Commuting Area Question

[Piggy]

I've read more than a few job posts (mostly with the FBI) that requires the applicant live in the local commuting area. What is the purpose behind that? Why do they care if you relocate to take the job, if you are paying the expenses yourself? Will they make exceptions or is it a strict rule they go by?

[steve1568]

Sometimes the position requires an on-call status and there are minimums for response times and such, what positions where you looking at ?

[Switchback]

I have seen only 1 fed job that has restrictions on how far away from teh office feds can live.

The USMS has positions that support the CDC. Those positions require teh Deputy to live within 40 min of the location (which is a secret). LOL They pay to move you.

I have seen positions announced that require all applicants to live within "commuting" distance. That is merely a way to get out of paying for moves. The ones that I have seen do not tend to be entry level positions.

[Piggy]

This was at the top of the posting, I x'd out the location:

This announcement is open to all qualified applicants who reside
within the XXXXXX Resident Agency, commuting area.

Applications will not be accepted from outside the area of
consideration.

I applied anyway, it won't be the first time I was turned down for a job. I have no problem moving at all, I just don't understand why they would require you already live there if the job opening is open to the public.

[Group9]

The general rule in my agency is that you have to live withing 50 miles of the office. This distance can be extended, or reduced, at the discretion of the SAC. And, it does cause hardships from time to time.

[mcsap]

If you want to be seriously considered , you should seriously live in the general area. We have no requirement but when the roads get bad in the wnter, we have several that sometimes can't make it in ( and have to use vacation).

If you end up in a specialty area that requires call in or deployment, you wont be much good if you live a ways off.

I drive 8 miles to work and have yet to not make it in regardless of any conditions. I have had to get a ride in heavy snow though.

[Piggy]

That's the odd part, I have no problem moving....but the way it's posted, you need to already live in the commuting area. Trying to figure out if they won't give you time to move, or what the reasoning is.

[eff-bee-eye]

That's the odd part, I have no problem moving....but the way it's posted, you need to already live in the commuting area. Trying to figure out if they won't give you time to move, or what the reasoning is.

5 CFR 330.604:

" (e) Local commuting area means the geographic area that usually
constitutes one area for employment purposes as determined by the
agency. It includes any population center (or two or more neighboring
ones) and the surrounding localities in which people live and can
reasonably be expected to travel back and forth daily to their usual
employment."

This is the section of the OPM portion of the CFR related to Recruitment, Selection and Placement. From that definition, it is pretty much what an agency wants to define it as.

Many times they post it this way to limit the # of applications they receive, for a variety of reasons. They may have someone they are already looking at for the job, etc. This is a pretty hard and steadfast rule, if they list this caveat in the vacancy....but it cannot hurt to try. I have heard of a few people who were outside the local area, but were allowed to apply IF they attached a letter to their application stating that they would be responsible for ALL relocation costs associated with the move if they got the position. So try to call the agency first, so you don't waste your time with the applications.

[Piggy]

Thanks!!! I'll see if I can find a number right now.

5 CFR 330.604:

" (e) Local commuting area means the geographic area that usually
constitutes one area for employment purposes as determined by the
agency. It includes any population center (or two or more neighboring
ones) and the surrounding localities in which people live and can
reasonably be expected to travel back and forth daily to their usual
employment."

This is the section of the OPM portion of the CFR related to Recruitment, Selection and Placement. From that definition, it is pretty much what an agency wants to define it as.

Many times they post it this way to limit the # of applications they receive, for a variety of reasons. They may someone they are already looking at for the job, etc. This is a pretty hard and steadfast rule, if they list this caveat in the vacancy....but it cannot hurt to try. I heard of a few people who were outside the local area, but were allowed to apply IF they attached a letter to their application stating that they would be responsible for ALL relocation costs associated with the move if they got the position. So try to call the agency first, so you don't waste your time with the applications.