Hiring Bid Air Traffic Control Specialist - Trainee: FAA-ATO-18-ALLSRCE-57792

[atc88]

First time posting here...
I don't qualify to apply this year, but next year I will, and I have a couple of questions (assuming there is another bid around this time next year and assuming everything stays the same):

1. If I have at least 120 credit hours but no degree yet, I think I will still be able to check the box marked "I have 4 years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree or I have a Bachelor's degree" because they later define "year" as 30 semester hours. Is that correct? I will have 4 "years" of study, but I will have only been in college for 3 actual years.

2. If I can check that box, should I also say yes to the question asking about a combination of experience and education?

3. If I will have taken a course about Aviation Meteorology at my non-CTI school, I think I will be able to say that I have "aviation related education," as the curriculum of that class is aviation-specific and it will be considered an 'elective' for me (i.e. not part of my degree requirements). Would I also be able to check the box under the question about CTI degrees marked, "No, but I have aviation related education from a non-CTI affiliated school" considering I answered yes to the above question?

4. Does it matter whether you upload an official or unofficial transcript?

5. Is it recommended to upload your own resume in addition to the USA Jobs one, or do they only want the USA Jobs one?

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any info you can give!

 

[SwampDonkey]

When I applied in 2015 my USAJobs created resume did not include the day either and I was hired. I just applied without the day again. Call me a risk taker or thrill seeker.

Im confused....you were hired and now you're applying again? Did you not get a TOL?

 

[J-one-s]

I did notice that and I saw they were making emphasis on the fact that they need the full date even though USA Jobs resume builder doesn't allow you to put it. But they also strongly recommend to use the resume builder, to be on the safe side just put it on the description or upload your own resume, just make sure it has everything they ask, guide yourself with the resume builder template. Good luck!

It is a good idea to specify days, but I just want to put anyone at ease of you did not. I've known plenty of people who didn't specify exact dates and they got in with no problems. I do know that they calculate your weekly hours at every job to figure out your total work experience.

If you fall right on the edge of work experience or combo of college/work experience, and you didn't specify exact dates, then I would probably be a LITTLE more worried. But what's done is done. Either way, I think there's other important things in store for you to be more worried about.

 

[ZuluSierra]

I'm a former CPC. If I get picked up on this bid, do I come in at the CPC pay grade or do I start from the bottom again?

 

[MJ]

I'm a former CPC. If I get picked up on this bid, do I come in at the CPC pay grade or do I start from the bottom again?

CPC4Lyfe

 

[Stinger]

CPC4Lyfe

 

[mAiTaInVFRaToRbElOw]

Im confused....you were hired and now you're applying again? Did you not get a TOL?

Nope, I got hired, certified, life stuff... resigned, applied again.

 

[cbkmom]

Can anyone tell me how you see your AT SA score?

 

[MJ]

Can anyone tell me how you see your AT SA score?

you will never see it

 

[TheeThor]

Anyone got info on how many people they plan to hire for this bid? Or any other insider info like planned schedule or anything... . Ive seen some impatient people in these posts, and I'm about to top them all

 

[Southern]

Anyone got info on how many people they plan to hire for this bid? Or any other insider info like planned schedule or anything... . Ive seen some impatient people in these posts, and I'm about to top them all

Trust me when I say you'll probably never be the most impatient person this bid or otherwise. I'm sure @MJ could pull the number if you ask nicely

 

[GulfBravoPapa]

Anyone got info on how many people they plan to hire for this bid? Or any other insider info like planned schedule or anything... . Ive seen some impatient people in these posts, and I'm about to top them all

Info I've heard:
6,825 total applicants.
2017 had 11,716 applicants, 5,383 were qualified, 4,528 were referred. 3,058 took the ATSA. Hiring goal was 1701 and thus far 1786 have been hired.

Hiring goal for FY19 is 1,431.

5 applicants remain from FY14, 25 from FY15, 452 from FY16 and 445 from FY17.

 

[TheeThor]

Info I've heard:
6,825 total applicants.
2017 had 11,716 applicants, 5,383 were qualified, 4,528 were referred. 3,058 took the ATSA. Hiring goal was 1701 and thus far 1786 have been hired.

Hiring goal for FY19 is 1,431.

5 applicants remain from FY14, 25 from FY15, 452 from FY16 and 445 from FY17.

Does that mean the remaining applicants from the previous years would be taken into consideration first and count towards for the FY19 hiring goal?

That's a great breakdown of numbers. Much appreciated!

 

[OCHawgy]

Medical/Vision question

The OPM site says that a vision prescription of greater than plus/minus 5.50 spherical diopters is disqualifying.
One of my eyes has a script of -6.25 spherical (the other is only -4.50).

What has people's experience been with the medical exam? Do they do a full exam and determine prescription or do they just test corrected vision? Am I totally screwed if just one eye is out of the limit? Should I get LASIK before I do the medical?

Just make sure you answer your forms truthfully as you go along.

 

[yup]

Just make sure you answer your forms truthfully as you go along.

I see you list an eye exam in your signature. Did they ever test or ask for your prescription or did they just test corrected vision?

