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Post by gary on Aug 19, 2014 11:49:52 GMT -5
SSA still needs the judges and has the money to hire them. I am convinced that one way or another SSA will hire them.
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Post by moopigsdad on Aug 19, 2014 11:52:34 GMT -5
Well stated sratty. To all those out there on the register, please don't get overly anxious and calm down. You are on the register and now you just have to wait for an offer whether now or two years from now. It isn't about being the first, but about becoming an ALJ period.
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Post by robespierre on Aug 19, 2014 12:18:51 GMT -5
True, luckylady, but I'd rather see one really big cert right now. If they do it as several smaller ones, you run the risk that by the time they get to Cert 3 or 4:
(a) economic/political/budgetary conditions have changed and SSA reconsiders hiring, or
(b) they have "refreshed" the register and brought in a bunch of new high scorers above us <shudder>.
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Post by Gram Pop on Aug 19, 2014 12:58:43 GMT -5
I am not so sure the ALJ union has the information correct. The amount of present hires may be correct, but future hiring is just a guess on their part. Thanks for passing it on though, robg. The numbers were 43 and 27 (totaling 70 for the 2 classes) and that was directly from DC Sklar in an All Manager's call last week. I think the rest is speculation on the Union's part basing that on this first hiring of the new register. SSA has every intention of hiring as many ALJs as they can as quickly as they can. This whole new process is simply that...new. And they are making their way through the process learning how to deal with it. The turn around time for responses no doubt played a heavy roll in making the last class smaller than anticipated (45 being the original plan for each class). I think everyone needs to take Observer's advice and chill a bit before jumping to any conclusions. The goal has been to hire as many as they can as there are too many vacancies in the ALJ corps right now. It's a good time to be on the register folks. But jumping to conclusions has a long and honorable history on this board. Remember what Ben Franklin said: To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.I also enjoy idle speculation, WAG's and random gossip. Somehow, it seems to help pass the time.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Aug 19, 2014 13:01:45 GMT -5
The numbers were 43 and 27 (totaling 70 for the 2 classes) and that was directly from DC Sklar in an All Manager's call last week. I think the rest is speculation on the Union's part basing that on this first hiring of the new register. SSA has every intention of hiring as many ALJs as they can as quickly as they can. This whole new process is simply that...new. And they are making their way through the process learning how to deal with it. The turn around time for responses no doubt played a heavy roll in making the last class smaller than anticipated (45 being the original plan for each class). I think everyone needs to take Observer's advice and chill a bit before jumping to any conclusions. The goal has been to hire as many as they can as there are too many vacancies in the ALJ corps right now. It's a good time to be on the register folks. But jumping to conclusions has a long and honorable history on this board. Remember what Ben Franklin said: To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.I also enjoy idle speculation, WAG's and random gossip. Somehow, it seems to help pass the time. True. But I think folks appear to get a bit too stressed at times and I wouldn't want anyone to get too anxious over things that are not entirely accurate. But I agree, random gossip sure does help pass the time! And boy do we have a LOT of time in this process! LOL!
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tr33
Full Member
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Post by tr33 on Aug 19, 2014 15:32:15 GMT -5
Quote from the AALJ Newsletter that came out this morning...just passing on.... "From our meeting last week, we learned that the Agency has appointed 43 new judges who will report to their respective hearing offices on August 25; a second class of 28 judges will report to their offices in late September. There will be additional judges appointed late this calendar year as well as next year, however, these will be smaller classes." FYI: This statement still can be read to mean a large hire at the end of this calendar year. "There will be additional judges appointed late this calendar year (100-130 judges) as well as next year, however these will be smaller classes." (calendar year 2015, being the "smaller classes"). Meaning smaller, more targeted certs in calendar year 2015
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Post by Gaidin on Aug 19, 2014 16:50:42 GMT -5
But jumping to conclusions has a long and honorable history on this board. Remember what Ben Franklin said: To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.I also enjoy idle speculation, WAG's and random gossip. Somehow, it seems to help pass the time. True. But I think folks appear to get a bit too stressed at times and I wouldn't want anyone to get too anxious over things that are not entirely accurate. But I agree, random gossip sure does help pass the time! And boy do we have a LOT of time in this process! LOL! If anyone is to anxious though they can feel free to exit the ride now.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Aug 19, 2014 17:00:48 GMT -5
True. But I think folks appear to get a bit too stressed at times and I wouldn't want anyone to get too anxious over things that are not entirely accurate. But I agree, random gossip sure does help pass the time! And boy do we have a LOT of time in this process! LOL! If anyone is to anxious though they can feel free to exit the ride now. LOL! Concur!
