A journey of a million miles...

[tricia]

Deminimis, you said: "Well this is humbling. I just received my NOR. My score "was not among the higher scores from all eligible applicants.""
It's kind of hard to interpret the language OPM uses in telling us we're inferior human beings, but in the past, others who have gotten the "not among the higher scores" message have looked at their responses to the essay questions, and some of them had objective friends look at them, and they formed the opinion that their responses weren't totally relevant to the questions and/or did not repeat the buzz words found in the questions.
It's worth a look at your application. Time to start thinking about next time.

[deminimis]

Thanks, Tricia. In preparation for the application process, I read the advice given on this board including being responsive and using buzz words. Additionally, noting your story in particular, I made sure to include all relevant dates. I'm wondering if my "accomplishments" were too broad; since my career has spanned so many years I was trying to give an overall impression of my experience rather than point to some anecdote about something I did in a particular case, which I thought would actually trivialize my application. I intend to pursue the appeal process, and I will certainly apply again in the future because I am very interested in being an ALJ and believe I am well suited to the position.

[decadealj]

Deminimis- hard to believe but the rule rather than the exception. I recommend you ask someone who made the cut to review your your application or maybe provide you a copy of theirs to compare with yours. As has been posted here many times before, its not what it is, but what it looks like.

[tricia]

Deminimis, you said: "I intend to pursue the appeal process, and I will certainly apply again in the future because I am very interested in being an ALJ and believe I am well suited to the position."
Please let us know how you do in the appeal process.

[deminimis]

Thanks to everybody for your support. I have received some PMs as well, a couple of which I haven't answered yet. I've been reading everybody's suggestions and comments about the level of specificity required in the ARs. I don't think my answers were so generic that I fell back on "I've been a litigator for 20 years" for my answers, although I certainly did emphasize my lengthy litigation and supervisory experience. On the other hand, I didn't say "On June 5, 1998, I corrected a misplaced modifier, and here's the name of the person who can verify my accomplishment" either. I attempted to show a broad range of experience and knowledge. In any event, I'm going to spend some time on my appeal, with the intent of showing how my responses do in fact address the accomplishment questions. I spent a lot of time here before the application date trying to learn the requirements and thought my application was right on target. Frankly, even with the advice I've received in the last couple of days, I don't know how I'd change my answers. I'll keep everybody posted, and if I am not successful on appeal, I'll try again. The tenacity of a number of you, Tricia in particular, is a lesson learned.

[tricia]

Deminimis, you said: "I'll keep everybody posted, and if I am not successful on appeal, I'll try again. The tenacity of a number of you, Tricia in particular, is a lesson learned. "
I'm glad that I could be source of moral support for others. I have received a lot here. I don't know if I would have been tenacious if it hadn't been for this board.

[maxlaw]

Given our general lack of guidance post-NORs, it seems that it may be a good time to bring out a classic post from Pixie. Her thoughts on the way OPM evaluates these beasts definitely factored into the way I structured my application.

[24kgoldengirl]

To the Esteemed Members of the Board,
I am back in the hunt! I have been invited to participate in the WD and SI. Obviously no special invite is needed for the next few months of nail-biting, anxiety, various and sundry madness. Good luck to all, I will be wearing a yellow gardenia in my hair at the SI (just kidding).
Laughing to keep from crying,
24kgoldengirl