Thread: IRS-CI & Pre-Training Mentors

I just thought I'd check and see how many people who have TO's for IRS-CI GS-9 have received phone calls from their pre-training mentor. I know I have seen a couple of posts mentioning mentors.

I finally received the call yesterday, although I was unable to answer at the time. The agent (a supervisor) wanted to confirm my address and email so she could send me some information ASAP. Unfortunately, she is out of the office until Monday, so other than leaving a message for her, I haven't been able to reach her. I was just wondering what might be in that "package." I figure its too early to be getting my wish list for cities, but what else could it be.

Also, for everyone who has already heard from a mentor, how far away from you are they? At first, an agent here in my city told me her supervisor would be my mentor, but that changed recently due to workload. The agent then emailed me regarding the change of mentors, after which I received the call. But my new mentor is about two hours driving distance away from me. I didn't know if that made a difference, as I'm not clear on whether you ever really meet up with them or if you just communicate via phone and email with them.

kwates48-

Thanks for the info. Now, you have caused me to check my phone messages at home every 5 minutes. You will have to let us know what your mentor sends you.

I have met my mentor. I have been fortunate that my mentor is located in the city I live in so we were able to meet face to face.

kwates48,

I spoke to my mentor, but like you, my mentor is several hours away, so we'll probably never meet. Let us know what you receive in the mail from your mentor.

With the election over, hopefully the budget will start moving along again, and we'll get some updates soon.

Yes, I've been trying to get in touch with my mentor. I was told ahead of time by an agent I've known for the past year that she would be my mentor. Anyway, I was out of town on an audit yesterday when she called. Too bad for me I was in a small room with my co-workers and my phone rang. I knew from the area code that it was probably my mentor, but I couldn't just answer it right then and there. I waited an hour or so and checked the message, and sure enough it was her. It sucks I can't talk to her until Monday. She said on the message that she wanted to confirm my address to send me some information. Now I have to sit around anxiously all weekend until I can talk to her on Monday. Just my luck.

[QUOTE=kwates48]Too bad for me I was in a small room with my co-workers and my phone rang. I knew from the area code that it was probably my mentor, but I couldn't just answer it right then and there. QUOTE]

You have to love the audit room set up: small room, 3 to 5 auditors sharing one table, you can't go anywhere for a personal conversation because your at the client site... I feel for ya Kwates...........

I've talked to my mentor a few times. She's at least 3 hours away. She was able to answer some questions. Most of which are on the board. She hasn't mentioned a package to send me, so I'd be interested in knowing the type of info you receive, if you don’t mind sharing.

What? All you guys have been assigned mentors? Hmmm, when did this happen??? I still have not been assigned a mentor, but maybe that is because the jury is still out on my medical stuff. Suddenly it feels like I am behind all you guys!

Originally Posted by birchauto

What? All you guys have been assigned mentors? Hmmm, when did this happen??? I still have not been assigned a mentor, but maybe that is because the jury is still out on my medical stuff. Suddenly it feels like I am behind all you guys!

I was contacted at the end of September by my pre-employment mentor.

Well, I have been told I was assigned a mentor but have not been contacted by anyone yet. Aside from finding out my medical cleared I have not heard anything offical since I received my offer in the mail months ago. I guess that is what the mentor is for so until that happens I'll just listen to what you all have to say.

Originally Posted by birchauto

What? All you guys have been assigned mentors? Hmmm, when did this happen??? I still have not been assigned a mentor, but maybe that is because the jury is still out on my medical stuff. Suddenly it feels like I am behind all you guys!

I spoke to my mentor in October, but I was told that everything right now is just guesswork and we won't get any definitive information until the budget is approved.

Unless you have been told you failed your medical for good, your mentor can still contact you. The jury is still out on my medical, but my mentor called me last week to speak with me. By the way, the package I received from her had nothing to do with POD's. It was basically a package of information that didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know from the boards or my own research. It cleared up things like what the IRS would pay to move you and your family, when they would send you the POD listing, how FLETC works particularly for IRS-CI, etc. There were a few things I didn't really know, but I got all worked up for nothing. At least my mentor had contacted me though.

So kwates, what does it saying regarding when the will send the POD list?

Originally Posted by kwates48

It cleared up things like what the IRS would pay to move you and your family, when they would send you the POD listing,

So kwates48, what specifically does the packet say regarding when the POD list is sent out and what the IRS will pay for the move? I know some people were questioning the specifics about the relocation costs. Does the packet mention any of this?

There were no specifics on the POD list, other than my mentor will pass it along when it is made available to her. It doesn't say when that will be.

As far as relocation costs, the IRS looks out more for its current employees. So if you're within the IRS already and moving to CI, they pay for a whole lot of expenses that aren't covered for new-comers. I don't have the packet with me right now, but I know a few of the basic things they mentioned about relocation. For new-comers, they will pay travel expenses for you and your family. They'll also cover the actual moving expense as far as getting trucks or movers. It doesn't mention a limit on that, but I suppose they probably limit it to some reasonable amount. They also pay for storage if you need it for a certain period of time and they will also pay for temporary housing. There were no real specifics on these things, but I'm sure there is more to it than they mentioned. The package said a number of new employees typically packed their possessions and had them stored until training was over and then moved to their new POD. The package had a lot of information, but I honestly think most of it is already out somewhere on the boards, so its not anything really special. I am glad that my mentor sent it to me though. It gives me some sense of progress, even though I know it'll be a long time before I get to GLYNCO (if I ever make it there.)

Kwates, could you post your timeline? When you applied, when you received the TO, when the medical started/cleared, and when the BI began, etc. I think you might be ahead of some of us so I'm just curious.