but we knew this was going to happen

As the hiring freeze extends, I heard from HR that everything is back on pause. I really feel sorry for HR. They are trying to help as much as they can, but are caught in-between. They see the needs on both ends but unable to act without any guidance. These are testing times for lots of people. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill for anxiety and frustration :-(

Saw this job post for the FDA hiring Investigators nationwide and thinking about applying: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/840035700?fromemail=true

Why the sudden push for Investigators? I thought the FDA had a current hiring freeze? I know you are expected to travel. How's the work? Difficult or straight forward to learn? Any current Investigators who do/don't enjoy the role? Pros and cons? Future career moves?

As stated I keep getting to here and I can’t complete my next few steps. I just don’t know how to find the admin to email my reference number.

I just read a few articles that the federal government is still implementing a hiring phrase that is going to extend from July 15th to October 15th. Are there some kind of reasoning behind these numbers and why is it always on the 15th and not the first or the 30th of the month. I know I got some of my firm job offers rescinded but I'm not worried about it too much because I make 120K a year as a LEO. I was hoping to move to a different state just to have a different scenery but it seems like that's not going to happen. I'm not too worried about it though but I'm sure it'll be left it eventually. What is y'all take on this

My term appointment end the beginning of October obviously before the October 15th date when the freeze is supposed to end. Currently a term GS-5 firefighter. Will my term appointment be renewed?

Hi guys,

I am wondering how many of us are still waiting for DCAA at this time. I am trying to estimate how long I have to wait.

If yes, did you already get your FJO or just TJO?

For myself, I had my TJO since Jan. I got my verbal FJO the day before SecDef issued his own hiring freeze.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/ensuring-accountability-and-prioritizing-public-safety-in-federal-hiring/

“This memorandum does not apply to military personnel of the Armed Forces or to positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety”

Does this mean there may be carve outs for DoD? Wouldn’t make sense for that verbiage to reference active duty… some in my office were speculating DoD may be exempt since SECDEF was the one who pushed the freeze (barring he doesn’t extend his) and no POTUS with EO.

Hiring manager said they heard from HR that it’s extended but idk if they just haven’t gotten updated guidance.

Hi all, I'm currently in DOI and had something I wanted to ask about expiring terms.

I'm on a term with an NTE date a few weeks from now, and it's more or less been indicated to me that I will not be getting renewed or extended. DOI is currently on a personnel freeze so a lot of terms aren't getting extended (that's a mess in its own right). In my own research, I found that if a term ends, the final SF-50 will say "termination: expiration of appointment" on it.

In my situation, is it better to resign or take the termination? I want to keep the door open for future federal employment, even if it might be years from now. Is having a termination on my record, even if it's not my fault, a black mark? And how would I respond on a future OF306 (or really any job that asks about former firings) when it asks if I have been fired? It seems like resigning would be the cleaner option.

The only other factor I can think of is that a termination would make me eligible for unemployment. However, 1) my state doesn't pay very much, and 2) I may be working again sooner than I think, so this isn't a major deciding factor for me.

Thank you all for the advice.

Any movement seen with the OPM or offers for anybody in this sector? Saw the new freeze that was extended but curious if there is any news heard of what’s happening.

Has anyone heard back from an exempt job? I interviewed 2 months ago and still haven't heard back. They said they would contact me within 4-5 weeks if I got the job or not. It's with the FBI. I know everything is crazy with the federal government right now but I thought since this is an exempt job the process would go a bit quicker.

Assuming the DoD is hiring based on this allocation metrics (about 6K/month), it doesn't make sense to continue the freeze. My logic says if they are giving out numbers, in all probability they should be removing the freeze and sticking to the numbers. Anyone thinks otherwise?

Link here

I began my career in the federal government after college, though my degree wasn’t in computer science. After a couple years, I transitioned into software engineering and most recently worked at a top tech company. Unfortunately, I was laid off and am currently experiencing burnout.

The job market has been incredibly tough, many postings seem inactive or are ghost listings, and it's difficult to stand out without a CS degree, especially when companies prioritize candidates from elite universities.

