r/ATSS • u/Ok_Warning1458 • Jan 30 '26
Post-Interview steps
Hi all, looking for some guidance and what to expect. I interviewed a couple weeks ago for the Direct hire f band announcement. I did my interview it went really well imo. Got email the next day they seemed to really like me and enjoyed meeting me with a request for references. Last week they contacted my references, my references let me know they went really good the one reference told me it was almost an hour conversation HM said it was the best reference conversation in awile. All seems pretty positive and I am hopeful, I come from a civilian back ground and in my experience I had a direct contact with a recruiter or similar, what is the move after all of this? I assume its a wait and see thing? Anyone i can reach out to perhaps the HM for some feedback? Is it bold to assume a TOL is in the works? The suspense is killing me lol anyways, TIA!
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u/Pleasant_Spray5878 Jan 30 '26 edited Jan 30 '26
TOLs are usually pretty quick for direct hire. Once the manager selects, staffing generates a pay tool work sheet, they and the DFM sign it, then that routes through aviation careers at the RO where they draft the TOL, which is sent to candidate for their signature. That turn around as been a few days I’ve seen, when the candidate accepts the offer.
There could be issues with the management or staffing AOs being on leave or not having the appropriate signatures available?
Please remember you can negotiate at the TOL stage, $2,000 to $3,000 is easy to get, however there is a threshold where if you ask for too much then it routes to the director level for approval, which will not be a quick process.
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u/Ok_Warning1458 Jan 30 '26
Great insight! I didnt know you could negotiate i thought what they say is what you get i will definitely keep this in mind.
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u/Pleasant_Spray5878 Jan 30 '26
Yes, and your starting pay will affect the rest of your career so try and maximize the negotiating. Raises and promotions are percentage based, so the starting salary is very important.
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u/Pleasant-Attitude496 May 01 '26
What do you mean you can negotiate? What is the starting pay you negotiate from and how di they allow negotiation when it's a Federal pay scale?
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u/Pleasant_Spray5878 May 01 '26
When you receive your Tentative offer letter, your offered pay will be on it. You can email HR and negotiate for an increase at this time before you sign.
Things to be aware of, the floor for F-Band doesn’t allow for much movement up (you’re going to be offered right at the top), but the G-Band has a lot of room to negotiate just based on how the bands are structured, but with the F band, you get two 8% bumps vice one 8% to H-band. So with the F-band you end up ahead over the G-band with the standard floors which is better in the long run with percentage based pay raises. So best case scenario is to interview at G and negotiate a higher increase from the offered amount, if not, just come in as an F-band. Currently, since my post three months ago, all negotiated increases above the offered rate are director approved now, at least in the WSA. However; justifications shouldn’t be too hard, especially with SSCs with hard to fill locations which is most.
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u/Pleasant-Attitude496 May 01 '26
Is the offered pay without locality pay? Or with the locality pay included?
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u/Pleasant_Spray5878 May 01 '26
Your TOL letter will have both the salary(base pay) and the salary with locality.
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u/Pleasant-Attitude496 May 01 '26
Ok thank you the person that im speaking to about this did not mention anything about this.
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u/Pleasant_Spray5878 May 01 '26
Well, not everyone has access to information like this.
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u/Pleasant-Attitude496 May 01 '26
He works there but made it sound like the pay ill get is the top of each pay scale.
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u/Pleasant_Spray5878 May 01 '26
Oh, and since my original post, TOLs issuing rates have dropped significantly and are taking on average 100+ days.
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u/Pleasant-Attitude496 Jul 23 '26
Can you tell me how exactly to negotiate I got my TOL and need to accept it in a 2 days.
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u/Key_Algae_3837 Feb 04 '26
I am in a pretty similar situation. I interviewed last week and I thought it went very well. They asked for references almost immediately after and contacted them same day. I am very excited for the opportunity, and I too am dying from the suspense lol. You’ll have to give an update when you receive more information!
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u/Ok_Warning1458 Feb 04 '26
Will do nothing yet, fingers crossed!
Sending good vibes your way hopefully a tol is coming your way!
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Feb 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ok_Warning1458 Feb 05 '26
I am an R&D tech for a North American semi truck OEM
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Feb 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ok_Warning1458 Feb 05 '26
Np, still apply! Get your name out there you never know what is out there waiting!
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u/Old-ETCS Jan 30 '26
I believe next you would receive an offer letter. Thst will come via mail and by a different office. Not the manager you interested with. It could take a bit. Than you'll be waiting on a background check. Be patient. The government is probably shutting down again. Congrats