Hi, I receive a final offer for the investigator position at the GS7 level. It would be my first government job as I come from the private sector. No prior investigative background. The process was extremely fast, which is kind of a red flag.
I’m intrigued by the position and like the freedom to work as I want and not having to be at the office. I also guess that it would be easier to trade to other o government jobs from the inside.
At the same time from what I’ve read, I see some red flags about expectations regarding workload. Also micromanagement at some locations.
My main issue is that I was chosen for a remote location 2 hours away from a major city. That’s the biggest downside. Although I accepted the offer I’m not sure if it’s better to take the training and quit, so if a better location comes up I can apply having the training and the clearance, or be upfront and just reject the offer because the location is just awful (at least for me).
Any insights on my situation, the current state of the agency and the job would be highly appreciated!
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I cant comment on the specific position but you are correct in that you have gotten your foot in the door with federal employment. Any time you spend there will count toward service at another agency.
You should also get your background investigation-- I don’t think technically you get a “clearance” but that investigation should allow you to get cleared at another agency should you choose to move.
Probably opportunities to go TDY to other areas from what I’ve heard. As far as your first location not being somewhere you like, did they offer relocation assistance? Most government positions do not offer relocation for your first move, but if you relocate to a new position you will probably get relocation assistance.
But is a DCSA background investigator considered a “special agent?” I thought that title was for 1811 criminal investigator types… what’s a background investigator, 1801? 1810? Not that the title makes a huge difference, but the criminal investigator training is a sought-after credential.
Good Luck!
Investigator is now called special agent at least that’s the official title they give you. 1810 is the code for the position.
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Also, I though Federal Investigator types were always referred to as Speical Agents? At least all the ones I knew told me that, and would tease me that the gold seemed to have rubbed off my badge! 
Congrats! Federal employment is sweet so learn the ins and out and if you don’t like something transfer.
Just curious are you a veteran? I was prospected for this position, but was pretty much told good luck if I am not a person with any type of preference.
Not a veteran and the process was super fast. I guess that the location is awful so they took the first person to apply for it. I’ll do the training and if I don’t like the location I’ll just quit and go back to my old job.
Good luck. I wonder if they have the same year of service requirement contractors do to cover the cost of the BI.
Nope that doesn’t exist. At least on my offer not.
That remote location must be awful for you to make the cut with no investigate experience. I’m in a big city and sat in multiple hiring panels. People with no investigations experience don’t make it pass the resume review round as they lied their way through the KSA.
I mean I do have experience in investigations, 20 years, just other type. But yes the location at least for my is awful.
If your single with no kids do it. You can always transfer later.
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Do you know how easy or hard is to transfer?
As someone who was interested in becoming a DCSA SA/BI after graduating next year, is it safe to assume I’d be SOL then since I don’t have ‘investigative’ experience? I have 5 years of overall work experience with two years as a Department of State intern. Just curious, because when looking into the position they market it as “entry level” so I’d hope that not having investigative experience won’t sink my chances.
You could get hired by a contractor (CACI, Peraton, etc) in an instant. Being a fed might take more work.
Hi ow does the Fed pay work. You move once a year from 7 to 9 to 11 to 12? And then the steps?
This can vary from agency to agency. Last I heard (and this was a while back) investigators do move up the ladder but I do not know at what point the promotions become “competitive” or you have to move into a supervisory role.
You get a step increase every year up to step 4, then every two years up to step 7, after that every three years. If you get a promotion, they use the “two step rule” so if you are a GS-7 step 3 (for example) and get promoted to 9, they look at GS-7 step 5 and you get the lowest GS-9 step that is equal to or greater.
I did know a guy who started out with DIS then DSS and then OPM so he had been doing it for a long time and I think he was only a GS-10. But again that was a few years ago. Way back when they started out as GS-5 but moved up the ladder every year.
Hopefully someone else with current DCSA experience will correct as needed
Ladder 7,9,11, and 12. 13 is the supervisor.
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Depends on where you want to transfer. Losing supervisor and gaining supervisor have to sign off. I had no issues transferring to my current location took maybe 2 months. But I had another coworker who had to wait 1 year 1/2 because location he wanted was full.
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I want Miami, Broward, Palm Beach…Got TX
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