A few questions about the Federal Bureau of Prisons

[dkl1986]

I recently applied for a CO for the FBP. I don't know much about the the whole federal thing, so I have a few questions. And yes, I do know the FDP is not looked highly upon by many on this website, but being that I'll be fresh out of college, I'm looking for many different job market openings (especially with this economy).

1) I had to answer a series of questions regarding whether I'd be suited for the GS5/6 pay scale. I scored a 92 on the GS5, and 90 on the GS6. Is this out of 100?

2) I've applied to three different institutions, and all offer a recruitment bonus (15/17%). If I were to get hired, how is this paid? Is it after I finish training at FLETC? After probation? Incriments (sp?)?

3) I've seen something on locality pay. Does this mean like a certain type of housing allowance, depending on where you work? If so, is it a significant amount? If not, what exactly is a locality pay?

4) Are there residency requirements? Do I have to live within a certain amount of miles from the institution?

5) What kind of shifts do COs work? Five 8 hour shifts? Four 10 hours shifts? Three 12 1/2 hour shifts?

6) Is overtime available at federal prisons?

7) Do COs carry any equipment? I wouldn't think they carry a firearm unless stationed in a tower. Are COs allowed/required to carry a firearm off duty?

8) I've filled out my resume portion online, and have applied to three institutions. Should I call the institution to check up on my application, or should I wait to be contacted?

Thanks for any and all information. I know I'm asking a lot of questions here.

[Piggy]

I recently applied for a CO for the FBP. I don't know much about the the whole federal thing, so I have a few questions. And yes, I do know the FDP is not looked highly upon by many on this website, but being that I'll be fresh out of college, I'm looking for many different job market openings (especially with this economy).

1) I had to answer a series of questions regarding whether I'd be suited for the GS5/6 pay scale. I scored a 92 on the GS5, and 90 on the GS6. Is this out of 100?

2) I've applied to three different institutions, and all offer a recruitment bonus (15/17%). If I were to get hired, how is this paid? Is it after I finish training at FLETC? After probation? Incriments (sp?)?

3) I've seen something on locality pay. Does this mean like a certain type of housing allowance, depending on where you work? If so, is it a significant amount? If not, what exactly is a locality pay?

4) Are there residency requirements? Do I have to live within a certain amount of miles from the institution?

5) What kind of shifts do COs work? Five 8 hour shifts? Four 10 hours shifts? Three 12 1/2 hour shifts?

6) Is overtime available at federal prisons?

7) Do COs carry any equipment? I wouldn't think they carry a firearm unless stationed in a tower. Are COs allowed/required to carry a firearm off duty?

8) I've filled out my resume portion online, and have applied to three institutions. Should I call the institution to check up on my application, or should I wait to be contacted?

Thanks for any and all information. I know I'm asking a lot of questions here.

I don't want to give you bunch of mis-info, so I'm only responding to the questions I know for sure about the answers.

3. Locality pay is just added onto your regular salary for areas with a high cost of living. Every part of the US has some level of locality pay on top of your regular GS salary. You will usually get a pay raise every year when congress votes on the budget. Here is a link of the GS Pay scale for 2008, keeping in mind it will increase in Jan.
http://www.opm.gov/oca/08tables/pdf/RUS.pdf
If you work in a an area with standard locality pay, as a GS-5 you'll start out at a step one and make $29,726.

4. No residency requirement. As long as you can make it to work on time you'll be fine. I know BOP employees who don't even live in the same state where they work.

5. Shifts will depend on your job title and the facility where you work.

8. You can call, but chances are they will have no idea who you are and won't know you even applied. With the Federal Gov't, when you apply your application usually goes to a centralized HR office usually not on site to where you applied. The HR people weed through all the apps and pick the top three qualified people, known as the Cert, and send those resumes to the facility where you applied to be reviewed locally. So unless you're lucky enough to make the cert, you'll be lucky if you even get a letter that says you weren't considered.

Good luck!

[Sierra]

1) I had to answer a series of questions regarding whether I'd be suited for the GS5/6 pay scale. I scored a 92 on the GS5, and 90 on the GS6. Is this out of 100?

Yep.

2) I've applied to three different institutions, and all offer a recruitment bonus (15/17%). If I were to get hired, how is this paid? Is it after I finish training at FLETC? After probation? Incriments (sp?)?

Dunno.

3) I've seen something on locality pay. Does this mean like a certain type of housing allowance, depending on where you work? If so, is it a significant amount? If not, what exactly is a locality pay?

This is additional pay based on where you live and the housing costs there. Phoenix is 13% additional. San Diego is 20% additional. Not every location is eligible for the increased amount and I believe, at least with ICE, that it is based on where the Field Office is.

4) Are there residency requirements? Do I have to live within a certain amount of miles from the institution?

Not certain with BOP. No for ICE. Bear in mind you will be driving to and froom work every day, so you probably don't want to live too far away. I live about 35 minutes from my office.

5) What kind of shifts do COs work? Five 8 hour shifts? Four 10 hours shifts? Three 12 1/2 hour shifts?

Dunno. Probably 5 8s.

6) Is overtime available at federal prisons?

7) Do COs carry any equipment? I wouldn't think they carry a firearm unless stationed in a tower. Are COs allowed/required to carry a firearm off duty?

I have only seen them with keys and a radio, no spray. I do not see the perimeter or tower officers, however, just the desk and release officers.

8) I've filled out my resume portion online, and have applied to three institutions. Should I call the institution to check up on my application, or should I wait to be contacted?

Wait.

Thanks for any and all information. I know I'm asking a lot of questions here.

You're welcome.

[BP348]

I agree with the above answers. My neighbor is a BOP CO and he works 5 8 hour shifts. He lives about 70 miles from the prison so I don't think there is a residency requirement.

Overtime depends on the prison but I know my neighbor works quite a bit of O/T.

How long has it been since you filled out your application? If it hasn't been long I'd wait.

[BP348]

Depending on where you live and if your willing to move you could also apply with CBP or USBP. Both are looking for people and have a higher journeyman level, GS-11.

with CBP you could probably stay pretty close to home. All depends on where you live for USBP.

Just an idea

[nf9648]

I applied a couple weeks ago for a opening as a CO at the Honolulu FDC, today I went in for the pre-employment interview, got fingerprinted, did the panel interview afterwards, and Thursday is UA and physical. After Thursday is completed I will be in the March 29th class at FLETC, this is by far the fastest I have ever seen a federal agency work. :D I have no prior corrections or LE experience, just 9 years active duty as a helicopter mech in the Army.

[shawal16]

I applied a couple weeks ago for a opening as a CO at the Honolulu FDC, today I went in for the pre-employment interview, got fingerprinted, did the panel interview afterwards, and Thursday is UA and physical. After Thursday is completed I will be in the March 29th class at FLETC, this is by far the fastest I have ever seen a federal agency work. :D I have no prior corrections or LE experience, just 9 years active duty as a helicopter mech in the Army.

What was your NOR score?

[BP348]

I applied a couple weeks ago for a opening as a CO at the Honolulu FDC, today I went in for the pre-employment interview, got fingerprinted, did the panel interview afterwards, and Thursday is UA and physical. After Thursday is completed I will be in the March 29th class at FLETC, this is by far the fastest I have ever seen a federal agency work. :D I have no prior corrections or LE experience, just 9 years active duty as a helicopter mech in the Army.

Congrats on the position with BOP.

It takes a special breed to work corrections. Remember EVERYONE!!! you deal with is a felon.