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Post by JudgeRatty on Aug 13, 2015 21:20:26 GMT -5
Greetings all! Today was the last full day of training for our class. Tomorrow is graduation day!
Today Judge Bice and Judge Allen came to our training class to speak about many things, including info about the current hiring. Now, before anyone gasps, I did ask for permission to post, so everything I say is out in the open and nothing is top secret. LOL! They were very supportive and optimistic about everything, and they gave many details about telework, expectations, and the like. Very informative.
Now...what candidates want to hear:
There are 12-13 people in this next starting class and they are going to train them in their own class. At one time we thought they may start in their offices then train later but they are going to train on time even though it is a very small group. The next starting date after that small group is to begin in their respective offices on September 21st and then train in October. They are short on the goal and will only hit about 200-210 for this fiscal when they wanted 250. The plan is still to hire another 250 next fiscal but that is dependent upon the budget, and this is an election year... so although they want to hire that many, it is not set in stone.
They WANT, and are "trying" (heavy emphasis on "trying" here and I promised Judge Allen I would emphasize this) to get a GAL expansion. Judge Bice specifically addressed this after the question was asked. The register is apparently running so low that they will likely only hire about 50 for the starting group on September 21st. This is not the predicted 75-90. This is not as good as I hoped to report.
They also said that there will be many forthcoming emails about folks who will be passing through the 2nd step and who will be allowed to move on to testing for the WD/SI/LBMT. In fact, a friend of mine received her email today. The email made the appeal moot.
So as usual, there are MANY moving parts to all of this. Those who will be getting offer calls soon (yes..very soon), will start on Sept 21st. Some will be testing in DC as they move on to the SI etc. And some may get a GAL expansion (including those who will be added to the register as they test). All of these things are happening at different levels and are controlled by different components. OPM versus SSA. And do not forget, other agencies are also wanting to hire as well. mikeinthehills or anyone else in class, if I missed anything, please chime in.
Good luck everyone!
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Post by mch135 on Aug 13, 2015 21:26:21 GMT -5
Thank you for this info!! I know there are many like me who have tiny GALs and I have been hoping we would get the chance to expand them. Let's hope that happens.
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Post by berk727 on Aug 13, 2015 22:24:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! But if they think the register is running out, that doesn't bode well for those of us they've passed over several times. Bummer.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Aug 13, 2015 22:29:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! But if they think the register is running out, that doesn't bode well for those of us they've passed over several times. Bummer. Just concentrate on this next hiring round as there will be about 50 and you could be one of those! Good luck!
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Post by yellowbird on Aug 13, 2015 22:37:48 GMT -5
Thanks JudgeRatty! Best news I've heard in a long time!
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Post by zepplin on Aug 13, 2015 22:39:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! But if they think the register is running out, that doesn't bode well for those of us they've passed over several times. Bummer. Just concentrate on this next hiring round as there will be about 50 and you could be one of those! Good luck! So. <Desperation seeping into voice> Do you have any insight into or impression of what "the register is running out" means? No good deed of providing information goes unquestioned. Thank you!
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Post by wingnut on Aug 13, 2015 23:36:58 GMT -5
Wow, that is some interesting news. Thank you for sharing it!
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Post by JudgeRatty on Aug 14, 2015 5:35:29 GMT -5
Just concentrate on this next hiring round as there will be about 50 and you could be one of those! Good luck! So. <Desperation seeping into voice> Do you have any insight into or impression of what "the register is running out" means? No good deed of providing information goes unquestioned. Thank you! Well, I am not sure I want to make any inferences about any selections or non-selections as there are simply too many factors involved. For instance, one may be inclined to think some have been 3 struck at this point when it may be as simple as having two desirable people who want the same city and both are limited to that city by their GAL leaving ODAR to chose one desirable over another when there is only one opening. It does not mean that one of those people are not wanted. It means they were both limited by their GAL choice and one essentially knocked themselves out of the running. If a GAL expansion were allowed, such a desired individual may get a better chance at receiving an offer. The less optimistic view is that some are 3 struck. My opinion is that until you stop receiving cert emails, you are not out. Good luck all!
