The time from announcing the position to the actual day the new hire shows up for work is unbelievably slooooooow. 6 months is the norm and if you need a higher security clearance, how about 9-10 (That’s OK if it keeps the knuckleheads from getting TS clearances.) Industry will hire you in much more quickly.
So, if you want to refresh the workforce with talented people or new college grads. This problem will exacerbate as time goes on unless the Fed does something to streamline the hiring process.
PM,
You are so right. If you ever hear back at all. I applied for a job in Navy contracts like 10 years ago. Still haven't heard anything...
And it took about 3-4 months to be turned down for a museum job in the Dept of Interior (iirc). It was the most detailed rejection letter I ever got- all sorts of charts and text describing why I wasn't going to be hired.
The only gubmint gig that you can start almost immediately is the military!
"The time from announcing the position to the actual day the new hire shows up for work is unbelievably slooooooow."
That tells me that the position is not necessary and we could get by with not filling it.