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Post by gary on Jan 20, 2016 15:30:02 GMT -5
Today I was told by an extremely reliable source that:
1. 51 candidates selected. 2. Offers still going out. 3. 3 people declined the offers. 4. There is a tentative training period of 7/18/2016 to 8/12/2016 for a subsequent class (which would start in their offices on 6/27/2016).
What my source did not have is intel on whether there will be a second class hired from the current set of certs to start before the 6/27 class.
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Post by Ready-Now! on Jan 20, 2016 15:34:50 GMT -5
Great information Gary...thank you!!
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Post by gary on Jan 20, 2016 15:35:45 GMT -5
Great information Gary...thank you!! Thanks to my anonymous source.
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Post by beenlurking on Jan 20, 2016 15:57:17 GMT -5
Today I was told by an extremely reliable source that: 1. 51 candidates selected. 2. Offers still going out. 3. 3 people declined the offers. 4. There is a tentative training period of 7/18/2016 to 8/12/2016 for a subsequent class (which would start in their offices on 6/27/2016). What my source did not have is intel on whether there will be a second class hired from the current set of certs to start before the 6/27 class. Ouch! Thought they would want to be starting next class sooner.
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Post by fingerscrossed on Jan 20, 2016 16:15:42 GMT -5
Agreed. I don't see how they will be on target for hiring 250+ new ALJs if they will not be starting the next class until late July and with only 51 hires from this cert. Perhaps they are planning the next class to be much larger and that's why they pushed things back to allow for the logistics in planning such a large class?
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Post by yellowbird on Jan 20, 2016 16:24:56 GMT -5
Agreed. I don't see how they will be on target for hiring 250+ new ALJs if they will not be starting the next class until late July and with only 51 hires from this cert. Perhaps they are planning the next class to be much larger and that's why they pushed things back to allow for the logistics in planning such a large class? I suspect they are setting up for a LARGE hire in May -- with the benefit of all the new additions to the register and the GAL expansion. It seems there is a delay to allow extra time for a large number of interviews (or to accommodate any delay by OPM in releasing NORs), if needed.
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Post by fingerscrossed on Jan 20, 2016 16:48:18 GMT -5
If that's the case, they would likely issue a cert in late April or early May to allow for time for interviews and job offers with a start date of 6/27.
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Post by february on Jan 20, 2016 16:49:04 GMT -5
Interesting. That seem like a really long gap between start dates for classes if they want to hire anything close to the numbers they keep throwing around.
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Post by owl on Jan 20, 2016 17:36:15 GMT -5
Today I was told by an extremely reliable source that: 1. 51 candidates selected. 2. Offers still going out. 3. 3 people declined the offers. 4. There is a tentative training period of 7/18/2016 to 8/12/2016 for a subsequent class (which would start in their offices on 6/27/2016). What my source did not have is intel on whether there will be a second class hired from the current set of certs to start before the 6/27 class. I have been reliably informed that a request for deferral was denied. I'd extrapolate from these two pieces of information that SSA is going to close out these certs and request a new set after the Oct.-Dec. testing cohort gets their NORs (these will also reflect the results of GAL expansions). Further, that SSA does not know when OPM will issue those NORs so they have set a tentative date presumably far enough into the future to accommodate any delay. I think if they intended to do a second class from the present certs they generally might have been more accommodating with any deferral requests. If the NORs come out sooner rather than later they can keep the June 27 start date/July 18-Aug. 12 training dates on the books and make that the second class hired from the new certs rather than the first. Ah well, que sera sera.
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Post by ba on Jan 20, 2016 17:53:38 GMT -5
Interesting. That seem like a really long gap between start dates for classes if they want to hire anything close to the numbers they keep throwing around. Besides likely wanting to get the new GALs for prospective hires and possibly get new applicants with first-time NORs, there are also scheduling limitations related to annual training of last year's ALJs that need to be calculated into the training schedule. So there are a lot of balls in the air for the agency.
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Post by Gaidin on Jan 20, 2016 17:55:41 GMT -5
According to gary 's intel there is probably an ODAR start date of June 27, 2016. I am in no way implying that Gary's source is anything other than unimpeachable as far as what they have been told. This date would mean four more classes could start in FY15/16. July 25, 2016, August 22, 2016, and September 19, 2016. Alternatively, they could squeeze their regular training space and do three classes of 60 or use a larger space or more space in other locations. That would allow ODAR to attempt to hire 200 more ALJs this FY. There is one rather compelling issue with any of these options: running 4 consecutive classes, 3 more or less consecutive classes, or 2 classes of almost double the regular size. The training cadre is mostly made up of active ALJs with active dockets. For them to miss that many weeks together at the end of the fiscal seems a big ask. Alternatively, running larger classes would mean bringing in multiple new trainers all at once seems challenging. Lastly, I would point out that they denied at least one deferral. If they were certain that the next class was June 27th why deny the deferral?