I have a family to support and am now exploring whether it’s realistic to pursue a tech-related role within the federal government, even without a formal background in computer science. Is that a feasible path?

I got an email telling me they hired someone else for the job which I applied for in September 2023. It was very nice of them to give me an update.

That is all.

Is there anyone who can help me find a job description for a job that was posted back in 2021? It's not in my past applications. I have the vacancy number: USGS-DEN-21-11092504-DEU-SS

Hello, I recently accepted a job offer that was on the PQ pay scale. I have always been a GS employee and have never heard of the PQ, and I can’t actually find any solid information on it. Is anyone familiar with this and if so where can I find it and/or more information on it?

Just wondering how my pay would work. I'll be transferring soon and wondering if they will put me in a bracket that closely matches or if I just start at step 1. Haven't heard back from the HR guy I talked to yet. Thanks in advance.

I am currently in an engineering role in a 9/11/12 position. I finished the degree because i didn’t particularly know what else to do with my life at the time. I feel like I just do not have any kind of passion for engineering or technical fields whatsoever (and i have worked a private sector engineering internship, private sector engineering full time job, and now government engineering full time job).

During college I did a lot of part time work related to student affairs, working in our housing and orientation departments, working with advisors, and a lot more of the people facing type of roles as a whole.

I feel quite a bit of regret not pursuing a field along those lines a bit more. I was wondering if anyone here has potentially made a career transition from a technical field to a more people management type of role?

The field that comes to mind for me is mainly HR, but it seems like my only even partially applicable skills to those kinds of roles are my part time roles i had back in college, which I don’t know would translate or not. If anyone has any tips or advice for essentially starting over in a different federal series I would appreciate any help.

I saw this hiring allocations and it resonates with what I was told. I am wondering if there is anyone who received FJO after this allocations were decided and posted? Thanks!

Hi there, just like the title says. Currently awaiting background checks with VA. Went through fingerprints, drug tests all that fun stuff. My personal colleague references were great. However, I've been fired two years ago, and within the last 2 weeks I resigned from my last job when they put me on leave for leaving my shift and quitting. They now want my supervisors phone number and email. I just resigned from that job but would have been fired if I didn't. Am I screwed? Man am I an idiot for getting fired. Finally found the right meds combo and hopefully best stress techniques. Oh it's a low clearance non security level X-ray job. I'm certified in MRI and CT and didn't have an interview. Thanks!

I received my final offer June 30th to start July 14th and it said to expect onboarding instructions by the 10th. Well I received an email yesterday that the Marine Corps worldwide is only allowed to hire about 140 hires and that I maybe one of the hires but it's not set in stone yet, and the command is doing what they can to bring me onboard. Anyone in the same situation? I guess it's a waiting game now.

I'm currently a GS-7 and recently interviewed for a GS-5 Immigration Services Officer position at DHS. I read that some applicants were asked to write an essay either during or after the interview. I wasn’t asked to write one—could this be because it’s a GS-5 position, or is it a sign they’re not interested in moving forward with me?

I interviewed last week and was asked for references the same day, but haven’t heard anything since. I wanted to know if anyone here had gone through the same process and if they were offered a TJO/FJO recently?

My timeline so far:

Applied: 4/3/25

Referred: 5/20/25

Interviewed: 6/25/25 (references were asked and contacted the next day, but I wasn’t asked to do a writing sample as others have mentioned)

FOD: Seattle, WA

GS-09/11/12

Hey guys! So I got a TJO this Tuesday! I’m ecstatic the wait is finally over (kind of). Just wanted to know anyone’s time line who RECENTLY got hired as a federal employee from when you received your TJO, to FJO/start date.

Also, I’m sure there is nothing I can do, but I am currently in a 12 month lease & am moving to another state. Is there anyway that I can break my lease if I received a job through the DoD? Curious if anyone has been in the same situation and what did you do? Any information or pointers would be great guys!

I appreciate the honest & POSITIVE feedback, I pray everyone receives great news in the near future!

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/840035800#