Are youuuuu my AC?

[Gigio]

I've read several posts about why to contact your AC, when to do it, how many times to do it, whether or not people have heard back, etc. I'm in the BI phase for an IA position with FBI HQ and I don't have an AC, so a couple of days ago I decided to try to find one. I read that one would be assigned to me in my conditional offer letter, but I don't have a piece of paper yet - just a telephone call. Sooo...

I called the general number for FBI HQ, who connected me to staffing, who said I needed to talk to the field office I was processing out of (which one is that? I dunno) so she gave me the general numbers for the Baltimore and DC field offices. So I called each, gave each my story - I'm in background, blah blah blah. Seemed like I might be getting somewhere with DC; but then, the woman transferred me to someone's voicemail... couldn't understand her name. I hung up and called back, told the guy who answered that I'd been transferred to someone's voicemail blah, blah, blah. He transferred me. To the same voicemail. ;) Heheh. So I left a message.

Then I called the Baltimore field office and gave them the same story. This time I talked to someone, who gave me the name of someone who would be my AC if I'm processing out of the Baltimore office. (Still don't know if I am.) But I didn't care. I was happy. I had a name. But then she said the woman wasn't in and that in general, they preferred that candidates in background wait at least five months from the date of their poly to inquire about their status. ;)

So, my questions are: 1) Are there other people out there without AC's? and 2) Has anyone else been asked to wait 5 months? Seems like time enough to lose an application without anyone being any the wiser...

Please, no one jump on me. I'm not complaining. I know "these things take time," as the commercial goes. Not upset at all. It's just that the latest OIG report, mixed with what I've read on the forum, indicate that admin may be a bit overwhelmed at the moment and that can lead to errors. So, I'd like to be able to check in every once in a while just to make sure my file doesn't slip. Thanks for any input.

[cpwclarke]

Luke, I am your AC!

Sorry, couldn't resist. Your story is kind of funny and you seem to be handling the confusion well.

Good luck tracking down your AC. Hopefully someone on the board can help.

[Gigio]

ha! that was good :)

[tdstolz]

Hello, everyone. I have an AC question, too.

I spoke with my contact in the Milwaukee FO yesterday. During our conversation, she asked if I had an "analyst" at HQ, i.e., a contact or AC. The only contact I have at HQ is the HR person with whom I was in contact as far as travel plans to DC were concerned. My CO was verbal--no letter--and I was told that most COs are now verbal (final offers are letters, of course). I never received any word as far as having an "analyst" or an AC goes. Should I have? Or is this something I find out when my case hits HQ and goes into adjudication? When I told her that I did not have an AC, she said that HQ handles things differently and was not concerned. My BI is moving along, at any rate.

So should I have an AC at this stage? Am I missing something?

Thanks!

Yours,
Travis

[scraggler01]

Honestly Ive had contact with about four diffrent people during this process. I think when others refer to the AC, they are refering to the contact in the FO you are interviewing out of or processing out of. At least thats what I get. That person for me has been the easiest and most avaliable contact so far. As far as an analyst, maybe someone else can clear that up. If not call that person back and ask them. I have found it pretty easy to get phone numbers when you have a name. The first time I called I thought they would say something like, "You cant talk to them", or "how did you get this number." But all in all every one has been pretty easy to contact, just not as good sometimes on the call back.

[Clem]

I agree. If I have an applicant coordinator that person seems to be the agent in the FO that has been working with me to set up panel interview, polygraph, etc. I have had contact with other people, but only in passing. I had to contact someone once for additional information, and I had no trouble in getting someone to return my call.

[JCMC219]

My experience was similar to what several of you have already mentioned in other posts to this thread. I was originally contacted by an SSG to ask if I was interested in beginning the application process. When I said yes, he told me to go online and download the application packet, start working on it, and wait about a week for him to call me back (which he did). After those two initial calls, all follow-up was done through a Human Resources Specialist in the field office where my application is being processed. At first I wasn't sure if this HR Specialist was my AC, so I just came out and asked her directly. She told me that she was not "technically" my AC, but that I should/could contact her with any inquiries. Ok...I wasn't about to question this, so for all intents and purposes, she has been handling my application and fielding my questions. I might add that she has been extremely helpful and professional in all aspects. Now I just wish she'd contact me with the ONE important call that I'm REALLY waiting for! :) The waiting is KILLING me!

[MTIrishgirl]

Gigio, I understand your pain. Although I lived in MD, I thought I would process out of DC since that was the closer office (20 miles vs. 60). However, since I lived in MD, I had to process out of Baltimore. I received a CO which had my AC's info in it but that was after I'd been to Baltimore for the PPP and met with another AC (the one who initially called me but apparently wasn't my "official" AC). You'll find that you'll deal with a lot of people during this process. I was fortunate to finally find someone in HQ who was extremely helpful especially at the end. Good luck.

[Chimaera32]

Greetings all:
All information below relates to my IA application at FBI.

I was sent a packet out of the blue in 12/2004 and called from DC, a week or so later, to verify my interest and remind me to send in the completed BI packet ASAP (first contact with HR person). After that an agent at the field office called me in for my PSI (second contact). Then another agent regarding this portion of my BI (neighbors, co-workers, etc…third contact). Polygraph several weeks ago was another agent at the FO (Fourth). And lastly, I was directed by my second contact to call a FO HR person as I had some questions pertaining to the hiring process…she said she would call me regarding any decision DC makes on my file as she thinks the BI is wrapping-up.

I never had someone who said “I am your AC” nor did I ever get a CO in writing (kind-of weird…though I was told it should have gone out). Just the other day I found out this was for DC. But no complaints, I bet they are busting their collective tails to make some hiring increases as well as their regular every day responsibilities.

[Clem]

Grad Guy, I have had my panel interview and got called this week to take poly, etc. for an IA position. The person who called me from HQ was not sure if I would get a CO or not. She said that some FOs have stopped issuing them. It sounded like it didn't matter to the FBI if applicants get them or not anymore. I don't really care if I actually receive one or not. To my way of thinking, a CO doesn't mean much.

[Chimaera32]

I didn't even get an interview. I think its all or nothing after my file gets sent to DC
Best
GG

[tdstolz]

Dear GradGuy et al.,

I may be incorrect, but I do not think interviews are mandatory for federal jobs. The hiring process for SAs is a bit different, of course. But I do not think interviews for professional support (e.g., IAs) are a given. In other words, one does not necessarily have to have an interview in order to become an IA.

For what it's worth,
Travis

[BuMan]

Dear GradGuy et al.,

I may be incorrect, but I do not think interviews are mandatory for federal jobs. The hiring process for SAs is a bit different, of course. But I do not think interviews for professional support (e.g., IAs) are a given. In other words, one does not necessarily have to have an interview in order to become an IA.

For what it's worth,
Travis

Interviews are NOT a requirement for hiring in the federal government, however, due to the wide range of offices who are hiring IAs, both at HQ and the field, the FBI's Directorate of Intelligence has been conducting panel interviews to verify competencies to provide selecting offices a bit more of a matrix for selection purposes. They are trying, at least, to put the round peg in the round hole. That's not to say that someone could slip through the process without a panel interview - it may be entirely likely that it has happened on more than one occassion, but that is the norm for IA hiring in FY 05.