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Post by deminimis on Nov 10, 2009 1:41:21 GMT -5
Now that the register has finally opened for presumably a brief moment, can some of you who have already gone through the application process let us know in general terms how much time is likely to pass between now and the written demonstration? And then the structured interview? Are we talking weeks or months between these events? Thanks!
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Wino
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by Wino on Nov 10, 2009 4:13:55 GMT -5
Months. Once you submit the application, relax. The application itself may be the single most onerous part of the process. Pat youself on the back, resume your normal routine, and check back after the first of the year. There will be only days or a few weeks between the WD and the SI. Good luck to all.
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Post by karaj on Nov 10, 2009 9:27:47 GMT -5
Last exam closed @ 7/30/08. I was notified of my SI and WD dates in September, and the dates ranged from the end of Oct. 08 through early Feb. 09. Mind you the last exam closed in the summer when the govt. is notoriously slow. Many of us had to travel to DC twice for each date. I saw on the new exam that they are offering the WD in DC, Chicago and San Fran this year.
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Post by darious on Nov 10, 2009 10:17:21 GMT -5
It is my impression from speeches given by David Foster and Judge Cristaudo that the SSA-ODAR goal is to hire an estimated 230 ALJs for fiscal year 2010. Fiscal year 2010 ends 9/30/2010.
While the previous "application to hire" process took just over one year (May 2008 [application] to June 2009 [offer]), my gut tells me that OPM and ODAR have the kinks in the process smoothed out, and are fully geared up for quickly choosing the lucky 500 that will be interviewed for one of the 230 or so slots. I think the timeframes will be much shorter, and will not be at all surprised if OPM and then ODAR narrow the applicants at cyber-speed to get to job offers by June (July at the latest) - just like they did in 2009, so that the 2010 classes can enter in July (August at the latest), September and October (having all employment paperwork completed in September to meet the FY deadline).
Nicely for the newbies, the new training facility in Falls Church will be completed, and the month-long training will be a marvelous experience for those lucky (and talented) enough to be chosen to be part of SSA's mission to bring down the backlog.
;D
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Post by nonamouse on Nov 12, 2009 14:50:50 GMT -5
It is my impression from speeches given by David Foster and Judge Cristaudo that the SSA-ODAR goal is to hire an estimated 230 ALJs for fiscal year 2010. Fiscal year 2010 ends 9/30/2010. While the previous "application to hire" process took just over one year (May 2008 [application] to June 2009 [offer]), my gut tells me that OPM and ODAR have the kinks in the process smoothed out, and are fully geared up for quickly choosing the lucky 500 that will be interviewed for one of the 230 or so slots. I think the timeframes will be much shorter, and will not be at all surprised if OPM and then ODAR narrow the applicants at cyber-speed to get to job offers by June (July at the latest) - just like they did in 2009, so that the 2010 classes can enter in July (August at the latest), September and October (having all employment paperwork completed in September to meet the FY deadline). ;D I hope that everyone realizes that FY 2010 began on 10-1-09, so the current group in training are part of the total goal for ALJ hires in FY 2010. It is not going to be an additional 230 hires from now through the end of Sept. 2010. Therefore, any estimation of future hires needs to subtract the current "2010 class" from the total for the year.
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Post by magpie on Nov 13, 2009 11:38:30 GMT -5
Does anyone have any thoughts or even better, hard information or hard rumor, on why they reopened? Does that mean they are passively rejecting the previously existing pool that has made the cut?
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Post by carrickfergus on Nov 13, 2009 15:56:44 GMT -5
Hah! My strategy (relatively low score, limited GAL) is paying off now!
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Post by carjack on Nov 13, 2009 16:10:08 GMT -5
I hope that everyone realizes that FY 2010 began on 10-1-09, so the current group in training are part of the total goal for ALJ hires in FY 2010. It is not going to be an additional 230 hires from now through the end of Sept. 2010. Therefore, any estimation of future hires needs to subtract the current "2010 class" from the total for the year. Keeping in mind that ODAR wanted a new register for new blood and the amount of time it takes to test and process people, they will probably only do one more cert in fiscal 2010. With the register set to expire in Oct 2010, I wonder whether OPM will try to keep the register alive longer and just keep adding to it or whether its fate already sealed.
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Post by bluelady on Nov 13, 2009 17:30:19 GMT -5
Although my score was not that great, I significantly expanded my GAL. From following the posts on this board, I know that offers were made to persons with lower scores than mine. With an expanded GAL, is possible that the odds of making the next cert have increased. (No, I am not ODAR). Any thoughts?
