DEA

I applied November of 2016 and have not heard a peep, except that they are now just testing Veterans first from that pool. I heard rumors that as of May offices could expect it to be another 18 months before anyone EODs...

Not sure on your other questions as to communication, but no PT requirements, likely a physical exam by a doctor prior to EOD but I think that would be after an conditional offer?

I have heard that it takes a few months to get the results of the written exam...

There are other threads on here where people have posted their timelines, some of the info is a little dated but I don't think HR has improved the process much so it is probably still accurate, in short, I think it typically takes up to two years from the time someone applies and the day they walk in the door as a IRS.

It is a waiting game for sure with these positions...

That is great that you have moved on to Phase 2 and the written exam, unsure if you have vet status or not, rumors were that they would be testing vets first, if you are not a vet then maybe they are through the vets and getting to the rest of us...

Interesting, and good news for the rest of us too! I have heard the test, especially the math, can be difficult.....I did confirm that they give you a calculator to use though.

For all of us that tested in the past few weeks, and those that have tested in the past, any one know how long it will be before we can expect some results?

Waiting a year to hear back about taking the entrance exam does not inspire confidence in the agency's process.

In the time they took to invite me to take their step 2 exam I interviewed with another agency that December, got a CJO that day, drug test in January, SF86 requested in February, security and poly interviews end of March, BI started end of April, BI concluded October. I am now waiting on adjudication and an EoD. I'm tempted to take the exam just to see if I'll be at a desk there by the time DEA gets around to grading it.

That's just bananas.

Edit to add: two years seems optimistic as a turnaround. If you apply in Nov 2016, test in Oct 2017, interview in Jan 2018 (if the three month wait to be scored is accurate) and start an SSBI without prior clearance in February (going through OPM for that) you're looking at getting clearance from OPM in around 500 days from Feb 2018, starting on the job in late 2019. Three years. And that assumes that they go from "slower than a short bus navigating an obstacle course made out of kittens" to "comparatively normal speed of process" after the interview.

That's a year longer than the FBI takes to onboard an actual agent, much less an intelligence specialist. I think most other agencies have a pillar to post of 12-18 months.

What that means is that by the time they get around to interviewing applicants, the ones most likely to be outstanding candidates will have left the process to take a job with another agency that isn't so slow to call dibs. Unless DEA is the only agency they applied to and they don't care how long it takes because it's the only job they want.

They're going to be left with applicants that didn't get offers from anyone else.

That's not good. They need to get their act together.

Edited by user Monday, October 30, 2017 7:25:11 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Did anyone else have TERRIBLE connectivity during the exam? This was not due to the Internet at my testing site but with the test itself. During the first portion of the test my screen timed out repeatedly; the proctor had to re-log me in to my test at least 7 times. I wonder if this has something to do with the the extension of the testing dates.

We did not experience any technical problems at my testing site (other than not having enough time to complete the math questions!!)

When I got the same email announcing the extension I wondered if they are having so many people not pass that they need more people in the pool, which should tell them maybe just maybe their process is a little flawed...

And yes, I think DEA should wake up and realize that when the process takes as long as it does people often have moved on, some quite literally and have already moved geographically and don't want to up and move again. I think some bosses and Agents realize the system is flawed but HR and the IRSs involved in the hiring process don't seem to want to change anything.

This process has taken so long I have actually accepted another job rather than wait around forever for this one, but I will still jump ship and take the job if offered, but like many I am not holding my breath! Especially after the exam!

Has anyone applied for the Diversion Investigator position and taken the test? thoughts?

sounds like we did just get an update, lol! But seriously thank you for the info, that does help. I also have not heard a peep since 10/20 when I took the test..