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Post by foghorn on Sept 2, 2016 12:06:12 GMT -5
Wow, there is a lot going on in the Leslie Gore video. A cornucopia of cultural references, tropes. But have we really come that far when the cheerleaders at NFL & other events are doing pretty much what the go-go-type background dancers did? Maybe less far than we think or hope. But gotta love the hair. The glory days of aerosol shelac. Maybe that's the secret to the unique visual texture of a certain public figure's hair--they bought up all the remaining 60's hairsprays. But it's our party and we'll...... Enough! this is Labor day. Back to laboring.......
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Post by firehouse9 on Sept 2, 2016 12:37:56 GMT -5
So I scheduled the first day. When should we hear about the "automatic" schedule for the second day? I haven't received anything on that yet. The email we received states they will automatically schedule your SI for the day after and they will give us our time after we are done testing. I missed that. Thanks. Actually, right now, I have 2 different hotel reservations: one near OPM and one at Alexandria Embassy Suites. My thought was that, if I got a late interview time, I would stay near OPM after testing so I wouldn't have to worry about checking out before. Now, I can't do that as I might get a 8:00 interview, and I don't want to have to travel early in the morning. Not going to kill me, but it's still an inconvenience not to know.
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Post by dragon on Sept 10, 2016 17:43:33 GMT -5
Has anyone been allowed to place luggage in the back of the testing room during the WD/Logic test? I strongly suspect the answer is no, but it would save a hassle when switching hotels. Thanks for any input!
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Post by Baymax on Sept 10, 2016 17:57:04 GMT -5
Has anyone been allowed to place luggage in the back of the testing room during the WD/Logic test? I strongly suspect the answer is no, but it would save a hassle when switching hotels. Thanks for any input! Dragon, your first hotel should hold your luggage until you are done with the first day of testing. Then you can move to the second hotel. The second hotel should be able to hold your luggage as well. Otherwise it'll be tough to bring your luggage brought security at the OPM building
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Post by bayou on Sept 10, 2016 18:58:59 GMT -5
Has anyone been allowed to place luggage in the back of the testing room during the WD/Logic test? I strongly suspect the answer is no, but it would save a hassle when switching hotels. Thanks for any input! Dragon, your first hotel should hold your luggage until you are done with the first day of testing. Then you can move to the second hotel. The second hotel should be able to hold your luggage as well. Otherwise it'll be tough to bring your luggage brought security at the OPM building The email invite said that all suitcases will need to be scanned, so they at least contemplate the possibility that people will bring luggage. It also says you can't bring in unnecessary personal items into the room, so a suitcase of personal items are probably beyond the limit. Just the hassle that you will encounter at security would be enough to make me not bring it.
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Post by christina on Sept 10, 2016 19:20:49 GMT -5
I agree with bayou. Leave luggage at first hotel
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Post by dragon on Sept 10, 2016 19:23:12 GMT -5
Thanks for the answers. Getting through security would certainly be a nightmare!
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Post by Serious, J. on Sept 11, 2016 17:25:27 GMT -5
I didn't switch hotels for the first and second nights. I arrived in DC the night before the WD/LBMT, spent the night at the State Plaza, walked to OPM the next morning, spent that night at the same hotel, and got a late checkout the next day. I took a cab to the hotel where the SI was and asked the bellman there to hold my luggage. Once the SI was over, I got my luggage and took a cab to the airport hotel that I had booked just in case I had a late SI, and as it turned out I was in the latest time slot. It was too late to fly home that night, adding in the 3 hours it would have taken to retrieve my car from remote airport parking and drive home. It worked out okay. Once I figured I was looking at $1,500+ for the trip, I didn't pinch pennies. I just tried to do what would be easiest on me. (And on the off-chance I had an early SI time slot and could get home that same day, I didn't want to move to the SI's hotel the night before because if you have two nights booked the hotels often won't let you cancel the second night once you've checked in; hence, the airport hotel as a backup, which had a 6 p.m. cancellation, so if I'd had an early SI I could have cancelled the airport hotel and just gone home.)
The State Plaza has a nice bar for situational beverages, and a pretty good restaurant.
