The Field Yet?
If He Applies To The VA Here In Vegas, And He'll Probably
Wind Up Being The Hospital Administrator.
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SSgt Investigative Analyst
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney, it's not an Associates IN art degree, it's an Associates OF Art. It depends on his major, and that could be a number of things. An AA degree is designed for learners who intend to pursue a job or bachelor's degree in an area of liberal arts, humanities, business, or social sciences.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
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SSgt (Join to see) -
LMAO....
And That's Connected To The Medical Field?
If They'll Take You, I Guess I Can Too!
With Those Degrees, You'll NEED A Government Job.
I Was In Business For 27 YEARS, And I Haven't A Clue
What I'd Have You Contribute As An Employee...
And I'M An 8th GRADE DROP OUT!!
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LTC Program Manager
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Unless you have some experience that directly relates I don't think you are likely to get a better offer on this position.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
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HELL, I'm AMAZED He HAS A Job!
And Even More IMPRESSED With His Offer.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
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GS positions much like Military positions they are based on rank. What is the rank for the billet you were assigned? If you were hired for a GS-6 position that is the pay grade for that position. But if the position is a GS-6/7 position you have the potential for promotion beyond the standard step promotion.

I am a GS-11 and if I want to be promoted to 12 I will need to apply and be hired for a GS-12 position.

With all that said what is the AA in? Unless it is directly applicable to the job field I wouldn't expect a promotion just for having the degree.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
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As I Was Told:
..." it's not an Associates IN art degree, it's an Associates OF Art. "
So, My Thoughts Are: "BFD, Another Unemployable, ONLY Our Government Would Hire"?
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SSgt Christophe Murphy
>1 y
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - Exactly. Unless it is a job that just wants someone to be College educated as a baseline requirement the expectation is for the degree to be applicable.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
>1 y
SSgt Christophe Murphy - ...
And Many Employers DO Want "Just A Degree"; In ANYTHING.. No Matter The Subject.
And It IS Ridiculous, Because Most Come Out Of College UNEDUCATED, Anyway:
READ THIS:..
Only 27 percent of college grads have a job related to their degree ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/05/20/...
First, a significant number of college grads appear to be underemployed:
In 2010, only 62 percent of U.S. college graduates had a job that required a college degree.
$1,000's Upon MORE $1,000's TOTALLY Thrown Away.

I'm A Self Educated 8th GRADE DROP OUT... And Did OK...
I've Had Careers In Middle Management,With FMC, And A Business Owner For 27 Years & Retired At 56... .."NO COLLEGE REQUIRED"..
But I DID Study And Work My Az Off.... While In The USAF
~There AIN'T No Such Thing As FREE~ Ya EARN It, Every Cent
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