Question about received email!!

[bushidomatt]

So I am on a referral list for MN for which I applied for last summer and I also applied for the national postings this year. But I received this email earlier today (thursday).

You have been selected for ATCS positions at SFO(San Francisco, CA) and SNA(Costa Mesa, CA). Please let me know which one you are interested in. Please realize that this will be considered a declination for the other position.

I tried to get a hold of the sender today and will try tomorrow but in the meantime I have some questions. First off how did I get selected for Cali!? I did apply for most states last year but was only put on MN referral list. Second if I decline am I declining two which means I only get one more shot? Third how am I supposed to live in Cali on basic wage before checked out? Keep in mind I have no family or anyone to help deflect costs there. Thanks in advance for the help.

03/08 ATSAT well qualified
04/08 MN referral list

[Narayan]

For the cost of living i would recommend using craigslist to find a roommate, just rent one room in an apt that should help.

[Acey97]

If you declined both positions, why would you only have one more shot?

[badbudda]

Good question! But from my experience and a few of the other bloggers it doesn't surprise me one bit. Since you did not apply for California someone in HR definitely errored. I would call the number mentioned (I believe) in this thread and tell them there is a mistake.

I received the same comment (the locations you do not choose would be considered declines). I read somewhere in these threads you can only decline three locations. This begs the question of is this three locations per announcement or forever?

[10SM CLR]

Originally Posted by badbudda

This begs the question of is this three locations per announcement or forever?

Yeah, great question... I really wouldn't want to accept a location just for the sake of accepting the job. Also, if you're only allowed to decline three forever, then I better be damn sure of what I put down for my geographic prefs! Any information on this would be great.

[Acey97]

Originally Posted by 10SM CLR

Yeah, great question... I really wouldn't want to accept a location just for the sake of accepting the job. Also, if you're only allowed to decline three forever, then I better be damn sure of what I put down for my geographic prefs! Any information on this would be great.

I was told by OKC it didn't matter how many times you turned down an interview. I am not sure if you guys are talking about an actual tentative offer, but if you are not interested in a particular location my understanding is you can decline the interview (or PEPC invitation) as many times as needed. As long as you continue to reapply your name will remain on file. For me, I am on four referral lists and she told me she could remove me from the lists but that it would't really make a difference. I could decline all four and still be eligible for the Feb and May 2008 announcements. Again, I might be talking about the wrong thing, but maybe this info will help someone else in a similar boat.

[bushidomatt]

I did talk to my dad (controller enroute minneapolis) today and he confirmed with union rep and supervisors there that there is no limit to how many you can turn down. However it could be a while before you get selected again so if you are approaching the age limit keep that in mind.

I am thinking of taking the SNA John Wayne airport position(lvl 9). Still waiting to talk to rep in OKC who sent the email. I am wondering if I would get thrown into a PEPC if I pick one? Otherwise I am hearing if you don't do a PEPC the process can take quite a bit longer.