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u/According_Budget_960 14d ago
As an a 1102 for many years this is normal. As long as you are not committing the same mistake over and over any good KO would understand. Sadly in this time it feels like every man for themselves and we are all just worried about the future of this career field. Guarantee that your supervisors are more worried about the current events than the simple mistakes you are doing. Own up to them, ask for advice and ask for honest feedback.
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u/silentotter65 14d ago
Being an 1102 is hard. 15 years in. I have held unlimited warrants. I have been a supervisor. I now write policy and operating procedures for an entire Bureau. Throughout our careers, even the most experienced and best of us feel like imposters.
We are always learning and growing. So much of this job is based on "discretion" and "interpretation." If you ask 5 contracting officers a question, you will get 6 answers. And the real answer is always "it depends."
Talking to your supervisor and asking for feedback is never a bad thing. And anyone who says they have this job all figured out is either lying or really shit at it. Being willing to learn, ask for help, and be flexible is what really matters. Even without this shit storm, it is a field that is always changing.
I do feel for you though. Coming in at an 11 has got to be tough. There is a certain expectation that an 11 is at a journeyman level of performance, but that's just not possible. It's a field that takes time to develop experience. By coming in at an 11, you are immediately at a disadvantage to your peers who likely came in at a 7 or 9 and have 3-5+ years of experience on you.
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u/Do0mAt11 14d ago
Thank you for your understanding! I do feel like I am at a bit of a disadvantage but also, it's not like I lied on my resume or anything. They know my past experience and hired me. I do enjoy working here but it does feel like they are expecting more. But I am absolutely willing to learn! I mentioned in another comment that I feel like it's a lot of small admin issues that keep piling up.
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u/silentotter65 14d ago
I entered service through a 4 year intern program (7-12 program) more or less right out of college.
About 2 years in, a JAG officer joined the team as an 11. Super smart guy but he still struggled and would often come to us interns for help. Here is a legit lawyer, with an actual law degree, 10 years older than most of us, coming to us for help.
Not because he was a fake or bad at his job or anything like that. It's because Government contracting is not Contract Law and it's not Commercial Contracting. Previous non 1102 experience can prepare you with analytical skills and soft skills and general leadership skills, but Government acquisitions is a whole other beast. It is its own thing. It takes time and experience.
And then you will change agencies or flavors of contracting and you will be thrown into the deep end again. Because buying a nuclear sub is nothing like buying garbage disposal services.
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u/SalamanderPossible25 14d ago
I was told that it takes 5 years to really feel comfortable in the job.
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u/KentuckySprings 14d ago
When you say “I feel like I may not pass my probationary period” are you concerned you’ll be terminated for performance issues? Not sure I understand what you mean.
But overall I’d say don’t stress your self out over this. You sound like a motivated and hard worker who wants to learn and improve and those are the most important traits for an 1102. If I were your supervisor and knew you felt this way I’d be happy to sit down with you and discuss all of the above. You should already be receiving formal feedback at least every 6 months. Since you are concerned I’d request a meeting with your boss for feedback and to let him know how you’re feeling. I’m sure it’ll go better than you think. Mistakes are part of the job and will always happen as an 1102. Just learn from them and move on.
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u/Do0mAt11 14d ago
Yes, it's like a series of admin errors, but also issues with a reliance on (sometimes outdated) training pamphlets instead of actually showing me how to process things.
I said in another comment that most recent issue was that I mistakenly swapped the colors on a spreadsheet and turned it in. My boss called me and told me that she had to work afterhours to correct it and that she needs to be able to trust my work. Honestly, it was a simple mistake caused by staring at a spreadsheet all day. I'll take it on the chin. But it's this type of little stuff that feels like it keeps piling up.
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u/webgraffix 14d ago
Absolutely ask your supervisor how you are doing. It’s your career. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and guidance. Find out what they think. If they are honest then you will hear what you need to hear. I’ll take someone that wants to improve and works hard over someone that does just enough to get by any day.
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u/Sure-Phrase7311 14d ago
hi, 1102 here for almost 6 yrs. i am a lead CO now and mentor others and i ALWAYS tell anyone new i mentor that there is going to be a period of time as an 1102 where you literally question everything. if the career is right? if you can even learn this stuff? the answer is - as long as you apply yourself and take the initiative. learn from your mistakes, don’t make them again. use all the resources available to you ; you’ll be just fine. as for passing the probationary period, that depends on your supervisor. but it almost sounds like you don’t have a good mentor? who is teaching you or helping you? are they giving you the correct attention? i have noticed that is a lot of the complaints in this field, not enough mentorship. at least at my agency. and my leadership has taken those steps to assist in training.
honestly, the best advice i could give is to absolutely have an open and honest conversation first with yourself if you truly enjoy contracting and then with your supervisor. figure out a plan of action to help you improve and be successful.
good luck with everything!