will I get another interview?

[mjohn19]

 I am on the current register.   I made a cert and was interviewed. I made a few more certs but was not selected. I think my interview was my undoing. Presuming that I reapply during this current opening, make it past OPM and get a score, and get on a new cert, will I be eligible for another interview at SSA?  In other words, I don't want to go through the hassle of reapplying and testing if I'm not going to be eligle for another interview. 

[berk727]

my understanding is you would not get another interview. everyone gets one per register. and this is just a refresh, not a new register. I would not risk it to re-test. just my two cents.

[coffeeman]

I've asked the same question and received the same answer. However, I have to imagine that if you cert'ed to a different agency, they would not use the SSA interview and you'd have an opportunity to interview. Considering that there is a very small amount of non-SSA hiring of the register, I think berk727 has the practical answer to your question.

[fowlfinder]

Aug 25, 2017 9:41:08 GMT -5 coffeeman said:

I've asked the same question and received the same answer. However, I have to imagine that if you cert'ed to a different agency, they would not use the SSA interview and you'd have an opportunity to interview. Considering that there is a very small amount of non-SSA hiring of the register, I think berk727 has the practical answer to your question.

That is correct.  Each agency has their own interview process.  OMHA has been known to have a multiple interview process (first, second, etc).  

They generally all hire off the register, but how they hire off the register is generally unique to each agency (though following the rule of 3 and all that).  

[Ace Midnight]

I went through a lot of this analysis myself - nothing is certain in life, but I'm 99% certain that if you reapply during the "same" register (meaning before it completely expires and is discarded), the agency will not repeat the interview with you. If you want to make certain that is the hold up, and not something else, then I recommend you do a FOIA to get the contents of your file, especially if you have a hirable score.

I mean, you have little to lose either way (you're not going to be "more" non-selected) - but you might avoid the expense of another trip to D.C. and potentially lowering your score, when it isn't the score or interview holding you back now.

[gary]

Aug 25, 2017 9:48:49 GMT -5 fowlfinder said:

Aug 25, 2017 9:41:08 GMT -5 coffeeman said:

I've asked the same question and received the same answer. However, I have to imagine that if you cert'ed to a different agency, they would not use the SSA interview and you'd have an opportunity to interview. Considering that there is a very small amount of non-SSA hiring of the register, I think berk727 has the practical answer to your question.

That is correct.  Each agency has their own interview process.  OMHA has been known to have a multiple interview process (first, second, etc).  

They generally all hire off the register, but how they hire off the register is generally unique to each agency (though following the rule of 3 and all that).  

Other agencies are bound by the same rules as SSA for hiring from the register. They don't do things exactly the same way.

If you were up for consideration by another agency, your SSA interview would mean nothing to them. You'd get an interview with the other agency in that circumstance. Perhaps a couple of interviews before they hire.

The necessity of having to hire from top 3s applies. The three consideration rule also applies, but your considerations by SSA don't count--only considerations by the hiring agency.

The biggest thing that makes hiring by other agencies feel very different is the numbers. SSA may hire 25 to 100 at a time for dozens of locations. The next biggest hirer does not hire nearly so many and only has 6 or so locations.

BTW: If your GAL includes one or more OMHA locations don't give up. I've known people to be passed on multiple times by SSA who are now excellent ALJs for OMHA.

[aljnoobie]

FYI - from the 2017 JOA "Examination information and rating information are exempt from disclosure under the FOIA and Privacy Act on the grounds that they contain and/or describe examination materials, scoring benchmarks, scoring factors, criteria and/or methods which represent confidential test material. Accordingly, such information cannot be provided to applicants or publicly posted."

I presume (but could be wrong) the same issues would apply to your interview summary/score if it contains any type of rubric. If it helps, I did my interview earlier this month and I'm deathly afraid that I messed up somehow and would love to know for sure - but I'm guessing that TPTB would not look kindly on a FOIA request.

[71stretch]

One interview per register for ODAR. Agencies do handle things differently. Many do not hire off the register in the first place. Note that some agencies like OMHA, which does hire off the register, do second interviews in connection with the same hire.

A search on this Board would give you some info re past FOIA requests, but my recollection is that they yielded minimal information. Probably not worth it.

[franperirose]

I can understand the efficiency of one interview, but it seems that after a couple of years, you might have significant changes in your career that would cause you to give different/better answers. I feel like your situation would be very frustrating.

[Pixie]

Aug 25, 2017 13:36:36 GMT -5 franperirose said:

I can understand the efficiency of one interview, but it seems that after a couple of years, you might have significant changes in your career that would cause you to give different/better answers. I feel like your situation would be very frustrating.

Yes, this is definitely a consideration, but it is offset by the expense involved in interviewing. Not only is it expensive to bring the candidates to Falls Church from all over the country, but there is the travel expense and hotel expense for the interviewers. And don't forget the loss of productivity of the interviewers while they are in Falls Church. The costs involved are extremely high, and the Agency wants to do it only one time per candidate. Pixie

[Deleted]

For the OP: how do you know that you were not selected after making a cert? Is this for prior certs rather than the current one? More generally, do you get a notice saying you were not selected after being on a cert?

[rp]

Aug 25, 2017 15:25:33 GMT -5 @zeus said:

For the OP: how do you know that you were not selected after making a cert? Is this for prior certs rather than the current one? More generally, do you get a notice saying you were not selected after being on a cert?

If you were not selected, you will receive a FOAD email at some point.

[bayou]

Aug 25, 2017 15:27:11 GMT -5 rp said:

Aug 25, 2017 15:25:33 GMT -5 @zeus said:

For the OP: how do you know that you were not selected after making a cert? Is this for prior certs rather than the current one? More generally, do you get a notice saying you were not selected after being on a cert?

If you were not selected, you will receive a FOAD email at some point.

For those on the board, the practical answer is that the calls will clearly stop without you getting a call and that is how you know. Officially, as RP points out, you will get an email some weeks/month down the road.

[71stretch]

Aug 25, 2017 15:25:33 GMT -5 @zeus said:

For the OP: how do you know that you were not selected after making a cert? Is this for prior certs rather than the current one? More generally, do you get a notice saying you were not selected after being on a cert?

The OP has apparently been through more than one cert cycle (all prior to this one, for which hiring hasn't been done) and was not selected. Yes, you do get an email. Sometimes it's weeks after the hiring before that happens.

[SPN Lifer]

There is a resurgence of interest in this question.