Post by hilltopper on Jul 15, 2013 9:32:52 GMT -5
I joined this forum almost 6 years ago. I think it was two months after Pixie and crew started it because the other ALJ-hopeful forum had become somewhat fractious. The folks here are down to earth and offer good advice. Many are ALJ's. Many are long-time wannabes - like me.
This will be my third WD in 6 years. First time around, I did not prepare and scored a low 50's on the NOR.
Second time around I prepared better (yes, unlike some of my fellow long-term lurkers, I think you can prepare for the WD by reading ALJ opinions from multiple agencies in order to get a feel for how to best format and approach your response) and the result was a mid 70's number.
I suspect I am qualified to serve as an ALJ given that I was Law Review Editor and a Moot Court winner, clerked for a Fed. Dist. Ct. Judge for two years, have litigated in front of both Art. III and Art. I judges for 20+years, and generally enjoyed "playing nice" with my peers as evidenced by my Martindale Hubble AV rating.
Despite all of this "evidence" SSA has refused me on at least 4 certs. And, I have not even been on the past 3 certs. So, it is apparent that OPM has 3-struck me at SSA's request.
The process is not fair and does not judge merit. It is a beauty contest. Treat it like that and play to the judges and what they want. Play the game. Who are the contest judges you ask? They are not employed by OPM even though OPM supposedly controls the process. They are the folks at SSA. Face it. Embrace it. Move past it.
If you didn't make it to the WD and SI this time around but really want to serve, stay in touch with this board and try again in 3 years or so. You will have the chance. SSA goes through a lot of judges.
If you made it through to the 3rd phase this time, don't get co*ky. Lots of people, even more qualified than you have made it through and have never been selected.
What can you do to increase your chances? Obviously, I haven't figured that one out yet. But, I keep tweaking the edges of my approach. This time I'll probably get my legs waxed and learn 17 different ways to say "all we need is world peace" so the judges will like my SI answers better than the next contestant. I might even grow a beard like his "Funkyness."
Am I a glutton for punishment? Of course I am.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, whoever you are, if, like me, you really want this, hang in there. Someday the law of averages will reward you, but only if you keep at it. ... Either that, or you'll have world peace.
This will be my third WD in 6 years. First time around, I did not prepare and scored a low 50's on the NOR.
Second time around I prepared better (yes, unlike some of my fellow long-term lurkers, I think you can prepare for the WD by reading ALJ opinions from multiple agencies in order to get a feel for how to best format and approach your response) and the result was a mid 70's number.
I suspect I am qualified to serve as an ALJ given that I was Law Review Editor and a Moot Court winner, clerked for a Fed. Dist. Ct. Judge for two years, have litigated in front of both Art. III and Art. I judges for 20+years, and generally enjoyed "playing nice" with my peers as evidenced by my Martindale Hubble AV rating.
Despite all of this "evidence" SSA has refused me on at least 4 certs. And, I have not even been on the past 3 certs. So, it is apparent that OPM has 3-struck me at SSA's request.
The process is not fair and does not judge merit. It is a beauty contest. Treat it like that and play to the judges and what they want. Play the game. Who are the contest judges you ask? They are not employed by OPM even though OPM supposedly controls the process. They are the folks at SSA. Face it. Embrace it. Move past it.
If you didn't make it to the WD and SI this time around but really want to serve, stay in touch with this board and try again in 3 years or so. You will have the chance. SSA goes through a lot of judges.
If you made it through to the 3rd phase this time, don't get co*ky. Lots of people, even more qualified than you have made it through and have never been selected.
What can you do to increase your chances? Obviously, I haven't figured that one out yet. But, I keep tweaking the edges of my approach. This time I'll probably get my legs waxed and learn 17 different ways to say "all we need is world peace" so the judges will like my SI answers better than the next contestant. I might even grow a beard like his "Funkyness."
Am I a glutton for punishment? Of course I am.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, whoever you are, if, like me, you really want this, hang in there. Someday the law of averages will reward you, but only if you keep at it. ... Either that, or you'll have world peace.