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Post by nyctourist on Jan 29, 2008 21:11:08 GMT -5
I'm going in at 9:00 Thursday morning. I'm glad my wait time was on this side making the back side wait shorter. I'm getting pretty tight about this deal.
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Post by jagghagg on Jan 29, 2008 21:30:48 GMT -5
I'm getting pretty tight about this deal They saved the best for last!!!!
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Post by Propmaster on Jan 30, 2008 17:58:21 GMT -5
I interviewed yesterday. I was unhappy with my performance. I don't think I did horribly, in fact, I was probably at or above average. However, with my score I think I needed to hit a "home run" in order to merit having someone higher skipped over for me. If unsuitable people are avoided and outstanding people are cherry-picked, that will still leave a lot in the middle for whom there is no real way or reason to differentiate, and I expect SSA will fall back on scores in that instance for lack of a better plan.
I managed to say in the interview that I am the network administraator for the computers in my office, and familiar with the relevant computer programs; I can't figure out how I failed to have any of that information on my resume, and I don't know how well it will transfer into the decision-making since it was only oral.
The source of my distress at my performance concerns not my demeanor and not the things I said, but rather things I failed to say. About 1/3 of the way in, one of the interviewers asked me a follow-up question that made it clear (to me - unless am I simply being over-critical) in retrospect that I had been failing to address a particular aspect of the questions up to that point. Although I then think I improved my answers, that's a lot of missed opportunities.
In any event - thanks to everyone who posted on this board about their experiences and their speculations. Even reading baseless gossip helps pass the days while waiting for action on the appointment front.
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Post by texasatty on Jan 30, 2008 17:58:58 GMT -5
I just took the interview. The contributors to this web site were very helpful in preparing for the interview. Although I generally understood that SSA is looking for, many of the questions were so specific and focused that a few caught me flat-footed. I know I flubbed a couple after talking with a fellow interviewee. Oh well.
For those of you yet to be interviewed, remember what SSA is looking for: efficient, hard-working, even-tempered, computer literate, organized, team-players. Look for questions to permit you to describe those attributes in yourself. You'll do fine.
I suspect that at this stage, everyone interviewing, or on the cert. for that matter, has wonderful credentials. On paper, I'm sure we all appear eminently qualified. We wouldn't be where we are if we were lazy, trouble-making, policy violators. I suspect the chemistry factor is critical in the interview. The interviewers are high level SSA ALJ personnel. I suspect at the end of the day, the key question becomes, "would you want this person to work for you"? This is regardless of the format for "grading" the interviewees. It will come down to, "would you want this person to work for you"?
Best of luck to all!!!
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Post by carjack on Jan 31, 2008 16:09:59 GMT -5
I interviewed Tuesday. Maybe I ran on a little long on my responses, but I too had several susequent questions that were started before I finished what I was saying. Nothing says "yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever" like interrupting someone before he has finished answering a question.
I was taken aback a little on the format . . . "tell us 18 times you remembered to floss after brushing even though you were interrupted by the telephone ringing and whether you remembered to rewash your hands before completing the flossing process." Nobody imparted any info about their backgrounds or anything to do with the interview. They introduced themselves and launched into the Q and A.
I think my panel was late for lunch when I finished because there were no final pleasantries, no "do you have any questions" follow-up and it was wonderful to meet you, simply a wham bam thank you ma'am. I felt so used. Hopefully it was just a sign they were getting a little slap happy after interviewing for so many weeks.
Luckily however my plane home was diverted an extra night in Chicago due to a blizzard and me with my overcoat packed (O'Hare was stuffy on the way there). After two hours on the runway we ran out of ice melt and the pilot said nobody was leaving Chicago that night. I went to DC for an interview and got to experience -25 windchill without my overcoat. If I were superstitious, I'd take that as a bad sign. I told the lady at SATO not to send me through Chicago in January, but she had insisted! Maybe that was the final part of the test - how much do you really like to travel - and under adverse conditions?
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Post by nonamouse on Jan 31, 2008 18:38:49 GMT -5
Luckily however my plane home was diverted an extra night in Chicago due to a blizzard and me with my overcoat packed (O'Hare was stuffy on the way there). After two hours on the runway we ran out of ice melt and the pilot said nobody was leaving Chicago that night. I went to DC for an interview and got to experience -25 windchill without my overcoat. If I were superstitious, I'd take that as a bad sign. I told the lady at SATO not to send me through Chicago in January, but she had insisted! Maybe that was the final part of the test - how much do you really like to travel - and under adverse conditions? Maybe you will have good results to balance out your freaky travel? I feel your pain on the travel. I insisted on a direct flight for this interview thereby avoiding Chicagoland in the dead of winter. I went through there on the way back from DC the previous time in a scary thunderstorm after changing flight paths practically N. into Canada to no avail. I just kept picturing that jet sliding on the snow into the street at Midway a year or so ago. It was still an experience that I don't want to repeat sliding down that short runway at Midway in the rain. They were holding my connecting flight, but we had to run. By the time I arrived home in the wee hours it took an hour to get the parking shuttle to pick me up. I was punch drunk by the time I drove home. At least the police didn't stop me and make me tap dance on the side of the road too.
