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Post by reallawyer on Jul 11, 2013 22:20:45 GMT -5
Depending on where you live, you're looking at $300. flight; 150. hotel; 50. rental car; and $100. misc. or $600. total times 2 trips which can be done for $1,200.00. I assume most all of us who have over 7 years litigation experience make enough money to cover that. And D.C. is a great place to visit. It has everything you might want except for decent pro sports teams. (Go Packers). Turn it into a short vacation. See the sights. And its all tax deductible. You have a good time and who knows what will happen with the testing.
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 12, 2013 7:01:09 GMT -5
Funky you should be a standup comic instead of an alj! I've been telling my friends about you over brunch on Sundays, they too find you quite entertaining!!! Thanks dreamer. My natural response to stress is to try to laugh it away. Pity the poor folks that will sit near me at the DC testing. I promise the mumbling and giggling isn't a mental illness. I have been tested.
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Post by bartleby on Jul 12, 2013 7:14:35 GMT -5
Someone asked if there was any feedback in the system. When I went for my SSA panel interview, after it was over, I asked one of the panel Judges how I did. She said, you aren't broken. I said what does that mean and she said we can't make you, we can only break you, and you aren't broken. I later found out that all they could do was one of three things. Highly recommend, recommend, or not recommend. I guess she meant that in my case they were either recommending or highly recommending me. No one offers feedback, but if you ask, sometimes they will give you an idea as to how you did.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jul 12, 2013 7:45:23 GMT -5
Someone asked if there was any feedback in the system. When I went for my SSA panel interview, after it was over, I asked one of the panel Judges how I did. She said, you aren't broken. I said what does that mean and she said we can't make you, we can only break you, and you aren't broken. I later found out that all they could do was one of three things. Highly recommend, recommend, or not recommend. I guess she meant that in my case they were either recommending or highly recommending me. No one offers feedback, but if you ask, sometimes they will give you an idea as to how you did. So, bartleby that was then, what about now? Has ODAR broken you since that time a few years ago?
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Post by bartleby on Jul 12, 2013 8:50:58 GMT -5
I am bent in many places, but I struggle on, not for me, but for you and the others, I am a selfless man, and give until there is nothing left to give... Actually, it is all good. It has been emotionally draining to follow all of the newbies and see their enthusiasm dashed upon the rocks. You all have been a great bunch, very supportive and you all seem to play well together. It is heartbreaking when you think of the number of applicants, probably all well qualified, and see them just peeled off layer by layer. So few get hired out of the original bunch. As Val said before, being cast aside by this process says way more about the process than it does about the applicants. I look forward to working with the rest of you as you cling viciously to every rung of the ladder until you are kicked aside. Further, you must remember that many of those in Robe were cast aside previously and just refused to roll over. I will share something you must not tell the others, but even I, the Great Bartleby, was cast aside originally for not having enough experience. At the time, I had 11 years of litigation and 12 years of ODAR.. Mrs. Bartleby, she who must not be disobeyed, was also cast aside with 25 years of litigation.. Now she wears the Robe and the pants in the family. Don't tell the kitties, they think I am the Alpha of the house.. I will never be broken as I have discovered the late Mr. Loupner's secret. I got rid of my backbone.. Stay thirsty my friends and remember, it's FRIDAY!!!!
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Post by sandiferhands (old) on Jul 12, 2013 9:48:10 GMT -5
I have no experience with ALJ interviews, but plenty with employment interviews, from both sides of the desk. If your only fear is as you stated, the "Oh-not-him-again!" shame, then I suggest you definitely sweep that aside and move forward with this process. Unless you interview for the exact same position with the exact same people I'd say there's virtually no chance that anyone would have that reaction.
If you're concerned about your interview skills have a lawyer friend stage a mock interview and video you, then you both tear it apart. It is amazing what you can learn by seeing yourself on video in this situation.I use this technique to depo train my clients and witnesses, and they invariably have an "ah-ha!" moment.
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Post by bhappy on Jul 12, 2013 15:40:13 GMT -5
Thanks all for your thoughts, especially the humorous ones. I guess my question is whether SSA has an internal tracking system that alerts SSA that a candidate has interviewed before and if so, are the prior interview and record considered or does the candidate get a fresh look with a new cert?
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Post by 71stretch on Jul 12, 2013 15:55:26 GMT -5
Thanks all for your thoughts, especially the humorous ones. I guess my question is whether SSA has an internal tracking system that alerts SSA that a candidate has interviewed before and if so, are the prior interview and record considered or does the candidate get a fresh look with a new cert? Well, first, to keep the terminology straight, it's new register, not new cert. I don't know how much recordkeeping there will be from prior interviews under the old register once that register is terminated. Part of the "record" is the same, as far as work history is concerned, with the addition of your work since 2009; the rest is new because of the new process. I'm sure there are people on the current register who went on there in 2007 and were not picked up for years, until after the refresh in 2009-10. You don't know that you even have some sort of "not him" by your name. If I were you, I'd stick with the process-- if those of us who were three struck on the old register can do it, you can, too.
