The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

by **Guest** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:55 am

JoeMama wrote:I was told last summer during my internship that the hiring freeze did not apply to SMART participants. I am set to start working in June and my facility has already started to initiate the hiring process. It is possible that people in charge of hiring are not aware of this exception and simply having them contact the SPO could resolve any issues.

Those exceptions are not DoD-wide. They are particular to the SF or command which selected you.

by **madashell** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:54 pm

JoeMama wrote:I was told last summer during my internship that the hiring freeze did not apply to SMART participants. I am set to start working in June and my facility has already started to initiate the hiring process. It is possible that people in charge of hiring are not aware of this exception and simply having them contact the SPO could resolve any issues.

I am supposed to start in June also, but my facility doesn't know what they are going to do with the SMART
interns. I am at an AIr Force facility. I am curious what branch of the armed services you are at ?

by **JoeMama** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 2:35 pm

I was told last summer during my internship that the hiring freeze did not apply to SMART participants. I am set to start working in June and my facility has already started to initiate the hiring process. It is possible that people in charge of hiring are not aware of this exception and simply having them contact the SPO could resolve any issues.

by **Guest** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 1:10 pm

Jess000 wrote:I am also interested in knowing the details of how you were able to be released from the program with the hiring freeze. How many months did you have to go without any payments? I am just scared because I am trying to finding housing now and I have started to make some commitments in the area.

First rule: don't make commitments to the area until you have a signed job offer. I believe this instruction is in the SMART handbook.

I moved home with my parents while I waited for the government to decide what to do with me. Don't sign apartment leases or move your stuff any considerable distance. The hiring freeze in my case was for real, and the DoD did not budge when SMART asked them to hire me.

Many facilities just need to be reminded of their commitment and they can work an exception to the hiring freeze. Chances are you will be hired. But again, SMART cautions you to not make any arrangements without having a signed job offer from your SF. Do not plan on getting hired until the ink on the paper has dried.

by **Jess000** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:55 am

I am also interested in knowing the details of how you were able to be released from the program with the hiring freeze. How many months did you have to go without any payments? I am just scared because I am trying to finding housing now and I have started to make some commitments in the area.

by **guest18** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:41 pm

I got hired by AF during a hiring freeze in 2011. I contacted SMART about it and they paid me until I was hired on. The AF liaison (Ed Bujon) made sure that the pay continued. If your office won't talk to smart contact the liaison and they should get things done.

by **Guest** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:39 pm

email me for details

by **Bob1987** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:15 pm

How long did it take for you to be "released" from the program, and what was the basic process?

by **Guest** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:10 pm

Bob1987 wrote:I see what you're saying, but the timing really sucks.

I've already settled into the area with an apartment, and my girlfriend has started her masters/work so it'd be difficult to move to some other area of the DoD. I'm hoping for some answers this week, but I'll be starting to send out resumes to be on the safe side.

Good luck. The hiring freeze ultimately caused me to be released from the program with no obligation to repay. I don't know how common my scenario is, as mine was a perfect storm of several government "issues" all combining.

by **Bob1987** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:05 pm

I see what you're saying, but the timing really sucks.

I've already settled into the area with an apartment, and my girlfriend has started her masters/work so it'd be difficult to move to some other area of the DoD. I'm hoping for some answers this week, but I'll be starting to send out resumes to be on the safe side.

by **Guest** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:59 pm

Bob1987 wrote:Navy. Naval Sea Systems Command.

My SF is one of the naval shipyards, but I'd rather not specify the exact one on here.

My advice is to ask your SF to piss or get off the pot. Ask your HR specialist who will be hiring you to give you a definition of your status. If there are no plans to hire you, ask them to send it to you in writing so the SMART program can move onto the next steps (placement outside NSSC, but within DoD) due to the hiring freeze.

Don't be held captive by your mentor. My mentor REALLY wanted me to get hired, but the base commander was unwilling to hire me and he had the last say on the issue.

by **Bob1987** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:46 pm

Navy. Naval Sea Systems Command.

My SF is one of the naval shipyards, but I'd rather not specify the exact one on here.

by **Guest** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:42 pm

Bob1987 wrote:They haven't told me that they won't hire me. They have only said that they are currently unable to hire me, and that they (SF) have no idea when the hiring freeze will be lifted. Basically, no one wants to give me a straight answer.

Better yet, the SMART program is playing stupid and telling me that they are unaware of any hiring freeze. I don't believe for a second that they are being truthful. They know of the budget issues firsthand, and the DoD hiring freeze is national news.

I'm extremely worried about this, and just have a very bad feeling about how it will end up. It may be time to lawyer up to get out of my SMART agreement.

Anyone else in this specific situation?

The SMART Program has been dealing with hiring freezes across various agencies of the DoD since late 2010. I dealt with a hiring freeze within the Army in early 2011. AFAIK, that hiring freeze is still in place.

Do you mind giving details like which branch of the service, and maybe which command your SF is under?

by **Bob1987** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:39 pm

I can't get any answers about extending my stipend payments either (SMARTwon't even acknowledge that there is a hiring freeze).

by **Bob1987** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:37 pm

They haven't told me that they won't hire me. They have only said that they are currently unable to hire me, and that they (SF) have no idea when the hiring freeze will be lifted. Basically, no one wants to give me a straight answer.

Better yet, the SMART program is playing stupid and telling me that they are unaware of any hiring freeze. I don't believe for a second that they are being truthful. They know of the budget issues firsthand, and the DoD hiring freeze is national news.

I'm extremely worried about this, and just have a very bad feeling about how it will end up. It may be time to lawyer up to get out of my SMART agreement.

Anyone else in this specific situation?

by **madashell** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:30 pm

I want to get this correct. Your SF will not hire you because of the DOD hiring freeze.

I am worried about this, if true. I graduate in June and I know these hiring freezes can last 1-3 years. What are we supposed to do ?

Has anyone contacted the SMART people and asked what is going on ?

by **Guest** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:25 pm

Guest wrote:I was told (from my SF) that SMART would only pay one month beyond graduation if it was YOUR idea to delay hiring. I was told that if it was a hangup on the SF or SMART's end that they would continue to pay the stipend.

Is this turning out to not be the case?

I was cut off from funding 1 month after graduation. When I asked about it, I was told that was the policy.

Your SF does not speak for SMART, they often have no idea of the internal workings of SMART. I would ask SMART.

by **Guest** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:21 pm

I was told (from my SF) that SMART would only pay one month beyond graduation if it was YOUR idea to delay hiring. I was told that if it was a hangup on the SF or SMART's end that they would continue to pay the stipend.

Is this turning out to not be the case?

by **Guest** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:53 am

I have been through the hiring freeze. You should be aware that it is against SMART policy to pay you your stipend beyond 1 month after your graduation date.

Find your own job if SMART cannot help you. You eventually must start looking out for you.

If you want to email bdoggy@gmail.com I can give you more information.

by **Bob1987** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:11 am

Has anyone else heard of this DoD hiring freeze? I just graduated and was supposed to start work in late January, but now I'm not sure what's happening. Speaking with HR, they are currently unable to hire me because of the freeze. What are my options? At what point, if ever, is this considered a breach of contract since I was supposed to have a guaranteed job after graduation?

I can't afford to sit around and wait for them to figure out the budget with no income coming in. Is this affecting anyone else?

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