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Post by sealaw90 on Aug 30, 2013 15:01:23 GMT -5
aljfaq, if you have scanned the job announcements for ALJs you may notice that they actually require a few years of experience as an ALJ. Your plan is okay as long as you realize you can't just play touch-and-go with SSA. How many years did the NLRB, FTC or any other agency judge spend as an SSA ALJ before jumping over to their favorite agency? I only found one ALJ who worked for agency X, got appointed as a SSA ALJ, spent 1 YEAR and then magically became an ALJ for their old agency X. SO, you might be better off taking a GS-14 attorney position right now with your favorite agency, kiss butt, work hard and wait your time on the ALJ register, then go play ALJ for SSA, and your beloved agency, when they have an ALJ opening will 'remember' you and you can leave SSA and work as an ALJ where you really want to. JMHO.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Aug 30, 2013 22:49:38 GMT -5
By the time you finished two years, it would most likely be moot. Who wants to walk away from such a flexibile schedule back to billing 2400 hours a year? Excellent point! I have to say having the ability to have such control over ones schedule with no billable hours and no calls after getting home is more than enough to make up for the money! It is an adjustment going from accounting for every 15 minutes of the day but once that adjustment is made... Never want to go back!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2013 23:10:52 GMT -5
aljfaq, if you have scanned the job announcements for ALJs you may notice that they actually require a few years of experience as an ALJ. The Coast Guard ALJ announcement only required 1 year, but notes that you must be "eligible for reinstatement." Anyone know (not speculate) what that means?: QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (Mandatory Qualifications): To qualify for this position, an applicant must have served at least one year as a Federal Administrative Law Judge at the AL-3 level or higher, or have served at least one year in the past as an Administrative Law Judge at the AL-3 level or higher and be eligible for reinstatement as a Federal Administrative Law Judge. Many times the job announcements are a complete exercise in BS because they already have their "ideal" candidate in mind. Just look at who these other agencies hire-they hire individuals who used to work for the agency. It is a wink wink arrangement, get on the roster, got to SSA for a couple of years and when the time is right we will advertise the job and we will hire you. In a few cases the candidate they hire has been an effective networker via a bar association or some other organization.
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Post by elmerfuddgantry on Aug 31, 2013 14:13:44 GMT -5
@ aljfaq :
>> (Nothing we do online is anonymous except from the other people participating on the board). <<
That's a pretty sweeping assertion. Are you referring to the recent NSA revelations or do you know something we don't? Such as, for example, that the forum is actually sponsored by SSA who is tracking-back IP addresses to associate them with applicants?
P.S. I hate the appearance of the "quote" function on this board so I am doing it the old-fashioned way.
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Post by privateatty on Aug 31, 2013 14:55:30 GMT -5
@ aljfaq : >> (Nothing we do online is anonymous except from the other people participating on the board). << That's a pretty sweeping assertion. Are you referring to the recent NSA revelations or do you know something we don't? Such as, for example, that the forum is actually sponsored by SSA who is tracking-back IP addresses to associate them with applicants? P.S. I hate the appearance of the "quote" function on this board so I am doing it the old-fashioned way. Oh, that's a bit paranoid. Mind you, I did entertain that idea at one time (when I lived at a much higher fear and anxiety level). There are folks who have confessed to being lurkers, not posters for this very reason. However, even the most conspiracy minded have not seriously entertained the idea as a real possibility--Puzzle Palace does have its limits and is busy enough with their regular day to day drama, I'm sure. Plus, they would need a source. That having been said of course you can trace IP addresses. ALJD and Pixie do not strike me as folks who would do that. The concern about this is a private sector prejudice, IMHO. At the end of the day, Puzzle Palace always has to justify why they thrice struck or passed one over because they could end up in Court--as they have. They don't need to figure out you're that obnoxious privateatty who disrespects them and calls them names. Its just so easy to deep six someone over an interview remark or what a reference thought was a compliment but in reality was seen a bit differently in the Palace...
