The position is for a Program Specialist with FEMA and it requires emergency preparedness experience, which I admit I don't have a lot of.

 

But then how come they rated me a 100 under code 1 (All US Citizens)? If I was unqualified, wouldn't I be unqualified under all 3 codes?

 

This is not a huge disappointment but I am just trying to understand how the process works.

Dang...I know there were a ton of applicants so chances of getting an offer were slim as an external non-vet...but I was hoping I'd at least get to take the assessment.

I got this from the job posting:

yeah that is what I was thinking...I ran into a similar issue when I applied for a GS-5 Recreation Specialist at a Fitness Center where I previously worked as a NAF employee...as a current GS-5 and with my resume demonstrating my previous NAF experience I thought I was golden but I still came up Ineligible because I had not done the sports functions of the job only the customer service related stuff. I feel like trying to change job series is going to be very difficult which is frustrating

Hi, 937dytboi --

I just saw this thread. I assume you already went through your AA -- how did it go?

The main TSO thread is:

It's quite an elephant, but chock-full of useful information and the most up-to-date TSO thread in FedSoup. That said, let me try to address your non-AA questions to the best of my ability:

Increasing hours -- depending upon the size and needs of the airport that hires you, some TSO's move very quickly into full-time positions and others are given the opportunity to work extra hours as a P/T employee. From the threads, this seems to happen at the large airports and at the growing airports mostly. Most airports open up access to F/T positions after a period of time to P/T'ers -- say 6 months to 2 years after your EOD -- and others, like some of the newly federalized smaller airports, are advertising two different vacancies, P/T and F/T, at the same time.

Moving onward/upward -- To apply for other positions within TSA or outside of the agency within the federal network, you must spend 6 months or a year at F/T workload to apply as a status (internal) candidate.

TSI Application -- Once you accept a TSO position, the process on all other TSO positions stops. I don't know how accepting a TSO position affects other TSA applications. How far along are you in the TSI process? If you are actually referred to a hiring official, you may have a chance if you have vet preference. I know the TSI processes have been glacial.  I have been considered qualified on over a dozen of them over the past two years but cannot get referred without vet preference.

It is my opinion that you take your first foot in the door with TSA, and then enjoy the advantage of status candidate if you are hired first as a TSO. Feel free to PM me at your convenience as I am in a similar situation -- strength in numbers!

Good Luck!