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Post by carrickfergus on Nov 13, 2009 17:45:54 GMT -5
Although my score was not that great, I significantly expanded my GAL. From following the posts on this board, I know that offers were made to persons with lower scores than mine. With an expanded GAL, is possible that the odds of making the next cert have increased. (No, I am not ODAR). Any thoughts? I'm not very good at math, but I will go out on a limb and suggest that your odds will increase with an expanded GAL.....
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Post by privateatty on Nov 13, 2009 17:51:53 GMT -5
I hope that everyone realizes that FY 2010 began on 10-1-09, so the current group in training are part of the total goal for ALJ hires in FY 2010. It is not going to be an additional 230 hires from now through the end of Sept. 2010. Therefore, any estimation of future hires needs to subtract the current "2010 class" from the total for the year. Keeping in mind that ODAR wanted a new register for new blood and the amount of time it takes to test and process people, they will probably only do one more cert in fiscal 2010. With the register set to expire in Oct 2010, I wonder whether OPM will try to keep the register alive longer and just keep adding to it or whether its fate already sealed. I don't see how OPM can "keep the register alive longer." Perhaps the better question will be the date of the 2010 NOR and the corresponding year from that relative to a re-apply.
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Post by chinook on Nov 13, 2009 17:58:06 GMT -5
I think it is possible that OPM might give those who make the register a period of 3 years with a plan for one exam every year and keep the register alive but with an annual addition to it.
No, they won't do that it would be logical.
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Post by lawmaker on Nov 14, 2009 0:23:01 GMT -5
Does anyone have any thoughts or even better, hard information or hard rumor, on why they reopened? Does that mean they are passively rejecting the previously existing pool that has made the cut? In addition to the hiring that has already occurred off this register, SSA has three-striked well over another 100 qualified people who are on this existing register. That leaves what SSA perceives as an inadequate number of potential applicants to meet its hiring goals in FY 2010. The "refresh" was designed to give SSA what it perceives as an "adequate" number of potential applicants from which to choose for the next large hire. It's not that SSA has "passively rejected" the existing pool. They have "actively rejected" many in the existing pool. Many others, however, have not yet even reached consideration due to their low scores, or limited geographic availability, or both. The only thing one can say for certain is that those who have been three-striked, and those who have already been hired, are out of the running. Everyone else is still "alive." But, if you are not current ODAR be forewarned, you are indeed clinically alive, but likely on life support. You may survive, miracles happen, but don't buy any green bananas. What if someone got three striked in 07, reapplied this time, and got say a decent score of say 80. Would the previous 3 strikes apply? Don't the new score and new app restart the process, and enable the applicant to cure whatever was used to previously 3 strike?
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Post by searoys on Nov 14, 2009 10:53:23 GMT -5
Keeping in mind that ODAR wanted a new register for new blood and the amount of time it takes to test and process people, they will probably only do one more cert in fiscal 2010. With the register set to expire in Oct 2010, I wonder whether OPM will try to keep the register alive longer and just keep adding to it or whether its fate already sealed. I don't see how OPM can "keep the register alive longer." Perhaps the better question will be the date of the 2010 NOR and the corresponding year from that relative to a re-apply. Here is the problem that I see coming. This register is due to expire in October 2010. That means it will be tossed and a totally new register will need to be constructed through a new announcement and new interview process. If that is the case, then those who are added to the current register via the recent November 2009 announcement will only be on the register for a very short time. They will be added to the register in perhaps June 2010. So they will have expended large amounts of their time and money (yes, you pay all your own expenses for 2 trips to do the written demonstration and the structured interview. For me coming from out of state to DC twice with hotels, cabs, meals, etc., it was probably a bit over $1,000.) only to be on the register for about 4 months which may include one hiring binge. Not very fair to them. But here is the double whammy to them. If another announce is then made to create the new register, those recently added will not be eligible to apply since their most recent scores are less than 1 year old. And even if OPM decides to waive the one year rule, these poor soles will have to endure the time, mental stress, and financial outlay twice in less than a year. I suppose OPM could just keep extending the current register and only do periodic refreshes which may solve this problem. I have not yet thought through the problems that may create. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am near the top of the current register but have been 3 striked by SSA managment.