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Post by elmerfuddgantry on Sept 1, 2013 15:59:44 GMT -5
>> That having been said of course you can trace IP addresses. << WitopiaUnless, of course, Witopia is an NSA honey trap.
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Post by sealaw90 on Sept 2, 2013 20:26:08 GMT -5
The Coast Guard ALJ announcement only required 1 year, but notes that you must be "eligible for reinstatement." Anyone know (not speculate) what that means?: QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (Mandatory Qualifications): To qualify for this position, an applicant must have served at least one year as a Federal Administrative Law Judge at the AL-3 level or higher, or have served at least one year in the past as an Administrative Law Judge at the AL-3 level or higher and be eligible for reinstatement as a Federal Administrative Law Judge. Many times the job announcements are a complete exercise in BS because they already have their "ideal" candidate in mind. Just look at who these other agencies hire-they hire individuals who used to work for the agency. It is a wink wink arrangement, get on the roster, got to SSA for a couple of years and when the time is right we will advertise the job and we will hire you. In a few cases the candidate they hire has been an effective networker via a bar association or some other organization. Exjag, that's exactly why I thought aljfaq should leave his current private position and work for the agency of his choice. As we know, it could be 1, 2, or several years before we actually get hired by SSA, and the time as a GS-14 (or whatever) is not wasted when an ALJ position comes open at the agency of their choice. I know it's a huge leap of faith, but isn't this whole process a huge leap of faith?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2013 7:32:18 GMT -5
Many times the job announcements are a complete exercise in BS because they already have their "ideal" candidate in mind. Just look at who these other agencies hire-they hire individuals who used to work for the agency. It is a wink wink arrangement, get on the roster, got to SSA for a couple of years and when the time is right we will advertise the job and we will hire you. In a few cases the candidate they hire has been an effective networker via a bar association or some other organization. Exjag, that's exactly why I thought aljfaq should leave his current private position and work for the agency of his choice. As we know, it could be 1, 2, or several years before we actually get hired by SSA, and the time as a GS-14 (or whatever) is not wasted when an ALJ position comes open at the agency of their choice. I know it's a huge leap of faith, but isn't this whole process a huge leap of faith? That would be the way to go but that would require lots of coordination and unknowns. I get a weekly e-mail from USAJOBS and I do not recall ever seeing any jobs being advertised by those agencies so he would need to have an internal connection to get hired in the first place.
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Post by sealaw90 on Sept 3, 2013 7:50:50 GMT -5
I get the same email and it has been awhile since I've seen them post a job. BUT, the new fiscal year will soon be upon us, and I predict there may be quite a few openings IF we get a Continuing Resolution passed. Lots of variables, and I think it might be hard to make the move and take a pay cut, all in the hopes of getting an ALJ position at an agency other than SSA. It is just food for thought for all of the lurkers/posters here who are currently in private practice.
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Post by yellowdog on Sept 3, 2013 9:25:16 GMT -5
The Coast Guard ALJ announcement only required 1 year, but notes that you must be "eligible for reinstatement." Anyone know (not speculate) what that means?: QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (Mandatory Qualifications): To qualify for this position, an applicant must have served at least one year as a Federal Administrative Law Judge at the AL-3 level or higher, or have served at least one year in the past as an Administrative Law Judge at the AL-3 level or higher and be eligible for reinstatement as a Federal Administrative Law Judge. Many times the job announcements are a complete exercise in BS because they already have their "ideal" candidate in mind. Just look at who these other agencies hire-they hire individuals who used to work for the agency. It is a wink wink arrangement, get on the roster, got to SSA for a couple of years and when the time is right we will advertise the job and we will hire you. In a few cases the candidate they hire has been an effective networker via a bar association or some other organization. As someone who has escaped ODAR, I can tell you that exafjag is way off. I went through a complete application and interview process with my current agency. Moreover, 6 of the last 7 hires have no experience with my current agency and I know of several ALJs who used to work for this agency as attorneys who have applied and not been hired.