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Post by privateatty on Jul 12, 2013 16:21:27 GMT -5
Go to DC or give me your address so I can come smack you:) you got to take your shot. You never know be optimistic. I bet a significant number of aljs especially recent ones got rejected at least once. You're looking at one. I can hear it now, when I was in 6th grade and didn't get picked for either kick-ball team: REJECT! But I'm smiling as I write this,,,
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Post by philliesfan on Jul 12, 2013 16:56:19 GMT -5
You should never give up. I first applied for the ALJ job in 1987, and did it two more times, 1993, 2007. I had given up almost all hope, when I was working at home on a Wednesday and the phone rang with a 703 area code (That's Falls Church BTW). I was offered a position as an ALJ not in my home town. My wife, who was standing next me said take it, which I did. I got back home in 5 months. So you never know.
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Post by factfinder on Jul 12, 2013 19:16:26 GMT -5
Re costs - Washington Hotels are quite expensive - think $250 per night unless you are lucky or don't mind tough digs. You can stay in Crystal City or Rosslyn and commute in by Metro (or even Alexandria). Also, there is no Metro line convenient to OPM in my opinion and DC is darn hot and humid in the summer. Take a taxi and arrive in good shape. Oh early is better than late - really!!
One piece of advice on the WD - bring a couple of Cliff Bars - it is a darn long time to go without food.
Save your work often and practice your typing skills.
Take the test for heavens sake. They really thinned down the number who will be taking it.
Oh, re GAL - I put three places and got picked. It is all a mystery and no one ever knows why what happens happens.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 12, 2013 19:26:17 GMT -5
Thanks all for your thoughts, especially the humorous ones. I guess my question is whether SSA has an internal tracking system that alerts SSA that a candidate has interviewed before and if so, are the prior interview and record considered or does the candidate get a fresh look with a new cert? Surely you jest.... you are giving way more credit to the agency than is deserved in this respect. Now, don't get me wrong, I work for SSA and I love my job. But I am fairly sure there is no conspiracy to keep track of all the prior apps etc. We aren't that on the ball or advanced. LOL!
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true
Full Member
Posts: 81
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Post by true on Jul 12, 2013 20:42:19 GMT -5
Funky you should be a standup comic instead of an alj! I've been telling my friends about you over brunch on Sundays, they too find you quite entertaining!!! Mr. Chow from the Hangover movies is a licensed MD, and was discovered doing stand up in New Orleans. Now he is a millionaire!
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Post by niqueoftime on Jul 12, 2013 23:15:57 GMT -5
I agree with statman! I also believe that persistence has its rewards! If you truly want the job, go for it. There are no guarantees, but I highly doubt that your being passed over was anything so personal that the people at ODAR will have any memory of it. In my estimation, your chances are as good as any person who was not passed over. FYI I am a current ALJ.
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Post by mcb on Jul 13, 2013 1:14:00 GMT -5
You should never give up. I first applied for the ALJ job in 1987, and did it two more times, 1993, 2007. I had given up almost all hope, when I was working at home on a Wednesday and the phone rang with a 703 area code (That's Falls Church BTW). I was offered a position as an ALJ not in my home town. My wife, who was standing next me said take it, which I did. I got back home in 5 months. So you never know. Ah the 703 area code call. I received a call at work on my cell phone with the 703 area code the day they started offering posistions, August 3, 2010 (my third attempt as well - 2007, 2008 and 2009). My sister and her family live in Burke, VA, but I knew it wasn't their phone #, so I figured it had to be the offer I'd been waiting for. :-) aljdiscussion.proboards.com/post/27059/threadThe offer was for an ODAR 2300 miles from home with a report date of September 26, 2010, and less than 4 months later I received a transfer to an ODAR approximately 30 miles from home (though it actually took 10 months to get back home because it was a new ODAR which was under construction when I received the reassignment offer and it didn't open till August 1, 2011).
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Post by justicedog on Jul 14, 2013 10:23:21 GMT -5
Take the test for heavens sake. They really thinned down the number who will be taking it.any idea of how many will be taking the test?
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Post by bhappy on Jul 15, 2013 16:59:58 GMT -5
Thanks all for your thoughts, especially the humorous ones. I guess my question is whether SSA has an internal tracking system that alerts SSA that a candidate has interviewed before and if so, are the prior interview and record considered or does the candidate get a fresh look with a new cert? Well, first, to keep the terminology straight, it's new register, not new cert. I don't know how much recordkeeping there will be from prior interviews under the old register once that register is terminated. Part of the "record" is the same, as far as work history is concerned, with the addition of your work since 2009; the rest is new because of the new process. I'm sure there are people on the current register who went on there in 2007 and were not picked up for years, until after the refresh in 2009-10. You don't know that you even have some sort of "not him" by your name. If I were you, I'd stick with the process-- if those of us who were three struck on the old register can do it, you can, too. Observer53, I skipped over the new register given the assumption that to make a cert, you made the registry.
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Post by 71stretch on Jul 15, 2013 17:12:41 GMT -5
Well, first, to keep the terminology straight, it's new register, not new cert. I don't know how much recordkeeping there will be from prior interviews under the old register once that register is terminated. Part of the "record" is the same, as far as work history is concerned, with the addition of your work since 2009; the rest is new because of the new process. I'm sure there are people on the current register who went on there in 2007 and were not picked up for years, until after the refresh in 2009-10. You don't know that you even have some sort of "not him" by your name. If I were you, I'd stick with the process-- if those of us who were three struck on the old register can do it, you can, too. Observer53, I skipped over the new register given the assumption that to make a cert, you made the registry. Makes sense-- I made the point only because over the years we've had people use the terms interchangeably, and confusion among others in the given discussion ensues...
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