When the rubber hits the road and life is about to get real.

[moopigsdad]

I wanted to take time to wish all of our fellow Board members on the recent certs the best of luck with their interviews in Falls Church, Virginia for ODAR/SSA ALJ positions. I send you all on your way with this "adjusted" Irish Blessing:

Remember your fellow Board members respect you,
May any troubles neglect you,
May the angels protect you,
And most of all may ODAR/SSA accept you.

Good luck to all!

[Ace Midnight]

Gentlemen (and ladies), it's been a privilege flying with you.

[privateatty]

Valkyrie intimated that the wait between the interview and the offer will be the hardest. I cannot argue that opinion.

In a month (or two) the offers will come in and folks we have never heard from will post their offer to Region Whatever. That day (or maybe two--I hope for you not) will be a day of situational bourbon, nail-biting, teeth knashing and general malaise punctuated by a trip or two to the bathroom. While the odds are excellant that does not mean that some will not be disappointed.

[Ace Midnight]

I agree with this - this wait will be the toughest. Because those of us waiting for the call will have done everything we could, and completed every task required. Those that don't get that call, while still open for the possibility of next cert, will have expended the most effort for the least return at that point.

However, the good news is - I see a good portion of that group getting offers next year. Honestly, this process appears to have been more selective than in times past, and with fewer names extant - ODAR, in particular, will be less about "Who do we want to hire" and more about, "What order do we want to hire" of this group of ALJ candidates.

And I'm not just saying that because I'm involved this time.

[moopigsdad]

Sure you are saying it partly because you are involved in the cert this time acemidnight. I think a few of those not hired this time will be hired next time, but also I think a few people will never receive the hiring call for one reason or another.

[hopefalj]

Jun 5, 2014 10:51:08 GMT -5 Ace Midnight said:

However, the good news is - I see a good portion of that group getting offers next year. Honestly, this process appears to have been more selective than in times past, and with fewer names extant - ODAR, in particular, will be less about "Who do we want to hire" and more about, "What order do we want to hire" of this group of ALJ candidates.

And I'm not just saying that because I'm involved this time.

Not sure I agree, but you could be right. My thinking is that they'll want to see as much of the register as they can before they make their hires, and the only way to do that at this point is to eliminate candidates by hiring or three striking. A three struck candidate can always be revisited down the road.

Now obviously some folks from cert 1 will get hired from cert 2, but I dint think SSA is essentially just going to hire high scores because the testing process was more arduous, this yielding more qualified candidates on this register than on previous registers. The new testing process was not the result of SSA's input.

[deltajudge]

8-)I too wish all good luck to y'all who have anguished through the convoluted, complicated, confusing certification process. I couldn't have done it.

[dudeabides]

Life has always been "real." Do not put it off until some 3rd party gives you a gold star.

Each of you, at each stage, has done your best. Therefore, be at peace.

Alea iacta est!

[moopigsdad]

Well stated dudeabides.

[Ace Midnight]

Jun 5, 2014 11:59:13 GMT -5 hopefalj said:

Not sure I agree, but you could be right. My thinking is that they'll want to see as much of the register as they can before they make their hires, and the only way to do that at this point is to eliminate candidates by hiring or three striking. A three struck candidate can always be revisited down the road.

Now obviously some folks from cert 1 will get hired from cert 2, but I dint think SSA is essentially just going to hire high scores because the testing process was more arduous, this yielding more qualified candidates on this register than on previous registers. The new testing process was not the result of SSA's input.

I understand this position - and it seems consistent with past practices. However, because of the relatively limited number on the current register, I believe they will look at these first certers with an eye towards "screening out" the "not recommended" (for lack of a better term). Travel expenses for interviews are expensive, because we're not just talking about the candidates, we're also talking about the panelists. In any event, you could be correct and they may look at a whole batch of new people next time - reserving the option to go back and bring "three struck" candidates back for third/fourth certificates from this register.