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 3, 2013 10:20:40 GMT -5
Many times the job announcements are a complete exercise in BS because they already have their "ideal" candidate in mind. Just look at who these other agencies hire-they hire individuals who used to work for the agency. It is a wink wink arrangement, get on the roster, got to SSA for a couple of years and when the time is right we will advertise the job and we will hire you. In a few cases the candidate they hire has been an effective networker via a bar association or some other organization. As someone who has escaped ODAR, I can tell you that exafjag is way off. I went through a complete application and interview process with my current agency. Moreover, 6 of the last 7 hires have no experience with my current agency and I know of several ALJs who used to work for this agency as attorneys who have applied and not been hired. I don't think he's "way off" in suggesting that many times it does happen as he described, just because, as you point out, it isn't always that way. One can in fact go through an entire interview process unaware that the agency's intention all along was to hire someone else on the list. I've seen what he describes in state government hiring as well, but it doesn't always go that way there, either.
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Post by sealaw90 on Sept 3, 2013 11:37:25 GMT -5
Many times the job announcements are a complete exercise in BS because they already have their "ideal" candidate in mind. Just look at who these other agencies hire-they hire individuals who used to work for the agency. It is a wink wink arrangement, get on the roster, got to SSA for a couple of years and when the time is right we will advertise the job and we will hire you. In a few cases the candidate they hire has been an effective networker via a bar association or some other organization. As someone who has escaped ODAR, I can tell you that exafjag is way off. I went through a complete application and interview process with my current agency. Moreover, 6 of the last 7 hires have no experience with my current agency and I know of several ALJs who used to work for this agency as attorneys who have applied and not been hired. Thank you posting this yellowdog. For the most part, agencies have to comply with OPM regulations regarding hiring nowadays, although they didn't always do that in the past. Glad to hear you achieved escape velocity and landed in another agency - are you happy with your decision or do you wish you stayed with SSA (I assume that's where you started)?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2013 12:24:33 GMT -5
Many times the job announcements are a complete exercise in BS because they already have their "ideal" candidate in mind. Just look at who these other agencies hire-they hire individuals who used to work for the agency. It is a wink wink arrangement, get on the roster, got to SSA for a couple of years and when the time is right we will advertise the job and we will hire you. In a few cases the candidate they hire has been an effective networker via a bar association or some other organization. As someone who has escaped ODAR, I can tell you that exafjag is way off. I went through a complete application and interview process with my current agency. Moreover, 6 of the last 7 hires have no experience with my current agency and I know of several ALJs who used to work for this agency as attorneys who have applied and not been hired. Yellow dog, I am glad to hear of your story, I really am at least one agency is doing things on merit. I can tell you from personal experience however, especially when I was looking to leave ODAR, that it was a frustrating and I mean frustrating experience to get hired. Perhaps I should have sought a place in DC where most of the opportunities seem to pop up. I had numerous interviews with Custom's and Border Protection, DoD, Homeland Security and within SSA. I sought honest feed back from those that interviewed me and asked that it be brutally honest so that I could improve. But they often said that I had done well on the interview and if they had one more position I would have been their choice. I also did not apply to any job that was less than GS-13. I finally did get hired but I did it by going back to work at a less than desireable place where I had previously worked before and was known. It took me a year to get out of ODAR. Look at the job announcements carefully, when they have KSA's that are way too specific for the general attorney population to have such specific experience, I submit that they have a candidate in mind. Likewise, look at how long the job announcement is open for, if open for 5-7 days then there is a likelyhood that they have someone in mind.
