During the background process for my last agency I turned in a Personal History Statement (PHS) directly to a background investigator (BI). I was able to work with him and check to see what he wanted and how much he wanted to know. What does this question mean? etc.
Lately, for some of my recent attempts at getting hired, the agency has requested a PHS very early on in the process and sometimes it's part of the actual application process itself.
These PHSs have gone to nobody in particular or have even gone to non-sworn personnel rather than an actual BI. There is no particular BI to ask questions of or seek clarification something. If you have a question, you might get a BI to answer, but he/she may tell you something different than another BI might tell you a different day.
Of the agencies that have discontinued the process after receiving my PHS, one sent it back to me. I like this since that way I know it's not just floating around who knows where. I'm actually no sure what to do with it, since it had very specific questions other agencies don't ask and subjects I'd rather not get into.
Other agencies have kept the PHS with no indication of what they did with it, like filed it, destroyed it, or whatever.
It seems like some of these are simply reading the responses in the PHS and making a decision rather than actually conducting a background or asking for clarification on anything they don't like. I don't have any known "disqualifiers" in my background.
I've even had an oral board ask if they would find anything of concern IF they were to do a background. I felt like answering, "Well, pass me on this oral board, offer me employment and we'll both find out."
Is this all a new trend? Or has it been going on awhile since I have been out of the game?
Is anyone else uncomfortable with submitting very personal information to someone like a secretary or clerk (no offense), rather than to an actual BI?
What about PHSs from a decade ago from agencies where I wasn't hired? Do agencies keep these things around that long?
Anyway, just some thoughts for discussion. Sorry if any of this sounds rambling.
Lately, for some of my recent attempts at getting hired, the agency has requested a PHS very early on in the process and sometimes it's part of the actual application process itself.
These PHSs have gone to nobody in particular or have even gone to non-sworn personnel rather than an actual BI. There is no particular BI to ask questions of or seek clarification something. If you have a question, you might get a BI to answer, but he/she may tell you something different than another BI might tell you a different day.
Of the agencies that have discontinued the process after receiving my PHS, one sent it back to me. I like this since that way I know it's not just floating around who knows where. I'm actually no sure what to do with it, since it had very specific questions other agencies don't ask and subjects I'd rather not get into.
Other agencies have kept the PHS with no indication of what they did with it, like filed it, destroyed it, or whatever.
It seems like some of these are simply reading the responses in the PHS and making a decision rather than actually conducting a background or asking for clarification on anything they don't like. I don't have any known "disqualifiers" in my background.
I've even had an oral board ask if they would find anything of concern IF they were to do a background. I felt like answering, "Well, pass me on this oral board, offer me employment and we'll both find out."
Is this all a new trend? Or has it been going on awhile since I have been out of the game?
Is anyone else uncomfortable with submitting very personal information to someone like a secretary or clerk (no offense), rather than to an actual BI?
What about PHSs from a decade ago from agencies where I wasn't hired? Do agencies keep these things around that long?
Anyway, just some thoughts for discussion. Sorry if any of this sounds rambling.
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