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Post by tigger18 on Jan 31, 2008 21:38:03 GMT -5
Carjack - I had the same experience at my interview. I interviewed late in the afternoon and had no exchanges or pleasantries with my panel. They introduced themselves, began asking questions and then after the last question, that was it. I was prepared for the format after the OPM interview and somewhat prepared for the questions but I think I did not answer one or two well and could have answered several better. Unlike some other posters, I did not find this a particularly pleasant experience but then I don't like the "canned question" format that allows for no exchange or feedback between the interviewer and interviewee. Glad I wasn't the only one who felt this way - I was beginning to wonder - "is it just me?"...
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Post by doctorwho on Jan 31, 2008 21:47:59 GMT -5
Carjack - I had the same experience at my interview. I interviewed late in the afternoon and had no exchanges or pleasantries with my panel. They introduced themselves, began asking questions and then after the last question, that was it. I was prepared for the format after the OPM interview and somewhat prepared for the questions but I think I did not answer one or two well and could have answered several better. Unlike some other posters, I did not find this a particularly pleasant experience but then I don't like the "canned question" format that allows for no exchange or feedback between the interviewer and interviewee. Glad I wasn't the only one who felt this way - I was beginning to wonder - "is it just me?"... That's a shame y'all, but I wouldn't get down about it. It sounds like both of you had interviews during a tough part of the days and the panel was tired. My interview was first thing on the first day. The panel was alive, inquisitive and very pleasant. It was probably just luck of the draw. From all of the posts we've looked at, it looks like the interviewers at SSA were doing their best to be fair in their evaluations (the notetaker, in fact, was there to catch all the responses). I wouldn't worry too much.
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julie
Full Member
Posts: 31
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Post by julie on Feb 2, 2008 13:50:58 GMT -5
I interviewed this past Thursday (1/31/08) in the am, and had a very pleasant and enjoyable interview. I want to thank everyone for their posts, both about the interview and about the hotel, travel, taxi fares, and Skyline Tower location. It all really helped me get oriented, and eliminated a lot of anxieties. There were 5 other candidates when I arrived (2 men and 3 women), but the interviews started almost immediately thereafter, so I wasn't able to find out which one was nyctourist (who was scheduled at the same time). I found some of the interviw questions difficult, especially when asked to give specific (and short!) examples, but answered as best as I could. Best of luck to everyone here. And thanks again to everyone for all your generous and thoughtful posts.
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Post by carjack on Aug 10, 2009 16:27:31 GMT -5
Bump.
For those of you who haven't interviewed yet, I thought this might be of some interest. It's from the first set of interviews in '08. I did not get a warm fuzzy from the SSA interview and my panel last year was at least 6 people. Maybe this year was different but I think that those who are going to interview shouldn't be too complacent.
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Post by traceb on Aug 11, 2009 9:21:27 GMT -5
Bump. For those of you who haven't interviewed yet, I thought this might be of some interest. It's from the first set of interviews in '08. I did not get a warm fuzzy from the SSA interview and my panel last year was at least 6 people. Maybe this year was different but I think that those who are going to interview shouldn't be too complacent. It looks like those who interviewed later in the day did not perceive the event in a very positive light, mostly due to the panel being exhausted from interviewing all those before. I wonder how many interviewees this time will be in the situation I am in, a 4:00 interview. By the time I arrive I will have been up since 5:00 a.m. and on a plane, in an airport or in a cab all day. Talk about exhaustion. I think I'll probably try to mention that up front if I get a chance, good idea or no?
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Post by barkley on Aug 11, 2009 11:29:28 GMT -5
[ By the time I arrive I will have been up since 5:00 a.m. and on a plane, in an airport or in a cab all day. Talk about exhaustion. I think I'll probably try to mention that up front if I get a chance, good idea or no? If you have come this far and you really are spending that much time in transit, so ahead and spring for the hotel room the night before, even if SSA won't. You don't want to wonder later.
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Post by traceb on Aug 11, 2009 11:55:19 GMT -5
never start an interview with an excuse. Do your best, adrenalin will carry you through (or a power bar whatever works). [/quote]
This is very good advice. I'll bring Krispi-Kreme's instead.
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Post by Legal Beagle on Aug 11, 2009 15:10:04 GMT -5
Bring plenty to pass around the office while you wait.
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