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Post by moopigsdad on Sept 3, 2013 15:50:49 GMT -5
As someone who has escaped ODAR, I can tell you that exafjag is way off. I went through a complete application and interview process with my current agency. Moreover, 6 of the last 7 hires have no experience with my current agency and I know of several ALJs who used to work for this agency as attorneys who have applied and not been hired. Yellow dog, I am glad to hear of your story, I really am at least one agency is doing things on merit. I can tell you from personal experience however, especially when I was looking to leave ODAR, that it was a frustrating and I mean frustrating experience to get hired. Perhaps I should have sought a place in DC where most of the opportunities seem to pop up. I had numerous interviews with Custom's and Border Protection, DoD, Homeland Security and within SSA. I sought honest feed back from those that interviewed me and asked that it be brutally honest so that I could improve. But they often said that I had done well on the interview and if they had one more position I would have been their choice. I also did not apply to any job that was less than GS-13. I finally did get hired but I did it by going back to work at a less than desireable place where I had previously worked before and was known. It took me a year to get out of ODAR. Look at the job announcements carefully, when they have KSA's that are way too specific for the general attorney population to have such specific experience, I submit that they have a candidate in mind. Likewise, look at how long the job announcement is open for, if open for 5-7 days then there is a likelyhood that they have someone in mind. Exjag my knowledge and experience of others has more closely followed your route rather than yellowdog's route. More luck and power to yellowdog in being able to achieve the objective the way it was stated.
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Post by redryder on Sept 4, 2013 16:14:11 GMT -5
ALJFAQ: There is some info re: reinstatement at the opm.gov website. Looks like someone with veteran's preference can apply at any time. For the rest, not so clear from the website as it discusses having years of service in a career conditional position. ALJ appointment is not career conditional as there is no probationary period. However if the rules for career conditional apply to the non-vet ALJ, looks like you have to apply to be reinstated within 3 years of leaving federal service. So if you take the ODAR job for a year, leave and nothing comes up in another agency within 3 years, you may be out of luck with reinstatement.
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Post by privateatty on Sept 7, 2013 21:26:46 GMT -5
Thanks RedRyder. I took a look at the info posted on www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/reinstatement/It appears that veterans can leave and come back without restriction. Non-veterans that leave before the 3-year mark have to come back within 3 years after leaving. And Non-veterans that leave after being an ALJ for 3 years can come back at any time. (Assuming you were not involuntarily terminated.) You make two assumptions. One, that you will leave. Who knows, you may like the job so much (and the change of scenery) that you will stay. I would warrant at least 95% do. Two, that after you leave some Agency will take you back. That is a BIG assumption. I would think that not only would you need a record of huge production numbers but also that the HOD and HOCALJ said glowing things about you. Coming from the private sector I have been a bit surprised at the federal level of gossip and general office chatter.
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venus
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Post by venus on Sept 23, 2013 1:04:20 GMT -5
Long time lurker, first time poster...greetings from South Carolina. I have recently won a "national lottery" that has a substantial prize. However, I am not sure whether I should keep the money and decline the ALJ position, when it is offered (I did really well on the test and slightly below average on the interview); give the ticket to a new friend I just met that needs money for an orphanage overseas (probably not one you've heard of, it is new...no website yet, November probably); or eat the ticket and crap gold for the rest of my life.
What would you do?
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Post by privateatty on Sept 23, 2013 15:39:21 GMT -5
Long time lurker, first time poster...greetings from South Carolina. I have recently won a "national lottery" that has a substantial prize. However, I am not sure whether I should keep the money and decline the ALJ position, when it is offered (I did really well on the test and slightly below average on the interview); give the ticket to a new friend I just met that needs money for an orphanage overseas (probably not one you've heard of, it is new...no website yet, November probably); or eat the ticket and crap gold for the rest of my life. What would you do? " I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said." --William Buckley
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2013 16:10:24 GMT -5
Long time lurker, first time poster...greetings from South Carolina. I have recently won a "national lottery" that has a substantial prize. However, I am not sure whether I should keep the money and decline the ALJ position, when it is offered (I did really well on the test and slightly below average on the interview); give the ticket to a new friend I just met that needs money for an orphanage overseas (probably not one you've heard of, it is new...no website yet, November probably); or eat the ticket and crap gold for the rest of my life. What would you do? I would probably fund, in perpetuity, a college seminar on humor at some South Carolina institution of higher learning and provide scholarships. There seems to be a need!
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Post by ssaogc on Sept 23, 2013 17:44:46 GMT -5
She did not leave SSA to be a special master. She went from SSA to ITC.
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