 

[J-one-s]

Does that mean the remaining applicants from the previous years would be taken into consideration first and count towards for the FY19 hiring goal?

That's a great breakdown of numbers. Much appreciated!

Ahhh rdeethor, so optimistic and native. You have much to learn, grasshopper.

But no, it doesn't make a single bit of difference. That '17 bid is gone and closed. The moment the FAA updated everyone's status to "not hired" there's no going back to selecting from it, or basing '18s bid applicants/selectees off of it. But I'm right there with you, wishing they did.

 

[OCHawgy]

I see you list an eye exam in your signature. Did they ever test or ask for your prescription or did they just test corrected vision?

I disclosed that I was diagnosed with pterygium on my 'preemployment interview worksheet', which is why I was tagged with a full eye exam after my physical. This is a sheet you will fill out when you schedule your physical. My answer was in reference to the question,

"Do you have or ever had any medical conditions? All historical and current. List all diagnoses with dates." Unless you have a medical condition that resulted in your poor vision, I wouldn't consider bad vision a medical condition IMO--but I am not a doctor.

The same worksheet also has a section stating: "Please list all medications with dosages, routes, and frequency: List all historical and current prescriptions, including over the counter (OTC) with dates." Again, IMO this is reference to drugs, not prescription glasses since the check boxes are "Yes" and "NO Medications."

There is another questionnaire you fill out on FAA MedXPress after you make your appointment with the AME but prior to the appointment--the FAA Form 8500-8. There is a section in medical history that asks, "Have you ever in your life been diagnosed with, had, or do you presently have any of the following?....d. Eye or vision trouble except glasses, For example: Unusual visual experiences (Halos, wavy lines, etc.), sensitivity to light, eye injury, loss of vision, vision discomfort, eye surgery."

The next section covers medical visits. "Have you visited any health professionals within the last 3 years?" It requires you to list "all visits to any health professionals (sych as physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, chiropractor, clinical social worker, or substance abuse specialist, including an EAP employer-sponsored specialist) for treatment, examination, or medical/mental evaluation."


Hope this helps. In recap, you have the preemployment interview worksheet with a medical condition block and a prescription block. Then you have the pre-physical FAA Form 8500-8 that has the medical history section with the one question about vision, and the medical visit section.

 

[TheeThor]

Ahhh rdeethor, so optimistic and native. You have much to learn, grasshopper.

But no, it doesn't make a single bit of difference. That '17 bid is gone and closed. The moment the FAA updated everyone's status to "not hired" there's no going back to selecting from it, or basing '18s bid applicants/selectees off of it. But I'm right there with you, wishing they did.

Definitely optimistic and naïve even after reading tons of posts from the previous bid haha, its the best I can do. But this is actually my first time applying. I was just wondering if the chances would get more slim with previous applicants left pending from previous years. But good luck to you if you are going after it again.

 

[Muckstic]

Info I've heard:
6,825 total applicants.
2017 had 11,716 applicants, 5,383 were qualified, 4,528 were referred. 3,058 took the ATSA. Hiring goal was 1701 and thus far 1786 have been hired.

Hiring goal for FY19 is 1,431.

5 applicants remain from FY14, 25 from FY15, 452 from FY16 and 445 from FY17.

This kind of information is amazing. You are the best.
Any idea how many of those applicants from the previous bids are tier II?

 

[F5awp]

I disclosed that I was diagnosed with pterygium on my 'preemployment interview worksheet', which is why I was tagged with a full eye exam after my physical. This is a sheet you will fill out when you schedule your physical. My answer was in reference to the question,

"Do you have or ever had any medical conditions? All historical and current. List all diagnoses with dates." Unless you have a medical condition that resulted in your poor vision, I wouldn't consider bad vision a medical condition IMO--but I am not a doctor.

The same worksheet also has a section stating: "Please list all medications with dosages, routes, and frequency: List all historical and current prescriptions, including over the counter (OTC) with dates." Again, IMO this is reference to drugs, not prescription glasses since the check boxes are "Yes" and "NO Medications."

There is another questionnaire you fill out on FAA MedXPress after you make your appointment with the AME but prior to the appointment--the FAA Form 8500-8. There is a section in medical history that asks, "Have you ever in your life been diagnosed with, had, or do you presently have any of the following?....d. Eye or vision trouble except glasses, For example: Unusual visual experiences (Halos, wavy lines, etc.), sensitivity to light, eye injury, loss of vision, vision discomfort, eye surgery."

The next section covers medical visits. "Have you visited any health professionals within the last 3 years?" It requires you to list "all visits to any health professionals (sych as physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, chiropractor, clinical social worker, or substance abuse specialist, including an EAP employer-sponsored specialist) for treatment, examination, or medical/mental evaluation."


Hope this helps. In recap, you have the preemployment interview worksheet with a medical condition block and a prescription block. Then you have the pre-physical FAA Form 8500-8 that has the medical history section with the one question about vision, and the medical visit section.

Of course, it's best to be transparent about everything, but how accurate do you have to be with this? Like, if someone forgot to include a doctor visit here or there, would they even know?