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Post by anotherfed on Aug 14, 2015 6:26:42 GMT -5
I think (based on no facts whatsoever) that ODAR has stacks of people interviewed. When a cert list comes back from OPM, ODAR looks thru its stacks and compares them to the list. I imagine a fictional conversation among TPTB: "We've got 42 openings in Chicago; oh, goody, we can finally get that gary guy on the roster. Oh Bob ....!" When people have narrow GALs, all the conditions need to be perfect: top 3, no competition who could knock you out, and an opening in your GAL. Conversely, I think there's a stack called "definite but flexible," for HR, high NOR, and wide GAL. TPTB: "We loved Superstar, and she's got an NOR of 100 and is preference eligible. We know we want her, but we also know we can get her whenever we want her (because OPM won't squawk). Let's hold on Superstar right now, so we can on board these 15 people with restricted GALs. We'll circle back for Superstar in the next cycle." Kinda sucks for Superstar, but it is a buyers market. ODAR is confident that everyone will wait. Even though some people are getting skimmed by other agencies, there are few positions relative to ODAR. And everyone knows ODAR is a better place to work and has better bennies. So, to echo the very wise JudgeRatty, you're not out until you're out. Don't jump to the conclusion that you were tanked by a reference or that ODAR didn't like you. ODAR may love you, but you are a pawn in the Game of (ALJ) Thrones and will be hired strategically.
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Post by gary on Aug 14, 2015 7:42:26 GMT -5
Judge Afed, are you sure about the 42 openings in Chicago?
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Post by willsdad on Aug 14, 2015 7:57:43 GMT -5
JudgeRatty, thanks so much for the first-class information and for still looking out for us hopefuls! That's exactly the kind of information that makes this Board - and you - so special. Also, congratulations on your graduation today!
Anotherfed, thanks for your perspective, too! You're right that it's a buyer's market, which opens up many options for ODAR.
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Post by bookman on Aug 14, 2015 8:38:36 GMT -5
Bookman only pawn in game of life...
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Post by Gaidin on Aug 14, 2015 8:43:45 GMT -5
Bookman only pawn in game of life... This made me laugh out loud for real. Glad I have an office with a door.
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Post by ibnlurkin on Aug 14, 2015 9:06:06 GMT -5
Bookman only pawn in game of life... This made me laugh out loud for real. Glad I have an office with a door. Hey you have a door ! Stop your bragging !
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Post by Gaidin on Aug 14, 2015 9:07:26 GMT -5
Greetings all! Today was the last full day of training for our class. Tomorrow is graduation day!
Today Judge Bice and Judge Allen came to our training class to speak about many things, including info about the current hiring. Now, before anyone gasps, I did ask for permission to post, so everything I say is out in the open and nothing is top secret. LOL! They were very supportive and optimistic about everything, and they gave many details about telework, expectations, and the like. Very informative.
Now...what candidates want to hear:
There are 12-13 people in this next starting class and they are going to train them in their own class. At one time we thought they may start in their offices then train later but they are going to train on time even though it is a very small group. The next starting date after that small group is to begin in their respective offices on September 21st and then train in October. They are short on the goal and will only hit about 200-210 for this fiscal when they wanted 250. The plan is still to hire another 250 next fiscal but that is dependent upon the budget, and this is an election year... so although they want to hire that many, it is not set in stone.
They WANT, and are "trying" (heavy emphasis on "trying" here and I promised Judge Allen I would emphasize this) to get a GAL expansion. Judge Bice specifically addressed this after the question was asked. The register is apparently running so low that they will likely only hire about 50 for the starting group on September 21st. This is not the predicted 75-90. This is not as good as I hoped to report.
They also said that there will be many forthcoming emails about folks who will be passing through the 2nd step and who will be allowed to move on to testing for the WD/SI/LBMT. In fact, a friend of mine received her email today. The email made the appeal moot.
So as usual, there are MANY moving parts to all of this. Those who will be getting offer calls soon (yes..very soon), will start on Sept 21st. Some will be testing in DC as they move on to the SI etc. And some may get a GAL expansion (including those who will be added to the register as they test). All of these things are happening at different levels and are controlled by different components. OPM versus SSA. And do not forget, other agencies are also wanting to hire as well. mikeinthehills or anyone else in class, if I missed anything, please chime in.
Good luck everyone! I am glad we have this information I just wish it didn't make me feel like I am looking at the last helicopter out of Saigon.
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Post by robespierre on Aug 14, 2015 9:13:04 GMT -5
Thanks, Your Honor, great information, much appreciated.
