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Post by yodapug on Dec 9, 2015 15:05:22 GMT -5
I believe it was Confucius (or perhaps Judge Ratty) who said: "It is better to be and ALJ in Boise, than a writer in New York." ...or words to that effect?
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Post by lawmom90 on Dec 9, 2015 15:06:11 GMT -5
All I can add to this new feeding frenzy is : 1. I love us and 2. We put the fun in dysfunctional.
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Post by gary on Dec 9, 2015 15:08:33 GMT -5
We do not know for sure that they will do the April 2016 testing as a refresh. That is just an educated guess at this point.
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Post by justamessenger on Dec 9, 2015 15:18:51 GMT -5
It all comes down to how badly one wants the job and what one is willing to endure to get it. That is the question all of you have to ask yourselves. Pix. If anyone wants to give up a Crapland spot I will gladly volunteer.
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Post by hapi2balj on Dec 9, 2015 16:10:40 GMT -5
We do not know for sure that they will do the April 2016 testing as a refresh. That is just an educated guess at this point. Gary, what about these statements in today's e-mail?
"All applicants on the ALJ register will be allowed to make additional geographic location changes whenever the next ALJ JOA is posted."
"You will have no other opportunity to update or change this information until the next time an ALJ announcement opens."
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Post by gary on Dec 9, 2015 16:20:49 GMT -5
We do not know for sure that they will do the April 2016 testing as a refresh. That is just an educated guess at this point. Gary, what about this statement in today's e-mail?
"All applicants on the ALJ register will be allowed to make additional geographic location changes whenever the next ALJ JOA is posted."
A JOA is posted when they are creating a register or refreshing it. Given all they're doing to add to the current register and to allow GAL modification, it looks like creation of a new register is a good distance in the future. Therefore, I take this to mean whenever they refresh the register everyone then on it will get another chance to modify their GALs. What they don't say is when the next refresh will occur. We have been guessing OPM will comply with new statutory provisions enacted in the budget deal by conducting a refresh beginning before April 2016. That may still be what they most likely do. However, I don't think they have to do the testing required as a refresh.
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Post by auroraborealis on Dec 9, 2015 16:23:48 GMT -5
It's interesting to see how we all dealt with the uncertainty on how to handle the GAL if no changes needed to be made. I had a wide open GAL but still went in clicked on them all again just in case. I figure better to be duplicative than just skip and answer yes to the last question.
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Post by ba on Dec 9, 2015 16:27:28 GMT -5
Gary, what about this statement in today's e-mail?
"All applicants on the ALJ register will be allowed to make additional geographic location changes whenever the next ALJ JOA is posted."
A JOA is posted when they are creating a register or refreshing it. Given all they're doing to add to the current register and to allow GAL modification, it looks like creation of a new register is a good distance in the future. Therefore, I take this to mean whenever they refresh the register everyone then on it will get another chance to modify their GALs. What they don't say is when the next refresh will occur. We have been guessing OPM will comply with new statutory provisions enacted in the budget deal by conducting a refresh beginning before April 2016. That may still be what they most likely do. However, I don't think they have to do the testing required as a refresh. Mattering on what the GAL expansion produces, you may be incorrect Gary. I believe the goal is to get as many qualified candidates for as many available locations to fill the need before OPM has to resort to a new JOA. In other words, the GAL expansion, much like the review of appeals and other steps OPM has taken, is an effort to squeeze all the juice out of this register before opening it up to new folks to apply. I would guess the JOA will be dependent on how productive the present efforts are.
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Post by hapi2balj on Dec 9, 2015 16:29:27 GMT -5
So, if this is true, it means that the current certs as well as any future certs before the effective date of a refresh would be based on our current GALs - correct? I was wondering why they would allow us to modify our GALs now if we were going to have a chance to do so as early as April. If that were/is the case, it would seem that the intention is to make the newly-modified GALs pertinent to at least some hiring decisions before April. Is there still a thought that a class also might be starting in March, by the way?
