Recommendations on how to proceed...

[Creepin]

Hi all, I got an email on Tuesday from BOP instructing me to log on and fill out the OF-5 form for an opening in NJ. I completed that immediately and the OF-5 provided further instructions to call HR at the institution during normal business hours to schedule an interview. I called and left a voicemail with Personnel first thing that morning and received a return call within 5 minutes. The person who returned the call was very helpful; she gave me the name and extension of the individual that I should contact directly and forwarded my voicemail to him as well as transferred me to his line where I left another voicemail. The OF-5 form stated that it must be returned by 5/16 but gave no time frame on when HR must be contacted for the interview (I assumed, i know, that it would be within the same time frame as the form was required to be returned).
I have called the HR specialist scheduling interviews three times since Tuesday morning at different times of the day but didn't leave messages; I don't want to come off as pushy but at the same time I want to follow up properly. Basically I'm not sure how hard I should be pursuing this. I fully realize that there are probably hundreds of others who are attempting to schedule interviews for the position during this same week, and I don't want to negatively affect my chances by coming off as impatient, but I also don't want to fall through the cracks.

[Michigan]

Can you show up in person? If it were me, I'd make sure I didn't fall through the cracks...

[Creepin]

Can you show up in person? If it were me, I'd make sure I didn't fall through the cracks...

I'm not sure, I've never gone through a hiring process for corrections before (only PDs). The institution is also located on a joint military base so I don't know how that would go over either...

That's exactly my worry. Thanks Michigan!

[Michigan]

There is a guy here named "Iowa***", I believe he retired from corrections. He'd probably be able to give you some good advice. I'm sure he'll make his way to this thread sooner or later.

[Iowa #1603]

Thanks for the hand off Michigan!

I don't have any BOP experience, but from talking to a whole bunch of them on here ("The Kansan" is BOP) I am pretty sure the pace of the hiring process at the BOP is about 10 times slower than the tortoise.

Their HR people are also notorious for not answering their phones or returning voice mails

(I assumed, i know, that it would be within the same time frame as the form was required to be returned).

You would have failed with that assumption. YOU have to return the OF-5 in a certain time frame. It gets graded and the folks at HR have coffee and donuts and think about you for a while then either contact you or finally answer your voicemail

One thing to remember when talking to HR folks ANYWHERE......if you dont' leave a voice mail----you didn't call.

The instructions were to contact HR for a interview-------------------since you have an extension----keep calling and KEEP LEAVING proof that you are calling



PM this guy
http://forums.officer.com/forums/mem...8023-TheKansan

or log into www.prisionofficer.org there are a lot of feds on that board

[Creepin]

You would have failed with that assumption. YOU have to return the OF-5 in a certain time frame. It gets graded and the folks at HR have coffee and donuts and think about you for a while then either contact you or finally answer your voicemail

Sorry, I was unclear; I meant that I only had until the 16th to successfully get in touch with HR otherwise I would be SOL, not that they had any duty to get back to me within any amount of time.

Point absolutely taken on the voicemail note. Thanks for the advice!

[Iowa #1603]

Sorry, I was unclear; I meant that I only had until the 16th to successfully get in touch with HR otherwise I would be SOL, not that they had any duty to get back to me within any amount of time.

Point absolutely taken on the voicemail note. Thanks for the advice!

Yea understand............but you did contact them and who ever handed you off to a voicemail number. So you DID contact them within a good time frame for the interview.

[Creepin]

Thanks Iowa and Michigan, got my call and interview date today.

[TheKansan]

Hi all, I got an email on Tuesday from BOP instructing me to log on and fill out the OF-5 form for an opening in NJ. I completed that immediately and the OF-5 provided further instructions to call HR at the institution during normal business hours to schedule an interview. I called and left a voicemail with Personnel first thing that morning and received a return call within 5 minutes. The person who returned the call was very helpful; she gave me the name and extension of the individual that I should contact directly and forwarded my voicemail to him as well as transferred me to his line where I left another voicemail. The OF-5 form stated that it must be returned by 5/16 but gave no time frame on when HR must be contacted for the interview (I assumed, i know, that it would be within the same time frame as the form was required to be returned).
I have called the HR specialist scheduling interviews three times since Tuesday morning at different times of the day but didn't leave messages; I don't want to come off as pushy but at the same time I want to follow up properly. Basically I'm not sure how hard I should be pursuing this. I fully realize that there are probably hundreds of others who are attempting to schedule interviews for the position during this same week, and I don't want to negatively affect my chances by coming off as impatient, but I also don't want to fall through the cracks.

Stay calm. Let me tell you how it worked for me. Way back in 2009 when I was going through the hiring process for the BOP.

I completed the OF-5 (Inquiry of availability) forms and submitted them. Approximately 1 month later, the HR rep at the institution called me and scheduled an interview. That's right, you do not call them to schedule an interview, they will call you when they are ready.

Keep in mind that they may be interviewing a couple hundred applicants, not just you, so they have to wait until they receive OF-5 forms from them all, and get approval to continue in the interview process.

Still the process for the BOP is much faster than almost any other federal LE agency. I know some guys who waited only 60 days from the time they applied, to their first day of IF.

[Creepin]

Thanks for the help all; I made it and IFT starts Monday!!

[Iowa #1603]

Congrats !!