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Post by traceb on Aug 19, 2009 16:52:01 GMT -5
I'm just curious, when you get passed over do you at least get a Dear John letter or a kiss; or is it just silence until you get the point?
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tab58
Full Member
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Post by tab58 on Aug 19, 2009 17:45:33 GMT -5
Rumor has it that you get a form letter. I was in the reject Summer cert and have not received one yet
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Post by valkyrie on Aug 20, 2009 7:47:05 GMT -5
There really hasn't been much consistency in the way the process has been handled by SSA, so I would say don't expect any. I do recall receiving a rejection notice the first time around, but not the second and third. Similarly, happy notices went out by email the first two times, but changed to phone notification the last time. The style of the background and reference material changed in its style and method of processing last time too. I agree with Patriotsfan that it takes away some of an HR department's reputation for professionalism when they fail to respond with a timely rejection notice, but on the other hand I certainly was not mortally offended.
One gets the distinct impression that the scale of hiring for ODAR has stretched its HR resources to the limit, and that it is a work in progress, which is some excuse. However, some of the mistakes made seem a little amateurish.
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Post by valkyrie on Aug 20, 2009 8:23:25 GMT -5
One gets the distinct impression that the scale of hiring for ODAR has stretched its HR resources to the limit, and that it is a work in progress, which is some excuse. Actually its no excuse at all. Professionalism requires companies to find the time to do it right. We live in a society where people are too busy to say "thank you" or too busy to RSVP to invitations. This concept that we are all "too busy" to be polite, too busy to be professional, and too busy to be courteous is bullnuts. Doing it right does take time, though not nearly as much time as it takes to undo something that has been done wrong because the person was "too busy" to do it right. The crappy form letter from SSA may be indicative of a system-wide failure at SSA that leads to what many on this Board have complained of regarding SSA's dealing with the backlog. Too busy to give thorough due process, too busy to write proper decisions, etc, etc, etc. These excuses become endemic in an organization and become acceptable, or even appropriate, when an organization allows mediocrity to prevail because everyone's "too busy." Sometimes its the small things, like sending a proper rejection letter, that reveal the larger organization-wide problems that generally start from the top down. No one should be too busy to do the job the are paid to do properly. Sometimes that takes little more time, but getting it right is still getting it right. And I NEVER buy the too busy excuse for someone being rude, thoughtless, or indifferent. As I said, being professional is part of the job, not the part you dump because you get "too busy." Welcome to the guv'mint... |
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Post by extang on Aug 20, 2009 8:49:32 GMT -5
I wouldn't blame this on "guv'mint." I have had a fair amount of experience with other agencies in the federal government, and my impression is that OHA/ODAR is exceptional in its rudeness to employees and potential employees. They do effectively convey an important message: they don't need you.
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knownuthin
Full Member
Out of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
Posts: 114
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Post by knownuthin on Aug 20, 2009 9:31:31 GMT -5
Unfortunately, the poor attitude/service is related to placing more emphasis on quantity than quality. Mediocrity is tolerated and thus becomes the norm. Back in my early Air Force days, the common saying was "Do more with less." Eventually I was transferred to a command, where the commanding general said that was wrong. You "Do less with less." He got promoted to Chief of Staff of the Air Force where he made a few other true statements to the press and thus got fired by the Sec Def. I guess no matter how high you rise, you always have someone above you. In our case, it ought to be the American pubic we serve. So I try to "Do what's important and treat it that way."
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Post by decadealj on Aug 20, 2009 9:50:02 GMT -5
Well said but after 45 years with the federal government I can assure you it is not capable or suitable for precise or delicate operations of any sort- its like a surgeon entering the ER with a meat cleaver and a hammer rather than a scalpal and laser probe. Sould it do better- of course but when you have so many folks guarding their rice bowels and trying to justify their very existence, the layers of beauracracy, etc. you just do the best you can and continue to march. I have interviewed 15-20 times for various poistions- the only rejection letter I ever got was from OHA thanking me for applying but announcing they weren't filling the position. No other agency, DOJ, DOT, H&HS, DOL ever responded at all.
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Post by valkyrie on Aug 20, 2009 10:31:10 GMT -5
Well said but after 45 years with the federal government I can assure you it is not capable or suitable for precise or delicate operations of any sort- its like a surgeon entering the ER with a meat cleaver and a hammer rather than a scalpal and laser probe. Sould it do better- of course but when you have so many folks guarding their rice bowels and trying to justify their very existence, the layers of beauracracy, etc. you just do the best you can and continue to march. I have interviewed 15-20 times for various poistions- the only rejection letter I ever got was from OHA thanking me for applying but announcing they weren't filling the position. No other agency, DOJ, DOT, H&HS, DOL ever responded at all. That has been my experience as well. I have applied to numerous government agencies in the past, but I only received a handful of "official" rejections, and none of them could be described as timely. |
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Post by valkyrie on Aug 20, 2009 14:32:31 GMT -5
Why would I want to appeal the agency decision?
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Post by deltajudge on Aug 20, 2009 15:33:33 GMT -5
8-)Well they want to take over national health care, and look where the cash for clunkers is heading, not to mention the non-happening of the stimulus.
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Post by valkyrie on Aug 20, 2009 17:42:57 GMT -5
Why would I want to appeal the agency decision? Well, you wouldn't, of course, but perhaps others might. Of course, if you get bypassed again, and this time they mention that your too old, or the have too many females, or they decided to bypass you to reach the Congressman's niece, but they knew you would understand, given your unshakeable agency loyalty, you just might decide you want to give it a shot  But I am sure you will get selected this time, so you won't need to sue, but remember Val, this Board isn't all about you. Look, all I'm saying is that I generally don't get into a job application or interview with an expectation that the job is mine to lose. I'm not saying I go in with a negative approach, but I certainly don't immediately think that if I lose out, it must have been some kind of fix or discrimination. That goes double if its essentially a blind govt application with who knows how many other applications in the mix. Please be careful not to trip as you and the others revolve around me. |
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Post by carjack on Aug 21, 2009 11:34:53 GMT -5
It's about having a little class. PF is right. You can 'get used' to working for an a@#^ole boss, but you shouldn't have to. Thanking someone for applying for your opening, when they likely could have any number of better jobs, shows that you appreciate the effort. Your office/agency is not the center of the universe. They demand you jump through hoops, they should do the same. The rejection letters I remember are the ones where the letter writer actually says thank you and the decision was difficult and if we had more openings you'd be the one and you're great, etc. It's no different than calling to cancel an appointment versus just not showing up.
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