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Post by luckylady2 on Dec 9, 2015 16:41:36 GMT -5
Ok - There's a set of certs out currently for positions to start on Feb 8. The GAL expansion survey won't close until Jan 6. I imagine it will take OPM at least a week or two to digest the results and that these results will impact the next set of certs, not the current ones.
I agree that OPM and SSA would probably really like to fill as many positions a possible with people they've already found qualified before opening applications up again.
The more interesting part, to me, is the question about whether people are still interested. It appears that they are letting people who got suspended (potentially by saying "no" to 2 offers) back in the game. But there's also the potential to get folks who've decided they don't want the job but haven't formally suspended themselves from the Register to declare their lack of interest, thus they can be removed and may stop blocking people with lower NOR's from consideration.
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Post by gary on Dec 9, 2015 16:42:48 GMT -5
I think hiring for 2/8 will not be affected by the GAL modification.
I think subsequent hiring (beginning March or April) will be affected by the GAL modification. SSA will either get new certs or have the present certs supplemented so that the new GALs are taken into account.
I think OPM has to begin testing another group before 4/1/2016 by operation of the new statute.
I think that testing could take the form of a register refresh (with another GAL modification opportunity for us) or yet another cut from the 2013 online testees (the next highest scoring subgroup) (with no GAL modification opportunity for us).
Some time down the road, whether for the April testing or for subsequent testing, there will be a refresh, at which time there will be a JOA posted and another opportunity to modify GALs.
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Post by 71stretch on Dec 9, 2015 17:44:30 GMT -5
Ok - There's a set of certs out currently for positions to start on Feb 8. The GAL expansion survey won't close until Jan 6. I imagine it will take OPM at least a week or two to digest the results and that these results will impact the next set of certs, not the current ones. I agree that OPM and SSA would probably really like to fill as many positions a possible with people they've already found qualified before opening applications up again. The more interesting part, to me, is the question about whether people are still interested. It appears that they are letting people who got suspended (potentially by saying "no" to 2 offers) back in the game. But there's also the potential to get folks who've decided they don't want the job but haven't formally suspended themselves from the Register to declare their lack of interest, thus they can be removed and may stop blocking people with lower NOR's from consideration. I'll go out on a limb and suggest that there's no one on this register who has been suspended for declining two offers. If there are, I didn't see anything that said they could get back on. I saw the option to temporarily suspend oneself.... That's all I saw re: suspension.
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Post by luckylady2 on Dec 9, 2015 17:52:21 GMT -5
Ok - There's a set of certs out currently for positions to start on Feb 8. The GAL expansion survey won't close until Jan 6. I imagine it will take OPM at least a week or two to digest the results and that these results will impact the next set of certs, not the current ones. I agree that OPM and SSA would probably really like to fill as many positions a possible with people they've already found qualified before opening applications up again. The more interesting part, to me, is the question about whether people are still interested. It appears that they are letting people who got suspended (potentially by saying "no" to 2 offers) back in the game. But there's also the potential to get folks who've decided they don't want the job but haven't formally suspended themselves from the Register to declare their lack of interest, thus they can be removed and may stop blocking people with lower NOR's from consideration. I'll go out on a limb and suggest that there's no one on this register who has been suspended for declining two offers. If there are, I didn't see anything that said they could get back on. I saw the option to temporarily suspend oneself.... That's all I saw re: suspension. I thought eligibility condition #3 (OPM has suspended in accordance with the Job Announcement) would encompass anyone who turned down two offers. I think it could have happened with some of the early high-scorers who got offers from OMHA and ODAR or potentially other agencies. I have no inside knowledge of anyone in particular, though.
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Post by bookman on Dec 9, 2015 18:09:06 GMT -5
It's interesting to see how we all dealt with the uncertainty on how to handle the GAL if no changes needed to be made. I had a wide open GAL but still went in clicked on them all again just in case. I figure better to be duplicative than just skip and answer yes to the last question. I took the opposite tack, read the form as meaning no checks=no changes, checked the box and submitted. Gee I hope I read it right!