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Post by saaao on Jan 20, 2016 17:55:57 GMT -5
Interesting. That seem like a really long gap between start dates for classes if they want to hire anything close to the numbers they keep throwing around. Though it hasn't been utilized yet, ODAR has the capacity to train ALJ's (any type of employee actually) at locations in Baltimore and St. Louis, in addition to Falls Church. I believe there may also be training space in Kansas City as well, though I haven't heard of training occurring there for some time. If ODAR chooses to make the 250 goal with one or two more super sized hires, they should have the logistical capacity to make it work.
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Post by Gaidin on Jan 20, 2016 18:00:09 GMT -5
I made another thread to discuss the potential hire because I didn't want to clutter up a perfectly nice thread about people's success with discussion of the long road ahead for the rest of us.
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Post by Gaidin on Jan 20, 2016 18:01:58 GMT -5
In another thread there is discussion of the fact that recently hired ALJs must undergo their 1 year refresher training. I wonder if the cadre has similar members to the initial training cadre?
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Post by Pixie on Jan 20, 2016 18:04:25 GMT -5
Thanks. As I get the time, I will transfer some of the relevant posts to that thread. Pix.
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Post by saaao on Jan 20, 2016 18:13:23 GMT -5
According to intel gary received ( aljdiscussion.proboards.com/post/87230/thread ) there is probably an ODAR start date of June 27, 2016. I am in no way implying that Gary's source is anything other than unimpeachable as far as what they have been told. This date would mean four more classes could start in FY15/16. July 25, 2016, August 22, 2016, and September 19, 2016. Alternatively, they could squeeze their regular training space and do three classes of 60 or use a larger space or more space in other locations. That would allow ODAR to attempt to hire 200 more ALJs this FY. There is one rather compelling issue with any of these options: running 4 consecutive classes, 3 more or less consecutive classes, or 2 classes of almost double the regular size. The training cadre is mostly made up of active ALJs with active dockets. For them to miss that many weeks together at the end of the fiscal seems a big ask. Alternatively, running larger classes would mean bringing in multiple new trainers all at once seems challenging. Lastly, I would point out that they denied at least one deferral. If they were certain that the next class was June 27th why deny the deferral? I think the analysis that the June 27th date is not certain is the best interpretation of the situation. However another reasonable interpretation is that ODAR simply wants to tidy up the process, probably in the same spirit of changing the 90 day transfer rule. When it is just a few people on rare occasions it is probably not a big deal. However with a large hire effort, and very delicate logistical planning, constant deferrals may simply be causing too much disruption to be allowed any longer.
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Post by Gaidin on Jan 20, 2016 18:17:25 GMT -5
According to intel gary received ( aljdiscussion.proboards.com/post/87230/thread ) there is probably an ODAR start date of June 27, 2016. I am in no way implying that Gary's source is anything other than unimpeachable as far as what they have been told. This date would mean four more classes could start in FY15/16. July 25, 2016, August 22, 2016, and September 19, 2016. Alternatively, they could squeeze their regular training space and do three classes of 60 or use a larger space or more space in other locations. That would allow ODAR to attempt to hire 200 more ALJs this FY. There is one rather compelling issue with any of these options: running 4 consecutive classes, 3 more or less consecutive classes, or 2 classes of almost double the regular size. The training cadre is mostly made up of active ALJs with active dockets. For them to miss that many weeks together at the end of the fiscal seems a big ask. Alternatively, running larger classes would mean bringing in multiple new trainers all at once seems challenging. Lastly, I would point out that they denied at least one deferral. If they were certain that the next class was June 27th why deny the deferral? I think the analysis that the June 27th date is not certain is the best interpretation of the situation. However another reasonable interpretation is that ODAR simply wants to tidy up the process, probably in the same spirit of changing the 90 day transfer rule. When it is just a few people on rare occasions it is probably not a big deal. However with a large hire effort, and very delicate logistical planning, constant deferrals may simply be causing too much disruption to be allowed any longer. For a while last year they were denying deferrals. Maybe its just trying to get back to that policy?
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Post by Gaidin on Jan 20, 2016 18:17:59 GMT -5
Thanks. As I get the time, I will transfer some of the relevant posts to that thread. Pix. Thank you!
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Post by Gaidin on Jan 20, 2016 21:27:07 GMT -5
I got the following as part of a pm earlier.
"I asked for a deferred start date. the person making the call was very nice about it but advised they were not allowed to authorize deferrals this go-round because, at least as of last Tues 1/12 when I got the call, the next class had not been set. She did say it might not be "until sometime in May,"....
Both this person and the other person who pm'ed me that they requested a deferral accepted the job even without a deferral.
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Post by gary on Jan 20, 2016 21:44:22 GMT -5
Gary, This is my first post. I have been a lurker for a while though. I am chiming in now to tell you and the other diligent purveyors of knowledge that you are awesome for sharing. I have learned a lot from the posts, much more than is ever discussed within my agency. Also, your intel is amazing. Thanks to you, Gaidin and all the others who give free time to this effort. Thank you.
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