My questions:
1. Any info on what "other agencies" are wanting to hire, other than of course OMHA?
2. Is it a fair inference from all this information that there might not be additional ODAR certs for a few months or more? (In order to allow time for the new test-takers to get NORs and the budget situation to clarify.)
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Post by christina on Aug 14, 2015 10:42:14 GMT -5
ugggh!!!! i am so bad at this quoting thing. here is what JudgeRatty said recently:
For instance, one may be inclined to think some have been 3 struck at this point when it may be as simple as having two desirable people who want the same city and both are limited to that city by their GAL leaving ODAR to chose one desirable over another when there is only one opening. It does not mean that one of those people are not wanted. It means they were both limited by their GAL choice and one essentially knocked themselves out of the running. If a GAL expansion were allowed, such a desired individual may get a better chance at receiving an offer.
the above was definitely a takeaway i got from the initial post esp with the GAL discussion that came up at the training. just wanted to pass my 2 cents along.
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Post by Pixie on Aug 14, 2015 14:31:45 GMT -5
Christina: The way you did it was probably the best way. It gets complicated when one wants to quote only one poster in a multiple quote message. When going in and deleting other posters, sometimes the wrong poster, or the wrong part of a message is deleted. Pix.
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Post by Propmaster on Aug 14, 2015 14:54:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! But if they think the register is running out, that doesn't bode well for those of us they've passed over several times. Bummer. I just can't think of any other reasonable way to take this information (for which I am grateful, by the way, JudgeRatty). If they want to hire more ALJs, but only think they can get 50 people, it means they would rather have no one than certain people among us (or at least some of those other poor slobs on the certs who don't read the board). Obviously, this doesn't apply to tiny-GAL people, but those for whom this is a repeat cert (say 3rd), with NORs higher than those reported as being reachable for hiring, with wide GALs ... well, I can think of some complicated scenarios where certain people get missed because they are part of the moving puzzle with other people more desireable in their way, blah blah etc., but with 3-strike power, if they 'can't' hire more than 50 off the certs, it's not because they have run out of people who would accept the locations - it means those left on the certs are basically unwanted dregs. That didn't come out as cheerful as I intended. Maybe it will help if I make a happy face: Edit: It did not help.
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Post by beenlurking on Aug 14, 2015 16:26:00 GMT -5
Greetings all! Today was the last full day of training for our class. Tomorrow is graduation day!
Today Judge Bice and Judge Allen came to our training class to speak about many things, including info about the current hiring. Now, before anyone gasps, I did ask for permission to post, so everything I say is out in the open and nothing is top secret. LOL! They were very supportive and optimistic about everything, and they gave many details about telework, expectations, and the like. Very informative.
Now...what candidates want to hear:
There are 12-13 people in this next starting class and they are going to train them in their own class. At one time we thought they may start in their offices then train later but they are going to train on time even though it is a very small group. The next starting date after that small group is to begin in their respective offices on September 21st and then train in October. They are short on the goal and will only hit about 200-210 for this fiscal when they wanted 250. The plan is still to hire another 250 next fiscal but that is dependent upon the budget, and this is an election year... so although they want to hire that many, it is not set in stone.
They WANT, and are "trying" (heavy emphasis on "trying" here and I promised Judge Allen I would emphasize this) to get a GAL expansion. Judge Bice specifically addressed this after the question was asked. The register is apparently running so low that they will likely only hire about 50 for the starting group on September 21st. This is not the predicted 75-90. This is not as good as I hoped to report.
They also said that there will be many forthcoming emails about folks who will be passing through the 2nd step and who will be allowed to move on to testing for the WD/SI/LBMT. In fact, a friend of mine received her email today. The email made the appeal moot.
So as usual, there are MANY moving parts to all of this. Those who will be getting offer calls soon (yes..very soon), will start on Sept 21st. Some will be testing in DC as they move on to the SI etc. And some may get a GAL expansion (including those who will be added to the register as they test). All of these things are happening at different levels and are controlled by different components. OPM versus SSA. And do not forget, other agencies are also wanting to hire as well. mikeinthehills or anyone else in class, if I missed anything, please chime in.
Good luck everyone! I, like everyone else am not pleased to hear the drop in anticipated hire numbers. I've been out of pocket for a while and simply wonder what, if any, underlying issue(s) are at play assuming the intel is correct (and I have no reason to doubt it is). The strange process just continues to get stranger, day, by day, by.......
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