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Post by privateatty on Nov 14, 2009 11:07:41 GMT -5
I don't see how OPM can "keep the register alive longer." Perhaps the better question will be the date of the 2010 NOR and the corresponding year from that relative to a re-apply. Here is the problem that I see coming. This register is due to expire in October 2010. That means it will be tossed and a totally new register will need to be constructed through a new announcement and new interview process. If that is the case, then those who are added to the current register via the recent November 2009 announcement will only be on the register for a very short time. They will be added to the register in perhaps June 2010. So they will have expended large amounts of their time and money (yes, you pay all your own expenses for 2 trips to do the written demonstration and the structured interview. For me coming from out of state to DC twice with hotels, cabs, meals, etc., it was probably a bit over $1,000.) only to be on the register for about 4 months which may include one hiring binge. Not very fair to them. But here is the double whammy to them. If another announce is then made to create the new register, those recently added will not be eligible to apply since their most recent scores are less than 1 year old. And even if OPM decides to waive the one year rule, these poor soles will have to endure the time, mental stress, and financial outlay twice in less than a year. I suppose OPM could just keep extending the current register and only do periodic refreshes which may solve this problem. I have not yet thought through the problems that may create. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am near the top of the current register but have been 3 striked by SSA managment. Patriotsfan has said that over a 100 have been 3-striked. That information is solid. CW has seemed to indicate that once you are three-striked, you will not be considered. Fow how long? Through another Certificate? Another Register? Are you just road-kill in the corridors of the OCALJ/SSA? Good questions. You have my sympathies. I know it hurts.
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Post by karaj on Nov 14, 2009 21:34:12 GMT -5
I'm confused. Maybe this Q has been answered before, but are there regulations concerning what happens to those who will be added to the Register from this last application? Those who received their NOR on 2/27/09, and who were not selected, must wait a year before reapplying (2/27/10). If the current Register expires in Oct. 2010, and OPM re-opens the exam at that time, will those unselected candidates who were added to the Register from last week's opening have to wait 12 months from their NOR to re-apply or is that regulation no longer applicable to them ?
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Post by privateatty on Nov 15, 2009 8:24:27 GMT -5
I'm confused. Maybe this Q has been answered before, but are there regulations concerning what happens to those who will be added to the Register from this last application? Those who received their NOR on 2/27/09, and who were not selected, must wait a year before reapplying (2/27/10). If the current Register expires in Oct. 2010, and OPM re-opens the exam at that time, will those unselected candidates who were added to the Register from last week's opening have to wait 12 months from their NOR to re-apply or is that regulation no longer applicable to them ? They will have to wait the one year plus the time it takes OPM to open the application process again from when they opened it the first time after October, 2010. AS you know, OPM has been opening it once a year or so since 2007 to get the 400 to 500 new bodies SSA demands to hire its 200+.
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Post by searoys on Nov 15, 2009 11:14:53 GMT -5
Here is the real potential danger for those 2007 applicants. They made the roster, possibly with a low score. Then they were unable to reapply or retest in 2008 because it was less than one year from their NOR. Now, this November 2009 refreshing of the register allows them to reapply and perhaps retest hoping to get a better score. BUT! If they choose to go that route and spend the time, money and effort to retest in hopes of getting a better score, they run the risk that the register will expire in October 2010. Such expiration would require OPM to build a new register which would require a new announcement and new testing. However, these November 2009 announcement add ons will not be eligible because their most recent NOR would likely be in June 2010 and therefore less than one year in the past. The result is that these people from 2007 who are just trying to improve there scores would be on the register for a short period of time before it expires and they could not apply to be on the new register.
So, as I see it, the ones in this position are in the uncomfortable position of having to decide whether to reapply and retest now which comes with the risk that they will not be able to reapply for the new register, OR to pass on the reapplication process for now and instead opt to wait to reapply when the new register is being composed.
Tough choice, unfortunately, OPM isn't tipping their hand.
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Post by crazybroad on Nov 15, 2009 11:55:52 GMT -5
As I see it, if the Register expires (the entire list) in October 2010, then why couldn't those who reapplied from the 2007 group apply again. It's one thing if you are already on the list and not allowed to apply again but if there is no list ........
The worst part of all that would be that those 2007 applicants would have just spent another grand or two getting to DC to take the test, both parts, and have to do it again real soon.
Just some thoughts...... Crazy like a fox
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Post by nonamouse on Nov 15, 2009 15:00:04 GMT -5
My 2 cents worth is that I expect OPM (like any other agency) to do the minimum it must to stay out of trouble. I believe if you look at everything carefully you will notice that OPM gave themselves a possible escape hatch in the Oct. 2010 wording in case the new process turned to total poo, not a mandate. Since the process has worked pretty well from their perspective and put the ball back into SSA's court as far as Congressional interest in the backlog, why would they reinvent the wheel? I doubt that they will actually scrap the whole register in 10/2010 given the "refresh" that just began last week. Why would they make the extra work for themselves now only to do it all again on a larger scale in less than 6 months from when they finish with this group? The ALJ register is not the center of their world at OPM. The total number of ALJ candidates that they will ever have to deal with is small change when compared to the total number of applicants for federal jobs and all of the other functions outside of hiring that OPM manages daily.
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