Expansion of GAL

[paattorney]

Hello all,

I was just wondering if anyone has any insights on the likelihood of OPM allowing individuals to expand their GAL anytime soon?  I know that this has happened in some years past, but does anyone know when?  Has it always been near the expiration of the register?  Did this happen the last time around?  Just speculation, I know, but this has been on my mind as someone who selected a limited GAL and after some thought would like to expand.  Thanks.

[71stretch]

It happened in June 2012, when the last register was two years from its last refresh, with lots of folks added in June 2010 from Nov 2009 applications. It had never happened before , so we don't have much to go on. ODAR was starting to think (and had probably told OPM) that the register was pretty picked over as far as they were concerned. We are a long way from that now. Even though a lot of people may have small GALs on this register, I think they did on the last one, too. I think we are not going to see such a move any, or much, sooner than last time.

[paattorney]

Thanks for the info, observer53.  I didn't realize that June 2012 was the ONLY time that GAL expansion was permitted.  It does give me hope that it happened recently.  Theoretically, this may be a new practice (allowing expansion towards the end of the life of the list) that they implement again in 2015.  

[spousemouse]

It is also worth knowing that the expanded GAL only applied to the final hire in September 2013. The Summer 2012 cert used the original GAL list, even though expansions had been submitted. It was only the final winter 2013 cert, which came out shortly before the new testing began, that use the expanded GAL lists for the small hire of about 30 in September 2013. (On a note related to another thread, I think this may be what SEC is doing now, by using the six month old cert up until fiscal year end.)

My impression was that expansion was allowed because SSA wanted to see some fresh candidates and/or be able to access good candidates it knew were on the list from prior interview cycles, recommendations, etc., etc. but whose cities were rarely or never reached. I certainly see reason to hope that might happen again in another year or two.

[anotherfed]

You mean winter of 2013.

[spousemouse]

Sept 1, 2014 9:45:07 GMT -5 anotherfed said:

You mean winter of 2013.

It was something like Feb '13. Winter years are confusing, but I couldn't recall the exact date and apparently fixed it by using the wrong year I updated to hopefully get the right times now.

[futuressaalj]

This new register has changed all the rules pertaining to the way the register is managed and used. SSA can no longer get one big cert and selectively navigate around to reach specific people they like and not strictly follow the 1-3 procedure for each location. So far, to fill 70 positions they saw only ~170 names on a register that is rumored to consist of about about 1K. I have also seen posts from redryder that hiring will not be as large in the coming years as it was for the prior register. With the new rules and limited hiring, I do not believe we will see a GAL expansion in 2015 or 2016--they may refresh the register after 2016 and if you want to roll the dice, then you can go through the testing process again to get a bigger GAL.

[gary]

I thought when they refresh the register they also allow people already on the register to expand their GALs. The unique event was when they allowed GAL expansion when they were not refreshing the register.

[futuressaalj]

Good point gary, I was under the impression you had to undergo the testing again to expand your GAL during a refresh and that they only allowed the GAL expansion once. Perhaps Observer53 can settle the question.

[gary]

I agree. Someone like O53 having more knowledge of OPM's past GAL expansion/register refresh practices can surely answer this question.

[hopefalj]

Sept 1, 2014 12:39:09 GMT -5 futuressaalj said:

Good point gary, I was under the impression you had to undergo the testing again to expand your GAL during a refresh and that they only allowed the GAL expansion once. Perhaps Observer53 can settle the question.

You can expand your GAL without having to retake the test when the register opens up. Of course, you can opt to retake the test if you so choose as well.

[privateatty]

Sept 1, 2014 12:39:09 GMT -5 futuressaalj said:

Good point gary, I was under the impression you had to undergo the testing again to expand your GAL during a refresh and that they only allowed the GAL expansion once. Perhaps Observer53 can settle the question.

No, in the past you didn't have to retest in order to refresh. The circumstances observer53 describe comport with my memory as well. If it happens, IMO, it will not be anytime soon. Being that the testing process costs considerable $ and there are alot of folks on the Register that Puzzle Palace will want, its not all that unlikely though.

[Gaidin]

Nice pic Private.