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Post by gary on Aug 19, 2014 17:43:31 GMT -5
True. But I think folks appear to get a bit too stressed at times and I wouldn't want anyone to get too anxious over things that are not entirely accurate. But I agree, random gossip sure does help pass the time! And boy do we have a LOT of time in this process! LOL! If anyone is to anxious though they can feel free to exit the ride now. Everybody: Listen to Gaidan! Just take care of yourselves. And you don't need to worry about letting Bob down. Gaidan, Sratty and I with a few staunch volunteers will remain at our posts to insure that SSA will have enough ALJs.
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Post by ok1956 on Aug 19, 2014 17:53:56 GMT -5
If anyone is to anxious though they can feel free to exit the ride now. Everybody: Listen to Gaidan! Just take care of yourselves. And you don't need to worry about letting Bob down. Gaidan, Sratty and I with a few staunch volunteers will remain at our posts to insure that SSA will have enough ALJs. I'll volunteer to remain at my post!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2014 20:15:32 GMT -5
I am not saying the following should happen, but it is something to consider. If I wanted to see who was on the register to hire, and OPM would not give me as many names as I wanted I would look to "three strike" everyone on the first cert that I could. Then, I would ask for another cert to go further down the register. Thereafter, I would say to OPM for round 3 "it is okay to send people who have previously been given three bona fide considerations." That way, SSA is able to look at more people and to hire those they want, although not necessarily in the order that suits most people. So, if those who did not make the first cert are not on the second cert, it doesn't necessarily follow they won't be hired off cert 3 or cert 4. In fact, I believe there has been a discussion on this board before about people being hired after being told they were "three struck." Just a thought. Best luck to everyone.
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Post by gary on Aug 19, 2014 20:22:26 GMT -5
I am not saying the following should happen, but it is something to consider. If I wanted to see who was on the register to hire, and OPM would not give me as many names as I wanted I would look to "three strike" everyone on the first cert that I could. Then, I would ask for another cert to go further down the register. Thereafter, I would say to OPM for round 3 "it is okay to send people who have previously been given three bona fide considerations." That way, SSA is able to look at more people and to hire those they want, although not necessarily in the order that suits most people. So, if those who did not make the first cert are not on the second cert, it doesn't necessarily follow they won't be hired off cert 3 or cert 4. In fact, I believe there has been a discussion on this board before about people being hired after being told they were "three struck." Just a thought. Best luck to everyone. SSA may not need to have those with 3 strikes left off the second certs to accomplish this. I would think OPM would take into account the considerations eligibles have received in figuring out how many names are needed on the certs. If that is not how they are doing it, then your theory makes a lot of sense and may in fact be what SSA does.
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Post by hopefalj on Aug 19, 2014 20:58:11 GMT -5
I am not saying the following should happen, but it is something to consider. If I wanted to see who was on the register to hire, and OPM would not give me as many names as I wanted I would look to "three strike" everyone on the first cert that I could. Then, I would ask for another cert to go further down the register. Thereafter, I would say to OPM for round 3 "it is okay to send people who have previously been given three bona fide considerations." That way, SSA is able to look at more people and to hire those they want, although not necessarily in the order that suits most people. So, if those who did not make the first cert are not on the second cert, it doesn't necessarily follow they won't be hired off cert 3 or cert 4. In fact, I believe there has been a discussion on this board before about people being hired after being told they were "three struck." Just a thought. Best luck to everyone. SSA may not need to have those with 3 strikes left off the second certs to accomplish this. I would think OPM would take into account the considerations eligibles have received in figuring out how many names are needed on the certs. If that is not how they are doing it, then your theory makes a lot of sense and may in fact be what SSA does. Another thought is that OPM is aware that SSA could ask to remove three struck candidates. If SSA doesn't do so, OPM could very well assume that SSA finds all those candidates viable and would not need to provide additional names. SSA wanted more names with the first cert and didn't get it. That's why I brought up the possibility of killing the initial second cert and re-requesting the cert sans three strikers if they didn't like what they saw. I believe SSA's goal is to see as many unique names as possible as they make these hires. OPM's response to the request will likely dictate whether any possible three strikers make the next cert.
