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Post by 71stretch on Feb 8, 2013 15:58:11 GMT -5
Have those typing fingers ready. A reliable source has told me to expect the announcement on USAJobs to appear by early next week. Yipes. Better do some of that groundwork I've been putting off. Re: references. The references ( I think there were 3) that went on the AR, as far as I can determine, were never contacted by OPM or SSA. It wasn't until the cert lists rolled out, and that questionnaire came that required a lot more references, that the references were contacted.
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Post by hrhearingofficer on Feb 8, 2013 17:15:57 GMT -5
Have those typing fingers ready. A reliable source has told me to expect the announcement on USAJobs to appear by early next week. I guess aside from the references we are all just brushing off and updating the Accomplishment Questionnaire...I can't imagine some variation would not appear on this new exam. Any other suggestions?
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Post by privateatty on Feb 8, 2013 18:49:09 GMT -5
I agree with maxlaw as that is what has happened historically. For those of you not on the Register and hoping to get picked up by SSA in their upcoming small cert hiring, GOOD LUCK! For those who have yet to apply, get your references in order. Remember, OPM hath no mercy in regards to any typographical error in your application, no matter how minute. Make doubly sure that your references will not say anything about you that might be construed negatively by Puzzle Palace (OCALJ, ODAR)--which, for trial lawyers and the like might be considered virtues. I have known of more than one who trusted a reference only to discover well after the damage was done that he/she did not want them to be an ALJ. I think you meant "on the register"... Thank you observer53. Here I talk about proofing and I could benefit from my own advice.
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Post by hrhearingofficer on Feb 8, 2013 19:31:32 GMT -5
Well, this is a question I should have asked a long time ago...If indicate that I am available for every location on my GAL, do I have a chance to refuse an office on a cert. and does that refusal count against me in any way? It just seems way easier to do that than to labor over the long list of locations on the outset.
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Post by Orly on Feb 8, 2013 19:41:31 GMT -5
Well, this is a question I should have asked a long time ago...If indicate that I am available for every location on my GAL, do I have a chance to refuse an office on a cert. and does that refusal count against me in any way? It just seems way easier to do that than to labor over the long list of locations on the outset. 1. If you get on a SSA cert for ALJ interview, SSA historically has given candidates the opportunity to eliminate additional locations from their GAL in the pre-interview paperwork. It doesn't count against you at this stage, so this is the best time to really whittle down your GAL to the places you don't mind living for a few years. 2. If you get an offer from SSA, it will be for one location on your final GAL based on the pre-interview paperwork noted above. It's take it or leave it, no negotiation. If you really want to be an ALJ, I don't recommend you reject it as you may never get another offer.
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Post by philliesfan on Feb 8, 2013 19:59:11 GMT -5
While I took the one and only offer I got, it is my understanding that you can turn down one offer but not a second. If you turn down the second offer, you will not get another.
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Post by Orly on Feb 8, 2013 20:56:30 GMT -5
While I took the one and only offer I got, it is my understanding that you can turn down one offer but not a second. If you turn down the second offer, you will not get another. I have never heard of anyone getting a second offer on the same SSA certificate/round of hiring. I.e. SSA offers you City A, you reject it and they come back with City B a couple days later. In light of vet preference and how the agency plays with the Rule of Three, I don't believe it has the ability to be that flexible. Now if you mean SSA come back with another offer on a subsequent round of hiring down the road, I have heard of it happening before. But I would assume it is a very, very rare occurrence.
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Post by theactorwithin on Feb 8, 2013 21:05:19 GMT -5
Have those typing fingers ready. A reliable source has told me to expect the announcement on USAJobs to appear by early next week. I agree...I am a 10-point vet who placed an application in October 2012. I was informed today that OPM will no longer process applications under the existing 2009 announcement and that they will soon post a new ALJ JOA. The email said OPM plans to post the new JOA in the near future. Good Luck All
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Post by philliesfan on Feb 8, 2013 21:22:42 GMT -5
Orly, that is what I meant.
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Post by maxlaw on Feb 9, 2013 8:34:31 GMT -5
Have those typing fingers ready. A reliable source has told me to expect the announcement on USAJobs to appear by early next week. I agree...I am a 10-point vet who placed an application in October 2012. I was informed today that OPM will no longer process applications under the existing 2009 announcement and that they will soon post a new ALJ JOA. The email said OPM plans to post the new JOA in the near future. Good Luck All That's actually an important hint, because the regulations that govern 10 point veterans specify that they must be offered the examination in the quarter after they qualify. Assuming compliance, OPM must believe the new exam will be ready in the quarter after Oct, which I would interpret at Jan - March. Just another sign for the alert.
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Post by 71stretch on Feb 9, 2013 9:20:06 GMT -5
Have those typing fingers ready. A reliable source has told me to expect the announcement on USAJobs to appear by early next week. I guess aside from the references we are all just brushing off and updating the Accomplishment Questionnaire...I can't imagine some variation would not appear on this new exam. Any other suggestions? I don't think the job description is likely to change with the new process. So, make sure, as you are updating, that your prior history/experience is written in "OPM speak" using the same phrases the job description does, and emphasizing the activities listed in the descriptions using the same language. The AR is graded by people who are not lawyers or judges, trained to look for certain buzz words and phrases. If the job description does change, the same advice applies, just means that all the work you do in advance is going to have to be reviewed.
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Post by decadealj on Feb 9, 2013 11:50:12 GMT -5
observer53's post is best advice I have seen on this blog. I worked with other ALJs (all from different agencies like EPA and Labor) on the first new exam in the mid 90s. Unless things change drastically, qualifying experience will be the biggest factor in your score and of course is the first "cut".
