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Post by sealaw90 on Dec 5, 2015 18:56:14 GMT -5
Posting this once again: This is probably a good time to remind everyone who is about to get into the cert/interview/ references frenzy of the following: Not everyone will have the same thing happen at the same time. Some of you may get emails while others may get phone calls. Some people will have their references checked first, others will be done later. Ditto for making interview appointments and travel arrangements. Don't freak out if other people are posting that their travel is done while yours isn't. In the end, every part of every person's process will be finished around the same time, just not in the same order. And if you don't make a cert this time, the odds are good that you will sometime in 2016. It's a great time to be on the register. Liz, excellent advice indeed. No need to have 3 pages of posts with folks freaking out that travel hasn't called or references were all checked. If you have an interview ne,t week, everything else will happen in time for you to get hired - whether it's in January or July.
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Post by jessejames on Dec 5, 2015 19:54:23 GMT -5
Liz, Thanks for the positive thoughts. With the upcoming holiday season, we should expect a busy couple of weeks, a slower week or two with the holidays and increased speed after the first of the year. As one of the more elder candidates on the Board, I still remain relatively optimistic. Just remember that a lot of positions need filling and being on the short list is better than being on no list.
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Xman
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Post by Xman on Dec 5, 2015 23:43:09 GMT -5
I hope you haven't narrowed yourself out of the big dance. The two locations in south Florida and the one location in south/central Florida are difficult to obtain from the register. Hope you prove me wrong, though, and get what you want. If any one of those three locations is to be filled this time around, you might get picked up (I have lost track of what is in play). Good luck to you. Pix. Pixie, I certainly understand what you are saying. My question is, why does SSA request certs at times for cities they have no intention of filling (and may not even have vacancies open)? I may have over narrowed myself, but we will see.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Dec 6, 2015 16:25:14 GMT -5
Pixie, I certainly understand what you are saying. My question is, why does SSA request certs at times for cities they have no intention of filling (and may not even have vacancies open)? I may have over narrowed myself, but I only went for the FL locations. If I make it through the references and interviews, I am hopeful my high score will be competitive for these locations. I can't imagine SSA would set us up and not have a position located in FL. I'm taking a calculated risk so I have a chance at my dream location. If I don't get any of them, then I'll get more aggressive on the next cert if I am on it. I'm only being so narrow to give it one shot. I am not sure what you mean by getting more aggressive on the next cert because after you interview for SSA (or any agency for that matter) it is all out of your hands. There is nothing you can do to "get more aggressive." You can never add cities so if that is what you meant, you are out of luck there. You can always narrow your GAL but not expand it. Something else to think about, Florida may be on this set of certs but it does not mean it will show up again the next round. It also does not mean they have to hire in those cities this round. There have been cities that have been on certificates but they waited and hired later or took a transfer later. So don't count your chickens! Having an 86 (if that is indeed your score as you posted it was not at one time--so not sure what that means) or any score in the 80s will be a huge help as you will surely be at the top in any city you have. Now, as others can tell you, having a high score does not mean you are totally in. Many hurdles yet to go.
I don't mean to be a downer here, but I have seen you post your score a dozen times and I am getting the impression you may be taking it for granted that the cat is in the bag. I may be way off base on that though. I wish you luck! All the stars have to line up just right in this process to get that offer and many good people have been waiting a very long time to get that wonderful call.
EDIT: Meant to add that this time around folks NEED to make sure they narrow appropriately because there is no more 90 day transfer list, you now have to stay where you go 450 days before even getting ON the transfer list. So narrowing will happen more this time than ever I suppose.
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Post by mamaru on Dec 6, 2015 17:56:35 GMT -5
Confused.. now that folks have been offered interviews. I am surprised that there is only one week of interviews? How many people could there be on register who do not have to be interviewed? In other words how many folks are in the pool to be selected for February class? Thanks They can interview quite a few people in a week, depending on how many judges they tap to do the interviews. And there's really no way of knowing how many people are in the pool, other than the polls, which do not include some of the contestants.
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Post by zepplin on Dec 6, 2015 18:25:38 GMT -5
Confused.. now that folks have been offered interviews. I am surprised that there is only one week of interviews? How many people could there be on register who do not have to be interviewed? In other words how many folks are in the pool to be selected for February class? Thanks They can interview quite a few people in a week, depending on how many judges they tap to do the interviews. And there's really no way of knowing how many people are in the pool, other than the polls, which do not include some of the contestants. I feel like I should know this but, can they hire before all interviews are done for Feb. class? Then leave checking references and finishing interviews for later classes?
