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Post by counselor95 on Mar 16, 2011 14:30:06 GMT -5
I suppose that today is my day for frequent posting. I have received, through a source, the latest transfer list. I won't post or email the list generally, because it has ALJs' names. I am sure that many people would be interested in the transfer information by office, but I simply don't have the time to organize it. If anyone is willing to take up the gauntlet of collating that information, I would send along the list; send me a private email. (I know that someone did this 3-4 months ago, but don't remember the identity of the generous volunteer.) The transfer list info, even if collated, would provide minimal info as to which offices will receive new hires. ALJs can, and do, turn down transfers (often because the time is not right to move -- real estate downturn, kids in high school, etc) and yet remain on the transfer list. The agency, in the past, has only made one offer off the transfer list to a particular location (that has varied, though) -- and if that one ALJ declined to transfer, the agency then went with a new hire. (ALJs transfer at their own expense, no government relocation help at all, unless they take a HOCALJ position or the job announcement specifically says relocation is paid. In today's economy, that could be very expensive.) So, for example, knowing that 9 ALJs are on the transfer list to Denver does not mean there will not be a new hire there. While it appears unlikely to have a new hire, in the past, if the first transfer offer is declined, TPTB have done what they want. That said, IMHO, there is one office which won't have a new hire: Honolulu. With only one ALJ stationed there, and 6 on the transfer list, it probably won't be a new hire. Also remember, in terms of a candidate listing an extensive GAL with plans to transfer later, that the opportunities to transfer are going to be increasingly limited in the near (and far) future. Although an ALJ can get on the transfer list after 90 days, there must be a vacancy before an offer to transfer can be extended. Now that the money spigot is being turned off by Congress, once the new offices are staffed, only attrition hires are likely. Historically, that's been about 60 ALJs leaving per year. Before ODAR began to expand the ALJ corps beginning 2008, it was common for ALJs to wait years before being offered a transfer. I knew one ALJ who had to wait 12 years before getting transferred back to the DC area; his wife and kids had not moved from there, so he had a long-distance family for all that time. Bottom line, be sure you can live at any location on your GAL for an indefinite time -- a transfer is not guaranteed.
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Post by mcb on Mar 16, 2011 15:04:49 GMT -5
The agency, in the past, has only made one offer off the transfer list to a particular location (that has varied, though) -- and if that one ALJ declined to transfer, the agency then went with a new hire. Generally, true, but multiple offers were recently made to ALJs being reassigned to soon-to-be ODARS, Tacoma, Lawrence, etc. On the new transfer list, if you see ALJs still listed for one of the ODARs scheduled to open soon, they most likely turned down an offer or added their name to the list subsequent to offers going out. Depending on the number of ALJs being hired for an office opening later this year, again Tacoma, Lawrence, etc., there's a good chance there'll be openings there. Likewise, recently opened offices that suffered a lot of attrition, Toledo, Akron, etc., should be making offers, too.
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Post by tiggen on Mar 17, 2011 21:51:28 GMT -5
There is one more opening for a possible new ALJ to Tacoma ODAR. An ALJ who was transferred to the Tacoma office is going to Reno, Nevada to be the HOCALJ of that office.
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Post by mcb on Mar 18, 2011 7:03:54 GMT -5
There is one more opening for a possible new ALJ to Tacoma ODAR. An ALJ who was transferred to the Tacoma office is going to Reno, Nevada to be the HOCALJ of that office. Interesting. Prior to this news, there were, including the Tacoma HOCALJ, 7 ALJs transferring to Tacoma, which is supposed to have 10 ALJs total.
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Post by Justice-Dude on Mar 18, 2011 7:13:23 GMT -5
Does anyone know whether ODAR is granting all transfer requests, or choosing a limited number? This appears to be an internal action.
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Post by 71stretch on Mar 18, 2011 7:30:36 GMT -5
There's always more requests to transfer than there are open slots. And, they do seem to have some leeway to leave a slot open for a new hire.
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Post by Propmaster on Mar 18, 2011 7:31:00 GMT -5
Columbia, Missouri was in the top 10 places to live on the Forbes list for many years, so someone should put it down if they like that part of the country but please don't pin any major hopes on it. Many ALJs who went to law school in Columbia or are from that area and have been "suffering" in KC or St. Louis or even Springfield are probably salivating at the thought of a Columbia office. It is a great place to end one's career even for people who have worked elsewhere for years. It is basically a small college city with the closest major cities 2-3 hours away by interstate, 3 colleges, a university medical center, cultural events, sports and great outdoor amenities around town and nearby Lake of the Ozarks and easy access to KC or St. Louis for a major airport, more shopping or amenities in an easy day trip. While this sounds correct, I note that Columbia did not get many transfer requests. I believe, last I heard, that only 3 of the 9 slots were filled by transfer.
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Post by mcb on Mar 18, 2011 8:10:27 GMT -5
Does anyone know whether ODAR is granting all transfer requests, or choosing a limited number? This appears to be an internal action. For the new offices,Tacoma, Lawrence, etc., I'm pretty sure they made offers to all current ALJs on the transfer lists for those sites. Two ALJs in my current office who recently accepted reassignment to established offices were both first on the transfer list. The ALJs below them on the transfer list for those sites were not offered transfers (...yet), even though at one of the offices there were three openings available.
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Post by tigerfan on Mar 18, 2011 8:21:47 GMT -5
My information is that all transfer offers to Columbia were declined. That makes 8 slots left plus the HOCALJ position.
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Post by george007 on Mar 18, 2011 8:58:40 GMT -5
Tigerfan -- I believe that all the transfers to Columbia were declined because they realized they'd be in the middle of Tiger Country. Rock Chalk Jayhawk (and, sorry about that loss yesterday...). (All in good fun, Tigerfan!)
