Waiting to hear from TX agency

[Id_K-9]

Hi again guys,

At the first part of the year I flew from Idaho to Texas and completed a civil service exam for a small Texas agency (Athens, TX). After passing the written, I completed and passed the physical, and was placed on an eligibility list. I believe I was # 3. At the time they had one position open.

We were then asked to complete a background packet that was due March 11th, 2005. After turning it in, and several months passing without hearing anything, I decided to call. I was advised about a month ago that they were still working on the first person

[L-1]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but:

If there was only one vacancy, you are number three on the list and no one has contacted you in the past three months, odds are they are looking to hire one of the people ahead of you on the list.

In a small agency like that, backgrounds are usually done on an as-needed basis. They probably won't get to you until numbers one and two are no longer available (already hired, went elsewhere, got disqualified, etc.)

As a side note, you are at a distinct disadvantage being out of state. Backgrounds usually entail in-person contacts with your neighbors, employers, references, etc. A department that size is not likely to fly one of their officers to your hometown for a week to do your background. They just don't have that kind of money or manpower available. They may ask your local PD, SO or SP to help, but it's going to be a crapshoot if they have the personnel available either. In addition, I doubt an agency the size of Athens has three vacancies in a year. My best guess is that unless the Mayor or Chief is your brother in law, they will never get to you on the list before it expires.

You probebly need to start closer to home or with one of the large Texas agencies.

[Id_K-9]

Apparently I was not clear enough on what questions I had. I understand that being #3 on an eligibility list means that person #1, and #2 will be offered or go through the hiring process prior to me. Thats seems to be the point of having a ranking system.

I was also told that the backgrounds would be conducted on everyone that made the eligibility list, starting at the best score, and working their way downword.

It also appears that this agency does have 3 or more vacancies a year.

As far as the starting closer to home, thanks for the advice, but I am currently employed in Idaho. If I wasnt relocating to Texas, then I wouldnt be trying to find a job in Texas.

[Airforcop]

I can't see why it would take that long for a BI. I'm testing for one agency in S. Florida and they said 4-6 weeks max. Hell, I turned my BI paperwork in last Tues, and went in Wed morning for my poly and to talk to the BI person for a little bit. They already had a huge stack of paperwork on me. Started asking me if I knew this or that person. Apparently they put in all my addresses and pulled up every single person that lives near any of them. I guess as stated, it all depends on the resources the agency has at their disposal as to how quick, or how long a BI will take.