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Xman
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Post by Xman on Dec 6, 2015 18:36:15 GMT -5
No one takes anything for granted in this process, regardless of score. Good luck all on the interviews.
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Post by ba on Dec 6, 2015 19:28:42 GMT -5
They can interview quite a few people in a week, depending on how many judges they tap to do the interviews. And there's really no way of knowing how many people are in the pool, other than the polls, which do not include some of the contestants. I feel like I should know this but, can they hire before all interviews are done for Feb. class? Then leave checking references and finishing interviews for later classes? Sometimes. If, for example, the highest scoring candidate for a location is a veteran, then they will offer before completing the interviews, particularly if there are more than one vacancies in that HO (it also helps the HO by getting a vacancy filled earlier). However, the reference check is contracted out and occurs on a different timeline. A candidate will not be extended an offer unless both the agency interview and the reference check have been conducted. And most of the time, all interviews for that cert will need to be completed before any non-vet candidate is extended an offer.
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Post by Gaidin on Dec 6, 2015 20:07:00 GMT -5
I feel like I should know this but, can they hire before all interviews are done for Feb. class? Then leave checking references and finishing interviews for later classes? Sometimes. If, for example, the highest scoring candidate for a location is a veteran, then they will offer before completing the interviews, particularly if there are more than one vacancies in that HO (it also helps the HO by getting a vacancy filled earlier). However, the reference check is contracted out and occurs on a different timeline. A candidate will not be extended an offer unless both the agency interview and the reference check have been conducted. And most of the time, all interviews for that cert will need to be completed before any non-vet candidate is extended an offer. With interviews being next week and the start date being reported as February 8th I don't see any reason for them to jump ahead like that. ba is right about the possible timing but I don't see any reason for them to do it that way.
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Post by gary on Dec 6, 2015 20:09:02 GMT -5
I agree with Gaidin.
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Post by ba on Dec 6, 2015 21:35:41 GMT -5
Sometimes. If, for example, the highest scoring candidate for a location is a veteran, then they will offer before completing the interviews, particularly if there are more than one vacancies in that HO (it also helps the HO by getting a vacancy filled earlier). However, the reference check is contracted out and occurs on a different timeline. A candidate will not be extended an offer unless both the agency interview and the reference check have been conducted. And most of the time, all interviews for that cert will need to be completed before any non-vet candidate is extended an offer. With interviews being next week and the start date being reported as February 8th I don't see any reason for them to jump ahead like that. ba is right about the possible timing but I don't see any reason for them to do it that way. Yes. I was speaking generally.
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Post by hopefalj on Dec 6, 2015 22:58:12 GMT -5
Sometimes. If, for example, the highest scoring candidate for a location is a veteran, then they will offer before completing the interviews, particularly if there are more than one vacancies in that HO (it also helps the HO by getting a vacancy filled earlier). However, the reference check is contracted out and occurs on a different timeline. A candidate will not be extended an offer unless both the agency interview and the reference check have been conducted. And most of the time, all interviews for that cert will need to be completed before any non-vet candidate is extended an offer. With interviews being next week and the start date being reported as February 8th I don't see any reason for them to jump ahead like that. ba is right about the possible timing but I don't see any reason for them to do it that way. As many times as they ran out of hiring time last FY and fell short of their hiring goals, I can see a reason for SSA getting started sooner rather than later. It gives them more flexibility, more room for 24-hour decision makers, etc. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean they will.
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Post by gary on Dec 6, 2015 23:01:49 GMT -5
With interviews being next week and the start date being reported as February 8th I don't see any reason for them to jump ahead like that. ba is right about the possible timing but I don't see any reason for them to do it that way. As many times as they ran out of hiring time last FY and fell short of their hiring goals, I can see a reason for SSA getting started sooner rather than later. It gives them more flexibility, more room for 24-hour decision makers, etc. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean they will. It makes sense, so I'm betting against it.
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Post by rogo49 on Dec 7, 2015 9:28:52 GMT -5
Not sure this is the proper thread to ask but...I did the WD/LBMT/SIRIUS in October 2015. I am almost positive that the application I originally completed omitted references or just said "contact me for references"....so, if this is correct, am I hosed or will they actually contact me for my references?
