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Post by notyet on Mar 8, 2014 13:16:42 GMT -5
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Post by chinook on Mar 8, 2014 14:17:55 GMT -5
While I agree that Social Security is important, and a necessity for many elderly, what does this have to do with becoming an ALJ or even with SSDI that the SSA ALJs deal with.
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Post by decadealj on Mar 8, 2014 14:26:55 GMT -5
Maybe the time has come to split this blog into an "employment" and "practicum" section a la surveys section. There has too long been acrimony on this blog from the wannabes and those trying to struggle with ODAR hearing practices. Quite bluntly wannabes don't have the slightest inclination of the ODAR hearing process unless they are SSA folks and those folks don't need this blog to know what's going on in the hiring or SSA business practices. I thought one of the functions of this blog was to share ideas that worked to improve quality and productivity among sitting ALJs and staff. My bust.
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Post by deltajudge on Mar 8, 2014 19:03:12 GMT -5
8-)Decade, I got into trouble with Pixie and ALJD rightfully so in trying to tell wannabes what they were trying to get into. Overdid it,but had good intentions. Still they should know how inept their managers will be.The shame is, the wannabes are probably a lot smarter than them.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Mar 8, 2014 19:38:44 GMT -5
8-)Decade, I got into trouble with Pixie and ALJD rightfully so in trying to tell wannabes what they were trying to get into. Overdid it,but had good intentions. Still they should know how inept their managers will be.The shame is, the wannabes are probably a lot smarter than them. Thing is that your input is good. All sides whether good or bad need to be disclosed for those seeking an ALJ position with SSA. It's all good. Let the masses sort out what they think is important in accepting a position. Keep it flowing good or bad! Knowledge is a good thing.  |
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Post by hopefalj on Mar 9, 2014 12:40:30 GMT -5
Maybe the time has come to split this blog into an "employment" and "practicum" section a la surveys section. There has too long been acrimony on this blog from the wannabes and those trying to struggle with ODAR hearing practices. Quite bluntly wannabes don't have the slightest inclination of the ODAR hearing process unless they are SSA folks and those folks don't need this blog to know what's going on in the hiring or SSA business practices. I thought one of the functions of this blog was to share ideas that worked to improve quality and productivity among sitting ALJs and staff. My bust. Well, the "Welcome" thread at the top says: "This board was created to promote the civilized exchange of information related to ALJ hiring after the trolls infested the old board (aka TOB) back in 2007. Pix and I started this board with the goal to keep it relatively civil and clean of trolls." However, I certainly don't mind the occasional discussion on job conditions and welcome multiple points of view, even those I don't agree with. Unfortunately, it seems as though several threads as of late eventually turn into urinating contests between two camps, and both sides' refrain seems to be "You're not doing your job right, and I do my job better than you." What's interesting to me is that the people that are disillusioned with ODAR management or are largely anti-management on this board create posts that serve conflicting purposes. It seems that several of those folks, much like the AALJ, believe that claimants will best be served if there are fewer "management lackey" insiders hired and more independent, free-thinking outsiders brought into the ranks. Yet with every post that makes the job seem as though you're under constant attack from management, outsiders are being discouraged from pursuing the position. Those of us on the inside that are familiar with how the overall management works are not discouraged from pursuing the job because, as you said, we know how things generally work inside the agency. We get to talk to ALJs that tell us it's by far the best job they've ever had and encourage us to pursue it. Of course, I should probably encourage more negative posts so that my odds of getting the job increase ever so slightly.  |
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Post by chinook on Mar 9, 2014 15:34:24 GMT -5
I was not trying to start a fight about the inner workings of SSA nor was I saying there should be not discussion about the pros and cons of being an SSA ALJ. I lost the "lets keep it on just hiring" argument I a while ago. Although, I agree with hopefalj that this discussion about the inner workings of SSA has decreased participation on the board.
My only point on commenting about the original post is the I don't see how it applies to anything an SSA ALJ does. If I am wrong, I'd be interesting in knowing that. It was an interesting chart but I got the impression he is pushing that blog. I believe he cited to it previously.
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Post by bartleby on Mar 9, 2014 17:09:08 GMT -5
I feel like the decreased participation on the board is due to the lack of any information for the wannabees to discuss. There just isn't anything from OPM or SSA regarding new hires to discuss. I am sure that as soon as ANYTHING relative is released the board will go wild. As usual JMHO.