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Post by sealaw90 on Dec 9, 2015 18:27:07 GMT -5
Why the rush to submit the form? If you think you might expand your GAL, take the time to do your research. If you think you might cull a few cities now that you know you'd have to live there for almost a year and a half, take your time. We all have until January 6th to decide. This is a great opportunity for all of us to adjust our 2013 aspirations accordingly so that 2016 brings you a better chance to get the offer you can accept without hesitation.
Any new polls Gaidin???
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Post by auroraborealis on Dec 9, 2015 18:57:36 GMT -5
It's interesting to see how we all dealt with the uncertainty on how to handle the GAL if no changes needed to be made. I had a wide open GAL but still went in clicked on them all again just in case. I figure better to be duplicative than just skip and answer yes to the last question. I took the opposite tack, read the form as meaning no checks=no changes, checked the box and submitted. Gee I hope I read it right! Yeah don't sweat it, let's hope we all are ok no matter what approach we took!
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Post by Gaidin on Dec 9, 2015 19:32:34 GMT -5
Why the rush to submit the form? If you think you might expand your GAL, take the time to do your research. If you think you might cull a few cities now that you know you'd have to live there for almost a year and a half, take your time. We all have until January 6th to decide. This is a great opportunity for all of us to adjust our 2013 aspirations accordingly so that 2016 brings you a better chance to get the offer you can accept without hesitation. Any new polls Gaidin??? I'm having a nutso week. But if I get time tonight or tomorrow night I will get some GAL modification polls up.
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Post by Gaidin on Dec 9, 2015 19:41:24 GMT -5
Gang please remember one thing about these GAL changes and certs. ODAR wants to hire 250 - 300 judges between now and October 1, 2016. That means they will likely pull a cert as soon as the hires for these certs are made. I feel pretty confident the GAL changes will be in effect by then.
I also think OPM may go back to ODAR and say "Hey this GAL expansion thing got us lots of people. We don't think you need a refresh until later in 2016." The success of such a strategy is anybody's guess.
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Post by privateatty on Dec 9, 2015 19:42:00 GMT -5
It all comes down to how badly one wants the job and what one is willing to endure to get it. That is the question all of you have to ask yourselves. Pix. Yes. However, the view from the applicant may not be as accurate as one thinks. As an SSA/ODAR attorney y'all may think you know what the job entails and that it would mean that your salary may double, but I assure you that ain't the half of it. Until you lose your performance review and the all intrusive nose up your posterior (amongst other relative aspects of your job), you are not really making an informed decision. You are making a guess--because the changes one will undergo are metaphysical. Life does change once you don the Robe, trust me. All of the naysayers to the contrary, it is the best job there is. Now, in truth I have been contradicted in this postulate. There has been a Member who gave up her family to an unbearable geographical restraint and suffered. I wish her happiness for I fear she never was able to take the time to smell the roses. Choose well my friends.
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Post by phoenixrakkasan on Dec 9, 2015 20:03:27 GMT -5
It all comes down to how badly one wants the job and what one is willing to endure to get it. That is the question all of you have to ask yourselves. Pix. Yes. However, the view from the applicant may not be as accurate as one thinks. As an SSA/ODAR attorney y'all may think you know what the job entails and that it would mean that your salary may double, but I assure you that ain't the half of it. Until you lose your performance review and the all intrusive nose up your posterior (amongst other relative aspects of your job), you are not really making an informed decision. You are making a guess--because the changes one will undergo are metaphysical. Life does change once you don the Robe, trust me. All of the naysayers to the contrary, it is the best job there is. Now, in truth I have been contradicted in this postulate. There has been a Member who gave up her family to an unbearable geographical restraint and suffered. I wish her happiness for I fear she never was able to take the time to smell the roses. Choose well my friends. This would be the time to provide details on the transformation. Go for it!
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