On the SSA Certificate!

[morgullord]

I am no Mountaineer but I have baked in Cooper's Oven. May of 67 it was.

[testtaker]

morgullord said:

I received an e-mail with the following list. This appears to be the list of hearing offices where there are vacancies to be filled:

There are 68 hearing offices listed.

Thank you for listing them out by state. It makes a much easier read.

I'm just bummed that I've never "published" anything I've written! I hate to put down, "none". Perhaps I will also list out the fact that I've written numerous materials for CLEs on SS law.

[lark]

I also received the message from SSA and OPM. There are 71 locations On my OPM list.
Testtaker, don't feel badly about not having any work "published" you are not alone. I will also have to list CLE materials regarding SS law.
Lark

[happy]

I've not published anything, either. Who has time for that kind of thing?

[corrina]

Yes-- I made both. I was removed from the Medicare certificate
Wednesday as a result of finding myself in a group with two veterans -- and had the good fortune to find myself on the
SSA certificate today. Perhaps the people at Medicare were thoughtful enough to move me along quickly after such an
early rejection.

[Asterisk]

Greetings all. Thanks, aaa, for your initial post giving insight into the cert. email (other than the FEAI, which is all I received!).

Could you, or some kind soul, of which there seems to be a plethora on this board, please set out "copies" (ie., via scan??) or at least a summary of info contained in the Interview and Background Questionnaire; 2. Background Questionnaire Consent and Release Form; 3. Summary of Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act; and 4. Optional Form 306-Declaration for Federal Employment.

It would be greatly appreciated, and possibly save my weekend and marriage, as I won't be able to contact Personnel to have them email me the info before Monday.

Thanks so much.

I do believe we are all getting there and will arrive at some time in the not too distant future

[kingfisher]

nonamouse said:

Apparently my email server is slower at posting new mail than some others, but I got the initial email (3 times). Still waiting on the one with attachments to complete. Of the cities listed, I only saw 2 of 8 that I had chosen. Both cities are in TX. Man did I luck out. Whew.

Keep in mind as you view the cities on this list that the ALJ transfers may not be completed yet. So, just because "your" city is listed now does not mean it will be there later. I would urge you to give careful consideration to expanding your list and by so doing increase your chance of being selected. I speak from experience.

[techgeek]

Congrats and good luck to you certificate holders. This process seems to drag on slowly and I guess many of you have been consumed with anxiety. 97K plus locality is nothing to sneeze at.

[nonamouse]

kingfisher said:

nonamouse said:

Apparently my email server is slower at posting new mail than some others, but I got the initial email (3 times). Still waiting on the one with attachments to complete. Of the cities listed, I only saw 2 of 8 that I had chosen. Both cities are in TX. Man did I luck out. Whew.

Keep in mind as you view the cities on this list that the ALJ transfers may not be completed yet. So, just because "your" city is listed now does not mean it will be there later. I would urge you to give careful consideration to expanding your list and by so doing increase your chance of being selected. I speak from experience.

I'm definitely going to add cities if it is allowed. I just feel lucky that I was not completely passed over due to my limited initial choices. It appears to be possible given the wording of the instructions to add cities now. I had a situation that required me to stay in a smaller region at the time of the application, but my options are now much wider.

I'm having a serious conversation with myself about whether or not I could stand New Orleans or Metairie with the current state of rebuilding, scary levees and crime stats. I doubt the area is very desirable to most non-natives at the moment which would make it easier to get a foot in the door. I was down there recently and while the French Quarter and some areas of Metairie looked good, a few blocks the wrong way and it appeared like some bad things could happen.

[secondchance]

Hope this is the correct thread for this post! Let me say in advance that this board has been THE BEST thing for my mental health the past month. It's always good to know one is not alone...

fyi - my score was 65.47, I selected not all but most cites, and I got the e-mails!

re: publications I'm going to list my CLE writings AND my firm's newsletter - better than nothing, I figure.

Good luck to all as the roller coaster ride, I mean the process, continues

[deadwood]

corrina said:

Yes-- I made both.

I'm also aware of one other person who made both certificates.

[kingfisher]

Nonamouse,

I went through this process a few years back and was permitted to add locations, including my current duty station. In fact, a kind lady who is one of the contacts on your letter encouraged me to list as many as I would actually agree to accept.

But, I say, "When in doubt, check it out." So, call them. They really do mean it when they say call if you have any questions.

Best of luck!

[pm]

It's still an odd situation even if ODAR says yes, add cities, because ODAR has no authority to allow you to add cities. OPM makes the lists for each city and only OPM can add a name to a city. Sounds like ODAR has not been following the rules.

[judicature]

No - it is OPM who sent out the FAIR with all 71 locations listed together with a message that says:

"The Office of Personnel Management has referred your name for consideration as an ALJ for the above location(s)"

[chris]

OPM sent out the list, but the list will be returned to ODAR which will then act on it. If ODAR allows you to add cities that you did not lst with OPM, then it appears that ODAR is not following the rules, just as pm said.

[judicature]

My point is that OPM has created the ambiguity that raises the question by listing all of the locations on everyone's email instead of specifically identifying for each candidate the geographic locations they listed on their applications. Please remember that if OPM had made the email specific to the candidate instead of general to everyone then SSA could have sent out the same email as they have now and there would be no suggestion that they were somehow ignoring the rules.

[tab58]

I was told by a Chief Judge to request that additional locations be added when I go for my interview in Falls Church. Worst thing they can say is NO.

[pm]

Mar 18, 2009 7:38:28 GMT -5 tab58 said:

I was told by a Chief Judge to request that additional locations be added when I go for my interview in Falls Church. Worst thing they can say is NO.

The worst they can do is think you are stupid and/or dishonest.

ODAR cannot add cities. Only OPM can add cities. ODAR cannot and will not hire anyone who is not on the cert for a specifc city.

Don't start your potential career with ODAR by trying to go around the rules.

[krid]

aaa's verbatim report of the Notice he received contained this paragraph:

"OPM has already forwarded to you the Federal Employment Availability Inquiry (FEAI) which lists the locations where we are currently recruiting that match the locations you have on file at OPM. You have the option of declining all locations by stating this on the FEAI. You may also indicate an interest in all or some of the locations by placing an “X” only after the location(s) in which you would accept if an ALJ position were offered to you. Please consider this very carefully because you may be required to travel to areas outside your duty station. In addition, you will be expected to remain employed at that location for at least two years. Even after the conclusion of two years, the likelihood of moving to another location is quite limited since reassignments are made based upon the workload needs of the agency."

However, my notice contained the following paragraph, which is different:

"This form lists the locations where we are currently recruiting that match the locations you have on file with OPM. You have the option of declining all locations by stating this on the form. You may also indicate an interest in all or some of the locations by placing an “X” next to the location(s) you would accept if an ALJ position were offered to you. Please consider locations very carefully because you may be required to travel to areas outside of your duty station. In addition, you will be expected to remain employed at the location for which you are selected for at least two years. Even at the conclusion of two years, the likelihood of moving to another location is quite limited since reassignments are made based upon workload needs of the agency."

My notice contained no mention of an FEAI. Does anyone know why there is a difference?

[aaa]

Please note that my notification came in November 2007. The notices have most likely changed since then, so don't compare apples and oranges.

Good luck to you all. It's going to be an exciting time - although the waiting is sometimes unbearable I can tell you since my selection as an ALJ last year, the time has flown by at megaspeed.