CBPO Initial Pay Grade Question

[schrute]

I'm in the hiring process for CBPO and today my qualifications updated in CASS stating that I have been found to be qualified at the GS-5 level. The thing is I have a law degree and an B.A. with a GPA over 3.0. My understanding was that either of those should have qualified me at GS-7. Is there anything I can do to get this reviewed or overturned? As much as I want to get into the LE field I have a wife and a two year old and I don't know that we'd be able to make ends meet that first year at 31k or therabouts.

Thanks for any help.

[schrute]

BTW my TO was a GS-7. Sorry I should have said that at the outset.

[Piggy]

If I had a law degree, I wouldn't be taking a GS-5 spot. If there is a contact number on your letter, that would be your best bet. Or, if you haven't been interviewed yet, you could bring that up during the interview.

[chewy]

They should be hiring you as a 7 but sometimes they do the 5 to save money. I hired on as a 7 Customs Inspector but then for like a year and a half after me they only hired people as 5's. They saved money by getting the employees for that first year as a 5 rather than a 7 and they were basically telling people if you don't like it don't take the job... It isn't fair but that's the crap they do. I agree with Piggy, fight for what you deserve and bring it up at the interview and see if maybe it's just an oversight. If you have a good resume and they want you they'll pay for you. Even as a 5 it isn't so bad, it just takes you four years to make Journeyman GS-11 instead of 4. You will only be there for a year so it's not permanent. It just depends on how bad you want the job. And let me tell you, being a CBPO/Customs Inspector for the last 10 years this job makes Jack Bauer look like a panzy... You'll do so much high speed undercover anti and counter terrorism activities that you won't mind being a GS-5 for one year....




BBBAAAWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHA>...... I couldn't resist!

[Frogdiver]

Run while you still have the chance. Make better use of your degree anywhere but here. You'll be better off. By the way Chewy, that detail I am on, Don't even bother. One of the biggest clusters I have witnessed since getting on board with Customs. A HUUUGE headache to say the least.

[schrute]

They should be hiring you as a 7 but sometimes they do the 5 to save money. I hired on as a 7 Customs Inspector but then for like a year and a half after me they only hired people as 5's. They saved money by getting the employees for that first year as a 5 rather than a 7 and they were basically telling people if you don't like it don't take the job... It isn't fair but that's the crap they do. I agree with Piggy, fight for what you deserve and bring it up at the interview and see if maybe it's just an oversight. If you have a good resume and they want you they'll pay for you. Even as a 5 it isn't so bad, it just takes you four years to make Journeyman GS-11 instead of 4. You will only be there for a year so it's not permanent. It just depends on how bad you want the job. And let me tell you, being a CBPO/Customs Inspector for the last 10 years this job makes Jack Bauer look like a panzy... You'll do so much high speed undercover anti and counter terrorism activities that you won't mind being a GS-5 for one year....




BBBAAAWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHA>...... I couldn't resist!

This is what I'm afaid of (hiring everyone at 5). I already had my interview and while he didn't ask for transcripts he did want to see my degrees (which I showed him). My father in law is retired from Customs and apparently they did something similar to him when he was initially hired, bringing him on at 5 instead of 6. Even at 7 this job would be a pay cut at least at first, but I don't mind doing that in order to get my foot in the door particularly since the benefits will make up for a decent chunk of the difference (my health insurance cost me 11 grand out of pocket last year:eek. At 5 though unless I was sure there was going to be a decent amount of OT I think the difference is just going to be too much to absorb. On that note is there any way to ballpark what percentage over the base salary might be expected with holiday pay, OT, shift differential etc.?

And with respect to the Jack Bauer thing....do I get to ride around in a black UN helicopter? I ain't takin' any job unless I get to ride around in the black UN helicopter:D.

[jvale00]

Law degree?? Apply for ATF, DEA or Secret Service. I think they would pay a little more to appreciate such talents as your fine jurisprudence!

[schrute]

Law degree?? Apply for ATF, DEA or Secret Service. I think they would pay a little more to appreciate such talents as your fine jurisprudence!

Unfortunately I'm already 36 and if the eight month to date process for CBPO is any indication I'll never make it through any of those processes by age 37.

[schrute]

Update.......

Minnesota Hiring Center sends me a letter today stating that the reason they gave me a 5 is that in order to qualify for GS-7 you need 1 year of graduate education and that they have somehow determined that I have less than 18 graduate credits and therefore do not qualify. This would be OK except that I've got three years and 90 friggin' credits:mad::mad::mad:

So I'm going to send in a letter pointing out the foregoing along with the transcript they never asked for. What are the odds anyone actually reads it?

[sparty]

I wish you luck with the MHC because you'll need it. I know managers who have called them and gotten the run around.

I'm curious, why would someone with a law degree want to come work for CBP? You say you're 36 - have you looked at ICE DRO or the Border Patrol?

[schrute]

I did actually look at the IEA position and while I decided against it due to the travel I'll probably apply if another announcement comes out in the relatively near future. My wife would never in a million years go along with the Border Patrol though since she's not willing to move away from our families.

[Lost Texan]

Don't take the job at a 5. Stick to your guns for a 7, if you take the 5, it won't be changed after the fact. Most of the trainees I have seen lately have come in as 7s. We have had a few lawyers lately. There is going to be a ton of hiring this fy and if you are in the pipeline, you will more than likely be called. If worst comes to worst, ask your Congressman to look into it.

Best of luck,

LT

[chewy]

The only helicopter you'll see working as a CBPO is if you clear someone flying one coming into the country. We are'nt allowed any such fun things like aircraft, cars, ability to actually do what we were hired to do.... We are loosing approx 75 people a year from detroit alone who are going to ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, IEA, USSS, local police and just about anywhere else they can. My understanding from other ports is a lot are the same. Our management gets stupider and stupider and the policies get more and more rediculous by the day. Do yourself a favor and go BP or someother job unless you really don't want to do LE and just want the money. The money is the only good thing about the job 98% of the time!

[K-9MALY]

Oh man is somebody dropping the ball with you! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT, is all I can say. You are qualified up the ying yang for the position and many others, so don't let them low ball you. We have a female officer here who hired on as a GS-5 and found out that she was qualified and should of been a GS-7 while in FLETC. She fought it, and was granted the rank.

Call the AUSA and see if they need attorneys where you live. In Buffalo, we have three officers who are attorneys working too. One loves it, and left law to do this. The other two said that we make more than the lawyers in this area.

[schrute]

Thanks guys, I'll definitely fight this and let you know how it turns out.

As far as the AUSA thing, I have looked at a few legal jobs with the fed including one in NYC with CBP. The base pay is definitely better, but honestly I have really come to hate practicing law or more to the point I hate dealing with lawyers all day (as a group we are without a doubt the most miserable group of weasels on the planet......I however am the exception that proves the rule;)). When I came out of school my plan was to practice a couple of years then try to get into an LE position, for a wide variety of reasons that got put on hold but at my age I figure if I don't make the move soon, I'll never be able to do it. I'm already aged out of most if not all state and local LE positions in NJ and NY and as I understand it in PA I'd either have to spend a year establishing residency in a place like Philadelphia or sponsor myself through an academy for a smaller department which just isn't feasible moneywise with a wife and kid to support. Given my geographic restrictions CBP or IEA seems like the best fit and as I'm already in the CBPO process I'd like to give it a shot and at least see if I like it.

As I said, thanks for your help and listening to me vent.