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Post by allrise on Mar 18, 2011 9:41:07 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is anyone transferring to the new Jersey City office?
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Post by ldtajesq on Mar 18, 2011 10:58:42 GMT -5
I know of two ALJs that are transferring to the Jersey City office. Not sure how many vacancies are still available.
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Post by Justice-Dude on Mar 18, 2011 11:10:45 GMT -5
Does anyone know when the "transfer movement" ends? The sooner that ends, the sooner everyone will know where the real vacancies and slots are located . . . the wait. All this activity makes for either a horror movie or an outrageous comedy.
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Post by mcb on Mar 18, 2011 11:44:08 GMT -5
Does anyone know when the "transfer movement" ends? The sooner that ends, the sooner everyone will know where the real vacancies and slots are located . . . the wait. All this activity makes for either a horror movie or an outrageous comedy. In theory it never really ends. When an ALJ position opens up, the first ALJ on the transfer list should be offered the position. However, I'm sure Falls Church temporarily halt transfers once they commence selection of a new ALJ class and start slotting 3 ALJ candidates for each open position to be filled.
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Post by george007 on Mar 18, 2011 12:28:42 GMT -5
Did all the offers of transfer to the first person on the list for each city already go out? Do we know that?
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Post by southerner on Mar 18, 2011 14:03:39 GMT -5
I am aware that 2 ALJ's (one out-of-state last week and one in-state this week) accepted transfer offers to another office in this state, so process was ongoing at least through Tuesday of this week.
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Post by george007 on Mar 25, 2011 8:53:55 GMT -5
I'm just bored, so thought I'd ask again if there's any scuttle on transfers.... no one really answered my above question as to whether the first person on the list for each city has already been asked if he/she wants to transfer?
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Post by bartleby on Mar 25, 2011 9:50:25 GMT -5
Transfers are still going on as we write. Atlanta North has an ALJ going to Metarie,LA in mid-April. The first person on the transfer list to fill the Atlanta North slot has not been contacted as of yet..
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marathoner
New Member
"The race belongs to the person who takes the first step."
Posts: 8
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Post by marathoner on Mar 26, 2011 13:41:29 GMT -5
A few thoughts for those waiting for Bob's call: First, good luck to all applicants. However, keep in mind that there are a limited number of openings, and you might not receive a call. Also, be sure to check all phone numbers listed in your paperwork, & don't assume thT your numbers & emails were properly transcribed. I had requested that I be contacted on cell phone; this number was not recorded & my email was indifferent recorded. Thank goodness I checked the home voicemail (which we rarely use), as Bob had left an offer 3 days earlier. Second, I was hired for the May 2010 class. Of my 57 classmates, only 1 person was assigned to a city/ofc where she lived/worked. It really doesn't seem to matter whether or not one is an agency insider or outsider. Third, the vacancies are what they are & the transfer offers are what they are (or not). It is my understanding that mgmt has first bite at the transfer apple, & that group may not be identified on the union transfer list ---- in addition to all of the HOCAJs out there, there is also the rubric of NHC ALJs to throw into the mix. My sense is that very few people actually know what offers are made & to whom or when. So, if you really want this job right now, you need to be extremely flexible & very realistic about what it means to leave your home or relocate the entire family. Don't count on being made an offer in your current hometown & be very realistic about what it means to relocate now. If you are not currently in govt service, you also need to be very realistic about carrying a mortgage note on an unoccupied home & possibly going to closing with money to close your mortgage if you have to sell at a loss --- few of us have the financial wherewithall to take such a hit. Having noted all of that, I left a fabulous job in the govt & really love the work I do now, and the jump has really been worth any inconveniences my family & I have endured. So again, I wish each of you the best & also caution you to not stress over that over which you have no control, don't count on an offer in your current locale, be flexible, & be sure this is the right move for you professionally & personally, if you do receive the call from Bob.
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Post by 71stretch on Mar 26, 2011 13:50:54 GMT -5
Excellent post, marathoner, and very good advice. A few thoughts for those waiting for Bob's call: First, good luck to all applicants. However, keep in mind that there are a limited number of openings, and you might not receive a call. Also, be sure to check all phone numbers listed in your paperwork, & don't assume thT your numbers & emails were properly transcribed. I had requested that I be contacted on cell phone; this number was not recorded & my email was indifferent recorded. Thank goodness I checked the home voicemail (which we rarely use), as Bob had left an offer 3 days earlier. Second, I was hired for the May 2010 class. Of my 57 classmates, only 1 person was assigned to a city/ofc where she lived/worked. It really doesn't seem to matter whether or not one is an agency insider or outsider. Third, the vacancies are what they are & the transfer offers are what they are (or not). It is my understanding that mgmt has first bite at the transfer apple, & that group may not be identified on the union transfer list ---- in addition to all of the HOCAJs out there, there is also the rubric of NHC ALJs to throw into the mix. My sense is that very few people actually know what offers are made & to whom or when. So, if you really want this job right now, you need to be extremely flexible & very realistic about what it means to leave your home or relocate the entire family. Don't count on being made an offer in your current hometown & be very realistic about what it means to relocate now. If you are not currently in govt service, you also need to be very realistic about carrying a mortgage note on an unoccupied home & possibly going to closing with money to close your mortgage if you have to sell at a loss --- few of us have the financial wherewithall to take such a hit. Having noted all of that, I left a fabulous job in the govt & really love the work I do now, and the jump has really been worth any inconveniences my family & I have endured. So again, I wish each of you the best & also caution you to not stress over that over which you have no control, don't count on an offer in your current locale, be flexible, & be sure this is the right move for you professionally & personally, if you do receive the call from Bob.
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