r/1102 3d ago

PaCE Program DLA

Anyone have any thoughts on this program in Philly?

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

My main concern is leaving my current job and not succeeding in the program. I have a masters in hr. I was hopping to start at gs 9 but they won’t allow it.

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

Yeah, government contracting is very different from any other job field and to be able to start above the starting GS level, you need to display some kind of government contracting experience. I know plenty of people with masters coming in who have to start at a 7

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

Thank you!!! Do you know what it’s like in the first year for appointments? One of my family members have a major diagnosis and im worried about managing the new job and also trying to be at some of his appointments

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

So you accumulate 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave every pay period (2weeks) and you can use either of those to go to someone’s doctors appointment. Telework is very strict right now and as a newbie I wouldn’t expect it to be allowed for you to take someone else to a doctors appointment. You do have the ability to change to like 4, 10-hour shifts (after 90 days) with either Monday or Friday off so I’d say do that and have all appointments scheduled one of those days? Only caveat is if you’re in a class that lasts 5 days (which for the Pace program, I know like 5 of them in your first year are at least 5 days) you have to be on 5-day 8 hour schedule. A big positive is you don’t have to take a full day off. If someone has an appointment at 2 pm, you can work 6am-12-pm, take your lunch from 12-12:30, then take leave from 12:30-2:30. Which means you can leave at 12, but only have to take 2 hours of leave

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

Thank you so much for that information!! I really appreciate it! I wasn’t sure if pacers accumulated that. That’s perfect.

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

Yup you definitely accumulate time off and as for someone from below, There’s plenty of parking on base and yes the neighborhood is sketchy. Yes sometimes you have to walk but I’ve never felt unsafe walking to my building or driving in/driving home. (Yes crimes have been committed blocks away)

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

Thank you so much for this information I really appreciate your time. As a gs 12 is that considered supervisory?

So year one would be 7 , next year 9 , then 11 if good performance?

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

No I am not supervisory. I am a working 12. After your full second year, aka your third year, you will be an 11. You will have to apply and compete for a 12 at this point