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Post by thankful1 on Mar 10, 2014 10:14:23 GMT -5
Maybe the time has come to split this blog into an "employment" and "practicum" section a la surveys section. There has too long been acrimony on this blog from the wannabes and those trying to struggle with ODAR hearing practices. Quite bluntly wannabes don't have the slightest inclination of the ODAR hearing process unless they are SSA folks and those folks don't need this blog to know what's going on in the hiring or SSA business practices. I thought one of the functions of this blog was to share ideas that worked to improve quality and productivity among sitting ALJs and staff. My bust. For what its worth, forum legend, this is a "forum," not a "blog." A "blog" is a shortened form of the word "weblog" and is defined as "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer." www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blog. I prefer the Urban Dictionary's editorialized definition, which is: "A meandering, blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the author the illusion that people are interested in their stupid, pathetic life." I won't provide the link on that one as the Urban Dictionary can be NSFW (That means Not Safe For Work). |
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Post by sealaw90 on Mar 10, 2014 11:24:32 GMT -5
And what makes you think that this isn't a meandering, blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the authors the illusion that other people are interested in their stupid, pathetic professional life's goal of being an ALJ? My spouse would say this is a blog, not a forum.
I don't care what you call it, I enjoy the camraderie and have learned a lot about SSA and the job.
:-)
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Post by JudgeRatty on Mar 10, 2014 11:35:56 GMT -5
And what makes you think that this isn't a meandering, blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the authors the illusion that other people are interested in their stupid, pathetic professional life's goal of being an ALJ? My spouse would say this is a blog, not a forum. I don't care what you call it, I enjoy the camraderie and have learned a lot about SSA and the job. :-) This gave me a chuckle! LOL! |
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Post by moopigsdad on Mar 10, 2014 12:13:11 GMT -5
Maybe the time has come to split this blog into an "employment" and "practicum" section a la surveys section. There has too long been acrimony on this blog from the wannabes and those trying to struggle with ODAR hearing practices. Quite bluntly wannabes don't have the slightest inclination of the ODAR hearing process unless they are SSA folks and those folks don't need this blog to know what's going on in the hiring or SSA business practices. I thought one of the functions of this blog was to share ideas that worked to improve quality and productivity among sitting ALJs and staff. My bust. For what its worth, forum legend, this is a "forum," not a "blog." A "blog" is a shortened form of the word "weblog" and is defined as "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer." www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blog. I prefer the Urban Dictionary's editorialized definition, which is: "A meandering, blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the author the illusion that people are interested in their stupid, pathetic life." I won't provide the link on that one as the Urban Dictionary can be NSFW (That means Not Safe For Work). Whether you call it a blog or forum, it is about the exchange of ideas and civility among members. I think at times the civility on the Board is severely tested by some comments. Let's try to be respectful of all ideas, not just the ones a poster may agree with personally. Let's avoid personal attacks and try to persuade others to one's side by logical argument, not personal attack. I think it improves the Board for all users IMHO. |
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Post by mcb on Mar 10, 2014 12:17:58 GMT -5
Whether you call it a blog or forum, it is about the exchange of ideas and civility among members. I think at times the civility on the Board is severely tested by some comments. Let's try to be respectful of all ideas, not just the ones a poster may agree with personally. Let's avoid personal attacks and try to persuade others to one's side by logical argument, not personal attack. I think it improves the Board for all users IMHO. Quit blogging!!!!! |
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Post by moopigsdad on Mar 10, 2014 12:25:52 GMT -5
Whether you call it a blog or forum, it is about the exchange of ideas and civility among members. I think at times the civility on the Board is severely tested by some comments. Let's try to be respectful of all ideas, not just the ones a poster may agree with personally. Let's avoid personal attacks and try to persuade others to one's side by logical argument, not personal attack. I think it improves the Board for all users IMHO. Quit blogging!!!!! Well stated mcb, well stated. LOL! |
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Post by decadealj on Mar 10, 2014 12:57:10 GMT -5
Wannabees- My best advice to all of you who make the final cut is to work on your computer and keyboarding skills. If you aren't very good already learn how to organize, cut, paste and edit medical records so that you have a head start at the hearing and evidence citations to give the writers a superior decision memo. And if you can submit it an electronic format, ALL THE BETTER. It will also aid you in working at home. Maybe everyone today is super computer literate- heaven knows my kids could not live in a non-electronic world. But those of you with limited computer skills (e-mail and document drafting) the current ODAR business practices will swallow you and spit you out unless you sleep with your computer.
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Post by litig8tor on Mar 10, 2014 15:09:01 GMT -5
Decadealj:
Thank you for a constructive suggestion on which I would like to follow up. I am an wannabee outsider just waiting for my NOR, so please forgive the naivete of my question. I am very computer literate in the programs I work with on a daily basis, but I have no idea as to which computer programs the SSA judges use. I am willing to put in the time to become better at programs with which I worked only occasionally or not at all. Which programs do you suggest for skills improvement?
