Got a GS 14 tentative offer, but HR is giving me heartache

Typically to overcome the hurdle of a lower grade and qualify, you need to 1) apply to an open to the public announcement, and 2) apply to a job in a different series. So for example, if you are currently a 12 in the 0403 series (Microbiology) but you applied to a 14 in the 0343 series (Management/Program Analyst), you can basically show that while you don't qualify for a 14 as a Microbiologist, you do qualify for a 14 as Management/Program Analyst. You typically do this by showing how past experience on your resume counts as experience in your new series but not your old one. This is how I jumped grades (9 to 12).

If you are staying in the same series, it gets tricky. With that, you have to show that you qualify as a 14 in other ways e.g. you did details that involved higher grade work, completed trainings for skills above your current grade, worked on higher level projects, etc. You can also try to get a letter from your current supervisor stating that even though you perform at the level of a 14, your current position didn't allow for any promotion up to that grade.

This is all advice I was given, but as you know, government hiring can be weird so YMMV.

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