ALJ Hiring info

[privateatty]

Does all of this mean that approximately 300 of us can expect a call from SSA? Does SSA have to take the top three of any geographical preference area after an interview or are they free to take a lower score than the three?

For example, say they interview 15 for Fargo (10 of which are "ALLS") and the remainder want to go there, and the lowest score they interview is the one they want. Can they take the lowest score?

[workdrone]

peejay said:

The President has vetoed the Labor/HHS appropriations bill (including the SSA budget). Any thoughts on what this will do to hiring?

Probably nothing right now, since most people wasn't expecting the budget to pass in its current form. The conventional wisdom is that some modified budget will be passed by early next year (Jan or Feb). Now if the budget fight drags on beyond that, then we might have some real problems.

[kingfisher]

peejay said:

The President has vetoed the Labor/HHS appropriations bill (including the SSA budget). Any thoughts on what this will do to hiring?

www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-wh/2007/nov/13/111309417.html

This is politics ~ welcome to the government. The Senate passed the bill by 3/4 so can override the veto, and the House passed by nearly 2/3 with 15 not voting. It may take a little work but they should be able to override the veto. You can monitor progress at www.congress.gov

[aljsouth]

privateatty said:

Does all of this mean that approximately 300 of us can expect a call from SSA? Does SSA have to take the top three of any geographical preference area after an interview or are they free to take a lower score than the three?

For example, say they interview 15 for Fargo (10 of which are "ALLS") and the remainder want to go there, and the lowest score they interview is the one they want. Can they take the lowest score?

My understanding is you are interviewed once for all sites openings for which you have qualified. If OPM simply sends the list and SSA interviews the top 3 for every opening (or 6 for two openings in one site) then SSA could pick you if you were 4 on a list and the top 3 were picked for other sites or declined.

[sparlo]

Regarding training class sizes, my ALJ class had 54 members. And that was plenty big. In fact, any larger and it would have become unmanagable. As it was, we split into two sections for the entire 5 week period. That is why I have difficulty believing that ODAR will hire in groups of 75 judges. First of all, it is difficult to fina a hotel that can supply that many rooms for 5 weeks straight. Next, some hotels don't have meeting rooms large enought to accommodate classes that size.

It would be logistically easier to hire in groups of 50 judges.

[aljsouth]

sparlo said:

Regarding training class sizes, my ALJ class had 54 members. And that was plenty big. In fact, any larger and it would have become unmanagable. As it was, we split into two sections for the entire 5 week period. That is why I have difficulty believing that ODAR will hire in groups of 75 judges. First of all, it is difficult to fina a hotel that can supply that many rooms for 5 weeks straight. Next, some hotels don't have meeting rooms large enought to accommodate classes that size.

It would be logistically easier to hire in groups of 50 judges.

It is a tough call. Should split class of 75 into two training groups but then would need twice as many trainers. Or could do 3 groups of 50, which is still a large class to train. With 3 groups the trainers would have to come to training 3 times.

[nothingventured]

Are any agencies other than SSA hiring ALJs?

[chris]

privateatty said:

Does all of this mean that approximately 300 of us can expect a call from SSA? Does SSA have to take the top three of any geographical preference area after an interview or are they free to take a lower score than the three?

For example, say they interview 15 for Fargo (10 of which are "ALLS") and the remainder want to go there, and the lowest score they interview is the one they want. Can they take the lowest score?

450 will probably get the call. SSA always has to take one of the top 3, but they have plenty of tools with which to manipulate the top three.

[govtattorney]

so what can we expect from this panel interview? Is it one hour in front of a firing squad or more of a formality before they hire the highest scorers?

[morgullord]

Expect one hour of water-boarding. That way you will not be surprised; you may even be amazed at how civil and cordial the interviewers are.

[ruonthelist]

nothingventured said:

Are any agencies other than SSA hiring ALJs?

Maybe, but not in anything like the numbers that SSA does. The other agencies that hire ALJs frequently hire sitting ALJs, rather than hiring off of the register. If you go to usajobs.opm.gov and use "alj" as a search term you will occasionally find those listings.

The one time in recent years that another agency hired a substantial number from the register was when OMHA started up two or three years ago. That was a rare event--a newly created agency needing to establish a corps of several dozen ALJs virtually overnight. They hired both from the register and from sitting (mostly SSA) judges. That situation is not likely to recur any time soon.

Most of the other agencies (except for DOL, NLRB, and OMHA) have the overwhelming majority of their jobs in DC. And, except for those three, most of the other agencies have 10 or fewer ALJs. So for all of these reasons, hiring from the register by agencies other than SSA is likely to remain statistically insignificant.

[jagghagg]

govtattorney said:

so what can we expect from this panel interview?

No, seriously - please, those of you who know - share, please. What might we reasonably expect from an interview of this sort?

[arlene25]

The HOCALJ (that's hearing office chief alj) at my office is apparently involved in the interviews and said they would be 2 hours long. He said that was too long and all he needed to do was ask one question. Can you jump in and do the work? But I have heard from other aljs that the agency interviews were easy and "softball". So, who knows.

[Pixie]

jagghagg said:

govtattorney said:

so what can we expect from this panel interview?

No, seriously - please, those of you who know - share, please. What might we reasonably expect from an interview of this sort?

They will be looking to see if you are the type to come on board with the agency initiatives and what they consider important in a judge. In other words will you sing along with the party line.

Video hearings will probably be a big one. Also can you use a computer to type your own decisions (not that you ever will). How do you feel about traveling to hear cases, time and attendance requirements, production (quantity vs. quality), electronic files, pooled support staff, and the list goes on.

Whatever they feel is important at the moment will be asked, and they will trot out some of the old standards mentioned above. Perhaps others will come up with some additional topics that may be on the list. Pix.

[kingfisher]

govtattorney said:

so what can we expect from this panel interview? Is it one hour in front of a firing squad or more of a formality before they hire the highest scorers?

govattorney, My interview at SSA was at the CALJ's office, conducted by 2 RCALJs. Let's see if I can recall the nature of the questions. I remember being asked about (1) any experience I had with videoconferencing equipment, and fortunately I had plenty, (2) any experience traveling for hearings, and I had covered 4 states in a previous position, (3) whether I was computer savvy and had any problem with writing my own decisions if needed, and again, plenty of experience and ability. In effect, they wanted to know if I could support the current initiatives and do a good job as a judge, and I had been one for over a decade so could reassure them on that point as well. There may have even been a question about handling a pro se but that may have been a previous screening interview. Good Luck to you!