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Post by jmorris on May 27, 2011 20:52:22 GMT -5
I need help to apply. I contacted Career Pro Global, Inc. and the person I spoke to seemed very knowledgeable and professional. Has anyone heard of or had experience with this company? Can you give a recommendation? Thanks.
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Post by 71stretch on May 27, 2011 23:21:18 GMT -5
I've never heard of this company. I don't know how they would go about helping you, in the very short time frame (likely less than 48 hours) that applications will be open. What did they tell you about what they could do for you?
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Post by jmorris on May 29, 2011 20:25:00 GMT -5
Pre prepare resume and achievement answers, key words, form etc. so when there is an opening I am ready to file without scrambling to get it done.
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Post by 71stretch on May 29, 2011 20:42:34 GMT -5
Well, there's no resume really needed for the ALJ job.
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Post by odarite on May 29, 2011 21:59:04 GMT -5
Never heard of them either, but if you want to prepare for the ALJ application process to open, then you can do no better than to go to the FALJC document library at: 005754d.netsolhost.com/faljc7.html[admin: fixed broken url link] |
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Post by chinook on May 31, 2011 8:05:49 GMT -5
Remember, the application process is part of the graded exam process. The work submitted should be yours, without help, assistance or review by anybody else. In my view, having them help with the drafting of your application is like having them go take the written exam for you. Will you get caught, probably not, but remember you are applying to be a judge.
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Post by northeasterner on May 31, 2011 8:46:10 GMT -5
Remember, the application process is part of the graded exam process. The work submitted should be yours, without help, assistance or review by anybody else. In my view, having them help with the drafting of your application is like having them go take the written exam for you. Will you get caught, probably not, but remember you are applying to be a judge. As I recall, there is a certification at the end of the application where you must certify that you did not have help with the application. |
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Post by redwhiteblue on May 31, 2011 9:05:28 GMT -5
I agree with chinook and northeasterner. There is a lot of very helpful information on the board that can help guide you, but the work should be yours. Anyway, there is no guarantee the application will not change in the required content anyway. If one cannot put together a solid resume at this stage of the game (which I agree I don't think is required to apply anyway or hasn't been required in the past), one should probably rethink the stepping into the application process. Start now and prepare and you will be fine when the notice of refreshing or reopening occurs.
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Post by leprechaun on May 31, 2011 10:07:55 GMT -5
If I remember correctly, we had to certify somewhere on the application that we completed it independently.
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Post by 71stretch on May 31, 2011 10:57:40 GMT -5
If I remember correctly, we had to certify somewhere on the application that we completed it independently. This is absolutely correct. If you click on the above link, and go down to page 13, you do certify that you completed the AR independently and without assistance. So, I think the OP ought to save his money and start working on the AR now, using the above link. |
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hldc
Member
Posts: 22
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Post by hldc on May 31, 2011 12:52:01 GMT -5
As I recall when I applied in 2008, the first step of the process in Application Manager involved uploading my resume - then I was able to access the application step, which included selecting the GAL (cities I was willing to locate in as well as the AR's etc.).
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Post by 71stretch on May 31, 2011 13:01:58 GMT -5
You can upload a resume, but you don't have to, and you still have to complete the application, whether you upload a resume or not.
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Post by McLovin' on Jun 5, 2011 20:48:46 GMT -5
I am going to review my old application to get the exact wording of the section that the people here are referring to. Without knowing the exact wording, I will still say that I don't see much of an issue with people having some coaching and/or hiring someone to help them figure out what OPM is looking for. I know for a fact that many of the current ALJs who were previously ODAR attorneys had some advice from the ALJs in their offices. I am not saying that I would leave the wording up to anyone else or that I would lie about my accomplishments. I did submit a resume with my application but I cannot remember whether I absolutely had to. For all I know I might have gotten further without submitting a resume.
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Post by 71stretch on Jun 5, 2011 21:44:22 GMT -5
"I certify (emphasis in original) that I have worked independently and did not receive any form of assistance while completing the Accomplishment Record.... " is what the pertinent portion says.
What those people get paid to do, as I understand it, is write resumes and applications (in this case ARs) for you. And that doesn't fly with the certification at the end of the application. Coaching on what OPM is looking for? I'm not sure these people do that. And, there's all sorts of info out in cyberspace about that subject, that doesn't cost money, and won't get you into an awkward position. What the OP wants is for them to pre prepare the answers. That's contrary to the certification.
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Post by factfinder on Jun 6, 2011 6:17:09 GMT -5
I am not so sure it is coaching so much as it is the ability to use "magic words" that tally up for points. In addition, a person filling out the answer must be strictly responsive to what is requested. With some exception, most folks who apply are reasonably good candidates. The ability to differentiate between them is hard for OPM and they do not want to have to deal with professionals who skew the results into homogenized pap and parroted responses.
They (OPM) had a very bad experience (and still does) with SES essays. I know several folks who had "professionals" prepare their SES qualification essay (the five factors) and a few of them turned out to be disasters as SESs. This has been a topic at OPM's Premier LDS course in Charlottesville and for the most part, this kind of assistance can help, but it hurts/skews the system, which is exactly why OPM wants prospective ALJs to certify independent work.
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Post by 71stretch on Jun 6, 2011 7:40:52 GMT -5
And the "magic words" and phrases are the ones that OPM uses in drafting the job description, the questions, etc., which are then looked for in the answers. It isn't just OPM that uses this technique to evaluate applications, but virtually every large government employer. Years ago, a job I was applying for was not technically a legal job, so the duties/qualifications were described in completely different terms than the legal job experience I had. I translated my legal job experience into the language of that particular job description; it was an awkward process, but I got a very good score (only to have the job go unfilled  ) |
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