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Post by 71stretch on Feb 10, 2013 2:36:26 GMT -5
observer53's post is best advice I have seen on this blog. I worked with other ALJs (all from different agencies like EPA and Labor) on the first new exam in the mid 90s. Unless things change drastically, qualifying experience will be the biggest factor in your score and of course is the first "cut". Much appreciate the compliment, decadealj, ;D but I'm not the only one to have raised this issue here. It's true for government job applications at all levels, including the state government where most of my experience with that concept comes from. After many years in the same job, the AR back in 2009 tested my "government speak" skills, especially in the narrow time frame we had. Time to go brush those skills off again.
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1234
Full Member
Posts: 41
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Post by 1234 on Feb 10, 2013 17:07:29 GMT -5
Do you think that I can use one individual to verify two of my Competencies in the Accomplishment Record?
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Post by justwaiting on Feb 10, 2013 23:05:56 GMT -5
I used the same person for a few accomplishments and essentially the same event for more than one accomplishment, just emphasizing different thiings. The key as mentioned previously is to feed back key words in your accomplishments and be willing to go into detail about things that may seem obvious. And notice that you are not limited to accomplishments from your professional life. It bears repeating that it is important to answer the question asked. Not doing this is an easy "fail" for the graders. One last word of advice: relax and be willing to tell them how wonderful you are. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
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Post by costco on Feb 10, 2013 23:26:04 GMT -5
Well, this is a question I should have asked a long time ago...If indicate that I am available for every location on my GAL, do I have a chance to refuse an office on a cert. and does that refusal count against me in any way? It just seems way easier to do that than to labor over the long list of locations on the outset. 1. If you get on a SSA cert for ALJ interview, SSA historically has given candidates the opportunity to eliminate additional locations from their GAL in the pre-interview paperwork. It doesn't count against you at this stage, so this is the best time to really whittle down your GAL to the places you don't mind living for a few years. Instead of looking at each individual city that has an ODAR office (about 160), you could evaluate it by state. I did not believe that my family would move with me to my first ALJ assignment. I excluded Hawaii because you have no choice but to fly there. Who knows what the price of aviation fuel will be in the near future? I learned later that excluding Hawaii was not necessary because there may only be one ALJ in Hawaii and there is a very long line of ALJs on the transfer list to Hawaii. I also excluded Alaska locations because, as a practical matter, one has to fly. Looking at the northeast, Vermont does not have an ODAR office. I decided to exclude both Maine and New Hampshire because both are very northern locations, very far from my home, and I believe the closest major airport is Boston and I would have to travel even farther north after flying into Boston. In a nutshell, I was open to 45 states. IMHO, you are mostly likely to end up in Mississippi or Ohio. It seems that both states have difficulty holding onto ALJs. Also, Region 5 (or āVā in ODAR speak), in general, seems to have difficulty holding on to ALJs. Parts of Regions 1, 2, 3 and 9 seem the hardest to be assigned to. Again, this is MHO, others may disagree.
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1234
Full Member
Posts: 41
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Post by 1234 on Feb 11, 2013 16:33:53 GMT -5
Thank you all very much for your advice. I really appreciate it.
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Post by southeastalj on Feb 11, 2013 17:09:06 GMT -5
1. If you get on a SSA cert for ALJ interview, SSA historically has given candidates the opportunity to eliminate additional locations from their GAL in the pre-interview paperwork. It doesn't count against you at this stage, so this is the best time to really whittle down your GAL to the places you don't mind living for a few years. Instead of looking at each individual city that has an ODAR office (about 160), you could evaluate it by state. I did not believe that my family would move with me to my first ALJ assignment. I excluded Hawaii because you have no choice but to fly there. Who knows what the price of aviation fuel will be in the near future? I learned later that excluding Hawaii was not necessary because there may only be one ALJ in Hawaii and there is a very long line of ALJs on the transfer list to Hawaii. I also excluded Alaska locations because, as a practical matter, one has to fly. Looking at the northeast, Vermont does not have an ODAR office. I decided to exclude both Maine and New Hampshire because both are very northern locations, very far from my home, and I believe the closest major airport is Boston and I would have to travel even farther north after flying into Boston. In a nutshell, I was open to 45 states. IMHO, you are mostly likely to end up in Mississippi or Ohio. It seems that both states have difficulty holding onto ALJs. Also, Region 5 (or āVā in ODAR speak), in general, seems to have difficulty holding on to ALJs. Parts of Regions 1, 2, 3 and 9 seem the hardest to be assigned to. Again, this is MHO, others may disagree. I would also like to reiterate this. While its always possible any office will get a new judge when there is a hire, the overwhelming number of new ALJ's will be assigned to the industrial midwest and the rural south. These are the offices that previously new hire ALJ's transfer out of as soon as they are able so this is where the open offices are...
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Post by bartleby on Feb 11, 2013 17:38:29 GMT -5
With the exception of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the South has gained in popularity in recent years and is not as easy as it used to be to get into. Region V, ie., the industrial midwest seems to be a logical landing place for a lot of new ALJ's. It's not too bad if you can get near a good airport so you can fly home or fly loved ones out to see you. Detroit is a good airport as is Akron according to my wife.. But of course, you have to consider airports on your home end of the situation also. If your home is 250 miles from a good airport, you will be between a rock and a hard place.
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Post by grandparay on Feb 11, 2013 17:47:06 GMT -5
Does anyone have some inside info regarding the possible upcoming cert? I have heard that there will be less than 50 hires and I see the above discussion regarding locations. Has anyone heard about timing? Will we have to wait for a budget (or budget-like-substance)?
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