u/Massive-Regret519

I'm self employed, but only work part-time. I frequently fly between the US and Mx for business. I'm thinking of changing my location to a city near the border on the US side, just in case a flight is cancelled. Or just to give me more options.

I've experienced higher prices for my current flight route and an alternative that I use. Actual shortages aside, since no one will know unless it happens, the higher airfare has already been cutting into my net profits.

So just wondering if besides the change that I'm currently making, I wonder if there is anything that others are doing that I should consider to mitigate the effect on my business.

No guessing at what will or wont happen, only asking for strategies other air commuters use to mitigate negative effect on business.

I was GS 12 for 2.5yrs in a supervisory position. I left fed service about 8 yrs ago. Now I see positions opening in the agency that I always wanted to work in and I have applied to 2 vacancies so far. One was for a non Supervisory GS 13 position in a different agency and the 2nd one was for a Supervisory GS 13 position in the agency that I wanted.

But just today I see a posting with a lot more vacancies in the Agency that I always wanted to join, with more attractive locations, AND it says it isn’t supervisory ( but in the duty description it says that less than 25% supervisory duties may be required). But this announcement is for GS 11.

Do you think the hiring manager will look at my GS 11 application vs the GS 13 application negatively?

Would I be eligible for GS 11 at a higher step equivalent to my highest previous salary? If so, I would be 11/ step 7.