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Post by robespierre on Dec 7, 2015 9:41:34 GMT -5
JudgeRatty, As a newbie who knows virtually nothing about this cryptic process, I especially appreciate your thoughtful comments. You obviously noticed I edited my posts for privacy reasons as many people do. My score is average and nothing special, and any score is only a ticket to the next round. No one takes anything for granted in this process. I have been humbled by and incredibly thankful to the many bright and knowledgeable people that have responded to so many questions from so many people. I hope I am not the only one apprehensive about the interviews next week, and I just pray I don't spill something on my tie right before the interview or trip going into the interview room. My best wishes and good luck go to everyone. We all still have a long way to go... So all those times you asked for advice based on a NOR of 86 ... that was a sham?
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Xman
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Post by Xman on Dec 7, 2015 10:36:10 GMT -5
No, I got lucky with a good score, but I don't give the exact score for privacy purposes.
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Post by minny on Dec 7, 2015 11:10:00 GMT -5
Not sure this is the proper thread to ask but...I did the WD/LBMT/SIRIUS in October 2015. I am almost positive that the application I originally completed omitted references or just said "contact me for references"....so, if this is correct, am I hosed or will they actually contact me for my references? when you finally get a NOR and get placed on the register, you will hopefully make itnon to an SSA cert. That is when you will be asked to complete paperwork that incliees your 9 references plus 15 years of work hi story with manager contacts. I suggeat you use this down time before you get your NOR to decide who those 9 references will be, get there permission, etc., so uou will be ready to go when uou make a cert.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2015 11:25:41 GMT -5
Not a sham. That's my score. I was trying to downplay it, which is more my style. It's just a score. One I'm glad to have, but that's all it is. Thanks. As a 10 point Vet and a score in the 80s, I can tell you at this point of the process, it will be you and you alone that "snatches defeat out of the jaws of victory". But, I hope you don't and wish you the best of luck.
ODAR does not care if they fill a slot in your two or three cities and there are cities on every Cert that go unfilled. But removing cities is a personal choice that each person must live with if they are never selected. I had about 21 cities (including Halagen, TX or whatever the name of that town) on the very first Cert and I didn't remove any of them, just arranged them in order as I would like to have as my first choice.
I got my #1 choice on the first Cert because of my 10 points, references and getting at least a "recommend" out of the ODAR interview and I agree with all of the posters that say the interview is the key. My references all contacted me afterwards and I knew I had picked the right Judges, prosecutors, and fellow lawyers to be my references. As I stated before, I felt a lot better about my OMHA interview the day after the ODAR interview, but I must of did well enough in each as both agencies made me an offer that I could not refuse!
A fellow ALJ buddy was a 5 point vet with a higher score than mine (he's smarter than me!). His home city was on the Cert and it went unfilled. He accepted a city 5 hours away and made the transfer list, but the agency then selected two for his home city off the 2nd Cert before he could transfer back, but he did eventually get back home in about 9 months. So hopefully they fill your cities and you certainly should have the highest score for your cities, plus 10 point vet status, but....interviews and references can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory every time. Best of luck and I hope to read on here next month that you got your hometown selection! IMHO Tiger
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Xman
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Post by Xman on Dec 7, 2015 11:33:03 GMT -5
Minny is right. It's critical to get together your list of references and past supervisors as early as you can. Many of my references are very old, and I am happy to say they are still around and doing well. All that hunting and coordinating takes time. Another thing I added to my Personal History document was "other" work, like legal volunteering, on the blank section that allows you to add additional information. I don't know if it will help, but I provided other points of contact and phone numbers that they can check. Also, make sure you have an updated copy of your resume since you will have to submit it. You'll have to submit 6 documents back to SSA (5 of the 6 you received with the email, and the updated resume). The only document that will be time consuming is the Personal History one, and that is the one that requires you to list past employment and references. Next is the spreadsheet on which you must list the cities you are willing to consider using an "x" for "no priority" or "1,2,3, etc." for "priority." GAL strategy is very personal, and it's a crap shoot. If you greatly limit your spreadsheet selections, then it's risky since, if you are not selected for this cert, you don't know if there will be a follow-on cert in a couple of months or ever. It might also be a good idea to send your response a day or two early since OPM will have time to review it and maybe get back to you if you failed to send a required form or the transfer was corrupted. Finally, read the fine print of the email they sent you to make sure you have everything and are sending it to the correct email address, and definitely double check your send folder to make sure your attachments were sent.
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Post by robespierre on Dec 7, 2015 12:29:39 GMT -5
86 is not "average and nothing special," as you put it. It's one of the highest scores remaining on the register of (very roughly) 500 names. Congrats on that. Whether it was wise to mention it on this board so many times is another matter, and none of my business.
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