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Post by Gaidin on Aug 20, 2014 8:57:47 GMT -5
If anyone is to anxious though they can feel free to exit the ride now. Everybody: Listen to Gaidan! Just take care of yourselves. And you don't need to worry about letting Bob down. Gaidan, Sratty and I with a few staunch volunteers will remain at our posts to insure that SSA will have enough ALJs. After over 20 years I still remember my first general order. "I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved." Bob feel free to relieve me at any time.
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Post by robespierre on Aug 20, 2014 9:28:12 GMT -5
Quote from the AALJ Newsletter that came out this morning...just passing on.... "From our meeting last week, we learned that the Agency has appointed 43 new judges who will report to their respective hearing offices on August 25; a second class of 28 judges will report to their offices in late September. There will be additional judges appointed late this calendar year as well as next year, however, these will be smaller classes." FYI: This statement still can be read to mean a large hire at the end of this calendar year. "There will be additional judges appointed late this calendar year (100-130 judges) as well as next year, however these will be smaller classes." (calendar year 2015, being the "smaller classes"). Meaning smaller, more targeted certs in calendar year 2015 Clever. I didn't read it that way, and my gut is telling me that's not the right way to read it, but you're right, it's a possible interpretation.
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Post by Gaidin on Aug 20, 2014 9:44:10 GMT -5
If we accept that the first hiring was smaller than anticipated at least in part because of how long the offer/acceptances took. Doesn't it follow that ODAR will attempt to give itself more lead time on the next hiring?
Does anybody have information on when interviews will be other than the previously mentioned "November"?
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Post by Missundaztood on Aug 20, 2014 10:11:31 GMT -5
SSA could cut the time for acceptances to 24-hours? And/or maybe the next round will have enough unique names, I.e., limited GALs that SSA can make multiple offers at once?
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Post by gary on Aug 20, 2014 10:31:57 GMT -5
I'm not sure whether SSA has the authority to cut the offer/acceptance time. If it does, cutting it to 24 hours sounds good to me.
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Post by funkyodar on Aug 20, 2014 11:11:36 GMT -5
Hi all. Been swamped with job change and pressing family issues lately and haven't had time to post much.
Here's a funny bit of insight. While I am sure the selection committee looked at everything and undoubtedly knew of my insider status, that knowledge didn't extend very far. When I spoke to Bob after my emailed offer, he was surprised to find out I was an insider. What's more, I received all of the "onboarding" info about insurance options and what not, I called the HR contact and advised I just wanted to keep what I had. They, like Bob, were surprised to find out I was already with ssa. Said I wasn't on the list. Once added, I got to disregard much of the paperwork.
Now....this is my theory on the first and second cert interplay. I stress it is a theory. I think they reached for who they wanted. Once they had reached 70 they still had others they wanted, but couldn't reach without taking some unwanteds. I think they then went ahead and sent opm the list of hires and three struck and requested the second cert. This would allow them to get a look at where the left over wanteds from the first fell on the second. They had already asked for the staffing numbers and office space info. So they knew, less some taken by transfers, what offices they were wanting in the second.
So, they go ahead and get the second. With that in hand, they would be able to tell if reaching the other first cert wanteds would require maneuvering on the first or if they would be easier to get on the second. So I think they already have the second. If, after looking at it and gameplanning they want to add some cities or names, they can always supplement.
That said, I think you will see them play with it thru September and notices will finally go out after October 1. Interviews the first two weeks of November. I think you will see hiring around 120 with some wanteds from the second being pushed to a third cert next spring just as some from the first were pushed to the second.
I've been told this next hire will be broken into three or four start/training groups. So that could account for the "smaller classes" remark in the union newsletter.
I agree with sratty, ht and others. Remain calm, it is a great time to be on the reg. If even half of the aspirational hiring goals I have heard bandied about come to budgetary reality....everyone on the reg will get a shot to interview.
Good luck everybody.
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Post by Missundaztood on Aug 20, 2014 11:45:10 GMT -5
Sorry, funk, but I refuse to accept your assertion that Bob is anything except all-knowing.
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