My first question was about the actual application process. When applying, is there any advice you would say that would help better my chances? Just general, resume and what information I should include while submitting?
APPLICANT POOLS
POOL 1 - All U.S. Citizens who also meet the following Pool 1 eligibility criteria:
Applicants MUST meet one of the following criteria (1, 2, OR 3) listed below in order to be eligible for consideration in Pool 1.
1. A graduate from an institution participating in the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program and who has received from the institution an appropriate recommendation.
2. A veteran eligible for a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) pursuant to section 4214 of Title 38 and can provide a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty within 120 days from the announcement closing.
3. An eligible veteran maintaining aviation experience obtained in the course of your military experience and/or entitled to veterans' preference (must meet eligibility requirements in section 2108 of Title 5, Unites States Code).
Applicants eligible for Pool 1 will not take the Biographical Assessment (BA) unless they voluntarily elect to be considered in Pool 2.
POOL 2 - All U.S. Citizens
Pool 2 applicants are all other U.S. Citizens not meeting the requirements for Pool 1 and will be required to complete and pass the BA at the time of application to receive further consideration.
Pool 2 applicants do not have an option to elect to be considered for Pool 1.
Applicants who applied to FAA-AMC-14-ALLSRCE-33537 vacancy announcement (issued on February 10, 2014), and were found disqualified from the position as the result of the BA but do not meet one of the above mentioned Pool 1 criteria (1, 2 or 3) will be required to take the BA and will not be eligible to elect consideration in Pool 1.
Biographical Assessment (BA) Exemptions
During the application process, you will be directed to either bypass the BA or complete the BA based upon your Applicant Pool election and/or the following:
- You may qualify in 1 of the following 5 ways:
- TO QUALIFY BASED ON PROGRESSIVELY RESPONSIBLE WORK EXPERIENCE: applicants must document 3 years of full time (40 hours per week) progressively responsible experience. Most types of paid or unpaid employment will provide progressively responsible experience as the individual doing the work learns about the organization, gains knowledge about the work, and demonstrates responsibility. OR
- TO QUALIFY BASED UPON EDUCATION: applicants must document a full 4-year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree. Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If qualifying based on education, applicants must submit a copy of the transcript which includes the name of the institution, quarter or semester hours earned and/or confer date. OR
- TO QUALIFY BASED UPON THE COMBINATION OF BOTH WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: The applicant's total qualifying experience is converted to a percentage of the experience required then the applicant's education is converted to a percentage of the education required. The combined percentages must equal 100%. At the undergraduate level, successfully completed education that has not led to possession of a degree is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school. OR
- TO QUALIFY BASED ON SPECIALIZED WORK EXPERIENCE AS AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST: applicants qualifying based on specialized experience must provide supporting documentation that verifies that this requirement has been met (e.g., FAA certificate, military certificate or training record). OR
- TO QUALIFY BASED ON ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENTS: applicants must provide supporting documentation that verifies at least one of the following alternative requirements being met: a. Do you hold or have held an appropriate facility rating and have actively controlled air traffic in civilian or military air traffic control terminals or centers? b. Do you hold or have held an FAA certificate as a dispatcher for an air carrier? c. Do you hold or have held an instrument flight rating? d. Do you hold or have held an FAA certificate as a navigator or have been fully qualified as a Navigator/Bombardier in the Armed Forces? e. Do you have 350 hours of flight time as a copilot or higher and hold or have held a private certificate or equivalent Armed Forces rating? f. Have you served as a rated Aerospace Defense Command Intercept Director?
- Successful candidates must be able to speak English clearly enough to be understood over radios, intercoms, and similar communications equipment.
- As a new ATCS, you will spend your first several weeks of employment in an intensive training program at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, OK. While attending academy training you will be on a temporary appointment. Academy students receive basic air traffic control training at the FAA Academy, which includes:
- Complete occupational indoctrination including highlights of Federal employment, familiarization with organizational structure & functions, aircraft, air traffic control system, & aviation industry, classroom instruction & workshop exercises relating to air traffic control system.
- Individuals who do not successfully complete training at the FAA Academy and all other necessary requirements will have their employment terminated.
- Prior failure of FAA Academy training or prior declination of permanent facility placement offer after completing Academy training may constitute a basis for non-selection and/or veterans' preference pass over.
- Upon successful completion of the Academy initial training program & other employment requirements, newly hired ATCS's will be offered a permanent appointment at an FAA facility with a basic salary of $38,193, plus applicable locality pay based on facility assignment. Applicants with prior ATC experience will have their salary set in accordance with the ATCS Collective Bargaining Agreement, upon conversion.
- ATCS's will be paid long term expense rate (per diem) for Oklahoma City, OK to help offset daily cost of living while attending FAA Academy. FAA will pay for cost of travel in accordance with applicable agency policies.
- As an ATCS you will receive pay increases as you successfully complete the progressive phases of controller training at your assigned facility. The FAA has Air Traffic Control Facilities in every state as well as Puerto Rico, The U. S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. This announcement is open to those applicants willing to work at any FAA Air Traffic Control Facility. Applicant geographic area preferences are for informational purposes only and will not be used in the selection process; however, preferences may be considered at time of placement. Facility placements will be finalized the day following successful completion of Academy training. Declining to select a facility from the list of available facilities will result in termination of employment, as placement will be based upon the needs of the FAA.
If I were selected and made it through training, would they give you a notice before sending you to your new home?
(You find out quite literally the day after you pass PA's or if it is on a Friday, the next "work day") How early would you be given a chance to find housing and establish a life, essentially?
(You receive per the Slate book 64 hours COS (Change of Station) leave to get your affairs in order) I just want to make sure all of my financial and physical arrangements are in order so I would be ready to go when the time comes.
