What info does SSA receive from OPM?

[coloradoman]

I am one of the non-hires from the recent round of ALJ hirings. I submitted much detail about my civilian and military experience in the application submitted to OPM, and much of that experience was brought out at the OPM interview. SSA requested a more abbreviated application/resume, and the SSA interview questions pertained more to specific situations I experienced in life, etc. I tried to expand upon my full experience any chance I had during the interview, but the interviewers would quickly move on to the next question. They both also seemed to have no clue as to military proceedings. Does anyone know if SSA receives a copy of the documentation we submitted to OPM? If not, has anyone had any success submitting such documentation at the post interview stage?

[privateatty]

With all due respect, I don't think SSA/ODAR/OCALJ cares one whit about your military experience unless you were doing SSDI work.

These folks don't "do" post interview reception, at least I've never heard of it, but I could be wrong.

Once passed over, its unlikely you'll be re-considered by SSA.

This is a game for insiders and outsiders who can do the insider dance.

[lawmaker]

Jun 26, 2009 16:14:31 GMT -5 privateatty said:

With all due respect, I don't think SSA/ODAR/OCALJ cares one whit about your military experience unless you were doing SSDI work.

These folks don't "do" post interview reception, at least I've never heard of it, but I could be wrong.

Once passed over, its unlikely you'll be re-considered by SSA.

This is a game for insiders and outsiders who can do the insider dance.

They do receive and read it. Some of the interviewers aren't lawyers or judges either. I would love to know from the high scorers on here whether they have had a chance to read their interview results or some summary thereof, or are you still FOIAing and discovering it out? It's fascinating to me that there's some sort of perception that just because you have a high score that you will interview well, or that your references all came back saying you are dreamy. It happens, sometimes they don't say what you expect and the high score is viewed in context. I've known vets who have scored in the 40s only to have their total score elevated to a noncompetitive 50 or so.

It's not all about vet's points and high scores. OR about perception of bias towards insiders. Not every applicant comes forth with the complete package. I think I mentioned this way before the last set of interviews started. The OPM package is read, reviewed and in fact possibly in some cases used to determine whether the written portion credibly matches with the interview representations. And vice versa.

[lawmaker]

Jun 26, 2009 15:12:29 GMT -5 coloradoman said:

I am one of the non-hires from the recent round of ALJ hirings. I submitted much detail about my civilian and military experience in the application submitted to OPM, and much of that experience was brought out at the OPM interview. SSA requested a more abbreviated application/resume, and the SSA interview questions pertained more to specific situations I experienced in life, etc. I tried to expand upon my full experience any chance I had during the interview, but the interviewers would quickly move on to the next question. They both also seemed to have no clue as to military proceedings. Does anyone know if SSA receives a copy of the documentation we submitted to OPM? If not, has anyone had any success submitting such documentation at the post interview stage?

I think that what you are referring to here as the SSA resume wasn't a resume so much as a summary of information that was forwarded to the company that performed the reference check.

[jagghagg]

Coloradoman, the SSA interview is a "structured interview" which means, like the OPM interview, they have a very specific set of areas they want to cover; they ask each interviewee exactly the same questions in exactly the same way, and they do not deviate. (At least they are not supposed to.) After the interview you are scored in a set number of areas, and after that, a complete review of your file is made and a final rating given. Yes a few candidates have submitted documentation after-the-fact; it has not seemed to make any difference.

[coloradoman]

Thanks for the responses. As long as SSA had the complete information I submitted to OPM regarding my work background, I will feel like I had a fair shot at the ALJ position. Looks like they did.

[blueeyes]

FYI: This was sent out yesterday regarding "Recruitment and Selection Through Competitive Examination".

June 26, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 122)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 30459-30462] OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Recruitment and Selection Through Competitive Examination
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: OPM is issuing final regulations pertaining to recruitment and selection through the competitive examination process, to clarify the distinction among objections, pass overs, and suitability determinations. DATES: The final rule is effective July 27, 2000.
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-15184.pdf

[oldjag]

There are a lot of factors that go into a selection, but the biggest factors are the OPM score and the selected cities. The SSA interviews are not as structured as the OPM interviews and are designed to get information as to a person's background that would enable them to be effective as a SSA ALJ.

I know many people who don't get selected for a long time because of geographic restrictions, or that a higher scoring group wanted to go to the same place and the person could not be selected.

Despite allegations in another thread, I know of several "insiders" who have not been selected despite a manager's desire to have them in an office.

Best advice is to hang in and review the geographic preference to see if you could expand the cities you would accept.

[ALJD]

Jul 1, 2009 12:06:17 GMT -5 blueeyes said:

FYI: This was sent out yesterday regarding "Recruitment and Selection Through Competitive Examination".

June 26, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 122)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 30459-30462] OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Recruitment and Selection Through Competitive Examination
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: OPM is issuing final regulations pertaining to recruitment and selection through the competitive examination process, to clarify the distinction among objections, pass overs, and suitability determinations. DATES: The final rule is effective July 27, 2000.
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-15184.pdf

This is actually a very important regulatory change because with the above rules, VP will be even more worthless than before. Since OPM is delegating authority to bypass to the hiring agency and also declaring no appellate rights for the passed over vets.

If it plays out like it reads, SSA might not even have to play rules of three by grouping three vets together in the future.