I would rather let Gary trip me while we flee from Chessparent than retest before I have to.

[gary]

Sept 1, 2014 16:31:59 GMT -5 Gaidin said:

Nice pic Private.

I would rather let Gary trip me while we flee from Chessparent than retest before I have to.

I'll miss you of course, but in your hour of need I wouldn't be much of a buddy if I declined. Maybe I'll, er, we'll, be ALJs before push comes to trip. Or Chessparent will turn Vegan.

[71stretch]

Sept 1, 2014 14:29:06 GMT -5 hopefalj said:

Sept 1, 2014 12:39:09 GMT -5 futuressaalj said:

Good point gary, I was under the impression you had to undergo the testing again to expand your GAL during a refresh and that they only allowed the GAL expansion once. Perhaps Observer53 can settle the question.

You can expand your GAL without having to retake the test when the register opens up. Of course, you can opt to retake the test if you so choose as well.

Yes. If they open the register to take new applications, you can change your GAL without going through the applying again. That, and reapplying, for years were the only way to change a GAL. That's why the June 2012 move was so surprising. It's true, though, that with the new process I don't think the past is predictive of the future. They will probably do the GAL trick again, because it's a cheap way to expand, big not soon.

[paattorney]

So, let me clarify something.  When they open the register to take more applicants (which could be in 1-3 years looking at the past), those on the current register will automatically get the chance to expand their GAL?  Just want to confirm this... and so, then during the period where the application process is going on (9 months minimum to over a year), that updated GAL would apply to any certs that were requested during that time period?  And... someone listed on the current register could also re-apply and still hope that they are called before the next recruits are picked?

Also... if they extend the time that the register remains active beyond December, 2015 (they've done this in the past, right?), when they do the extension, do they also give people the opportunity to expand their GAL at that time as well?  

Thanks for the clarification!

[71stretch]

Sept 1, 2014 21:15:45 GMT -5 paattorney said:

So, let me clarify something.  When they open the register to take more applicants (which could be in 1-3 years looking at the past), those on the current register will automatically get the chance to expand their GAL?  Just want to confirm this... and so, then during the period where the application process is going on (9 months minimum to over a year), that updated GAL would apply to any certs that were requested during that time period?  And... someone listed on the current register could also re-apply and still hope that they are called before the next recruits are picked?

Also... if they extend the time that the register remains active beyond December, 2015 (they've done this in the past, right?), when they do the extension, do they also give people the opportunity to expand their GAL at that time as well?  

Thanks for the clarification!

The window to change your GAL during a refresh lasts only until the deadline to submit applications, not all the way through the testing process. So it's only a few weeks long. Then the updated GAL applies to any certs after that update is done.

Merely extending the life of the register does not include an opportunity to change GAL.

[paattorney]

Thanks again for the additional information.  It gives me hope that, when they accept applicants again, I can expand my GAL and likely then will be placed on a cert.  :-)

[chessparent]

Sept 1, 2014 16:52:09 GMT -5 gary said:

Sept 1, 2014 16:31:59 GMT -5 Gaidin said:

Nice pic Private.

I would rather let Gary trip me while we flee from Chessparent than retest before I have to.

I'll miss you of course, but in your hour of need I wouldn't be much of a buddy if I declined. Maybe I'll, er, we'll, be ALJs before push comes to trip. Or Chessparent will turn Vegan.

Possible, but not probable.

[privateatty]

Sept 3, 2014 13:43:11 GMT -5 chessparent said:

Sept 1, 2014 16:52:09 GMT -5 gary said:

I'll miss you of course, but in your hour of need I wouldn't be much of a buddy if I declined. Maybe I'll, er, we'll, be ALJs before push comes to trip. Or Chessparent will turn Vegan.

Possible, but not probable.

Puleeze. No self inflicted negative waves--because more often than not you get what you ask for. I've seen this maxim played out time and again in different eras, continents and mindsets (or vacuums).

Look at tiger law. Maybe now he's a bit self deprecatory, but when he was in the running a few months ago with Funkmeister he has his eye on the prize and two agencies stood ready to hire him. I'm not advocating shining your star, but never shadow it either.