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Post by decadealj on Mar 10, 2014 15:47:43 GMT -5
litig8tor- I wish I could tell you but my word processing skills left much to be desired. Hopefully, some knowledgeable ALJ or SA can provide a better answer. I know I have seen some discussion about the weaknesses of some SSA programs but I have no idea what was being discussed.
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Post by privateatty on Mar 10, 2014 15:51:55 GMT -5
I was not trying to start a fight about the inner workings of SSA nor was I saying there should be not discussion about the pros and cons of being an SSA ALJ. I lost the "lets keep it on just hiring" argument I a while ago. Although, I agree with hopefalj that this discussion about the inner workings of SSA has decreased participation on the board. My only point on commenting about the original post is the I don't see how it applies to anything an SSA ALJ does. If I am wrong, I'd be interesting in knowing that. It was an interesting chart but I got the impression he is pushing that blog. I believe he cited to it previously. There is TOB for those who want to rant. My big concern and I would warrant its shared is that we all should do what we can to increase, rather than decrease, participation. Right now we have maybe 15 to 20 SSA ALJs and two non-SSA ALJs and then 20-30 regular wanna be posters, a couple of score of sometimers, gobs of lurkers and da-dats all folks! A mere slice of what we used to have here. WADR, we all get that venting is healthy and that the doctine of caveat emptor is alive and well here as it pertains to ODAR. Further, we all get that like the law of discovery, if it leads to the uncovering of relevant material, ask away. But like anything else, it does have its limits. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 16:21:35 GMT -5
Decadealj: Thank you for a constructive suggestion on which I would like to follow up. I am an wannabee outsider just waiting for my NOR, so please forgive the naivete of my question. I am very computer literate in the programs I work with on a daily basis, but I have no idea as to which computer programs the SSA judges use. I am willing to put in the time to become better at programs with which I worked only occasionally or not at all. Which programs do you suggest for skills improvement? I think our friend Decadealj's comment may be typical of... (my applogies) ...some of the older ALJ's. I think it's very much a generational thing. If you define yourself as 'computer literate' then you'll be absolutely fine. I don't feel like I ever had an issue with the programs we work with, and I don't recall that any of the judges I trained with really needed to be shown more than once or twice. But, some of the older ALJ's that I have met, who might be my father's age, seem to struggle on occasion. Not all, of course. To answer your question, we spend time in Microsoft Word, and Outlook for e-mail. The majority of time is spent in CPMS, I.E. the Case Management Processing System. CPMS is not hard. If you can navigate the folders on your computer at home, you can get CPMS pretty much. CPMS gives us our itineraries, and tells how many cases we have in SIGN status, etc. CPMS lets you look at docments in DMA, Document Managment Architecture, which probablly most closely resembles Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). Instructions are drafted and decisions signed in WORD, with some SSA add-ins. Hope that was helpful, and good luck! |
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Post by Orly on Mar 10, 2014 17:54:19 GMT -5
Decadealj: Thank you for a constructive suggestion on which I would like to follow up. I am an wannabee outsider just waiting for my NOR, so please forgive the naivete of my question. I am very computer literate in the programs I work with on a daily basis, but I have no idea as to which computer programs the SSA judges use. I am willing to put in the time to become better at programs with which I worked only occasionally or not at all. Which programs do you suggest for skills improvement? I think our friend Decadealj's comment may be typical of... (my applogies) ...some of the older ALJ's. I think it's very much a generational thing. If you define yourself as 'computer literate' then you'll be absolutely fine. I don't feel like I ever had an issue with the programs we work with, and I don't recall that any of the judges I trained with really needed to be shown more than once or twice. But, some of the older ALJ's that I have met, who might be my father's age, seem to struggle on occasion. Not all, of course. To answer your question, we spend time in Microsoft Word, and Outlook for e-mail. The majority of time is spent in CPMS, I.E. the Case Management Processing System. CPMS is not hard. If you can navigate the folders on your computer at home, you can get CPMS pretty much. CPMS gives us our itineraries, and tells how many cases we have in SIGN status, etc. CPMS lets you look at docments in DMA, Document Managment Architecture, which probablly most closely resembles Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). Instructions are drafted and decisions signed in WORD, with some SSA add-ins. Hope that was helpful, and good luck! I concur with Robg's assessment. I was hired as an outsider in 2009 with no prior SSA experience. I learned all my SSA systems through on the job training after I finished initial ALJ training. If you are comfortable around computers, the SSA systems will be very easy to pick up and you should be comfortable with them within a few months of starting at your first duty station. So I wouldn't worry about it at all if you have already successfully master the computer systems you work with now. The technical aptitude you described will serve you just as well on the SSA side. Good luck! |
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