Having to go through OPM security with luggage is a significant deterrent. But if that is the only way, I seem to recall that we were checked in by the proctors in a room adjacent to the testing room. I suppose it is theoretically possible to keep luggage in that room, but I would guess OPM would discourage it.
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Post by basileia on Sept 11, 2016 21:22:36 GMT -5
Having to go through OPM security with luggage is a significant deterrent. But if that is the only way, I seem to recall that we were checked in by the proctors in a room adjacent to the testing room. I suppose it is theoretically possible to keep luggage in that room, but I would guess OPM would discourage it. This is how I remember it from 2013. I think you could theoretically send your luggage through OPM security and maybe leave it in a room outside of the testing room, but it would be a PITA and I wouldn't want to trust it as a sure thing. Plus who knows if this year would be different or not? Most hotels will happily hold bags, so I imagine anyone could ask their first night hotel to hold bags after checkout for them and then pick them up after testing in order to go to the other hotel. Right now, I am booked both nights at State Plaza, but I might switch my second night to Embassy Suites. I'm not testing until December, so I figured I would see how commutes and such go for early testers before I change plans. Plus, I'm not really all that worried about cabbing it over for the SI. I'll just give myself lots of extra time. Staying at State Plaza both nights would certainly save me money. I got my room for $149 per night.
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Post by denise on Sept 11, 2016 22:19:01 GMT -5
I am booked at the Capitol Hilton for the first night and the Embassy Suites for the second night. As previously mentioned, it will be easy to have both hotels hold your bags during the day. I initially booked the Hilton for both nights, but once I learned the interview was going to be held at the Embassy Suites in Alexandria which is only a couple of metro stops to National Airport (DCA), it became a no-brainer for me to split my hotel stays and avoid rush hour the morning of the interview since all I will need to do is to enjoy a great Embassy Suites breakfast, get ready, and interview 🤓.
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Post by foghorn on Sept 13, 2016 15:47:22 GMT -5
I had a question for OPM on certain mechanical issues. First time they said they'd respond once all selections for test dates had been made. Then resubmitted as I hadn't heard. Received a reply that applicants will receive additional information the week before their test date.
I so love a good mystery.
good luck to all as we sally forth, repeating our battle cry, "It is what it is."
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Post by foghorn on Sept 16, 2016 12:02:51 GMT -5
PS--to Pixie--No I will not post any response I do receive from OPM--assuming I get one--without checking with your first.
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Post by Pixie on Sept 16, 2016 12:51:15 GMT -5
PS--to Pixie--No I will not post any response I do receive from OPM--assuming I get one--without checking with your first. Relax. Everything you need will be provided to you at testing. No need to be so anxious. OPM has been doing this for a while. Pixie
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Post by sophie22 on Sept 16, 2016 12:57:10 GMT -5
I had a question for OPM on certain mechanical issues. First time they said they'd respond once all selections for test dates had been made. Then resubmitted as I hadn't heard. Received a reply that applicants will receive additional information the week before their test date. I received the additional info for my test date. It's exactly (word for word) the same email that went out when we first scheduled. No new info. Subject line "ALJ Scheduling Appointment Reminder" but it's the same email that you've already received. Personally, I wasn't really expecting anymore info, but just wanted to let everyone know not to expect anything else til they show up at testing! Good luck everyone!!
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Post by bayou on Sept 16, 2016 21:53:46 GMT -5
I had a question for OPM on certain mechanical issues. First time they said they'd respond once all selections for test dates had been made. Then resubmitted as I hadn't heard. Received a reply that applicants will receive additional information the week before their test date. I received the additional info for my test date. It's exactly (word for word) the same email that went out when we first scheduled. No new info. Subject line "ALJ Scheduling Appointment Reminder" but it's the same email that you've already received. Personally, I wasn't really expecting anymore info, but just wanted to let everyone know not to expect anything else til they show up at testing! Good luck everyone!! So I presume this means you are headed in next week. Gluck.
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Post by foghorn on Sept 19, 2016 15:00:00 GMT -5
PS--to Pixie--No I will not post any response I do receive from OPM--assuming I get one--without checking with your first. Relax. Everything you need will be provided to you at testing. No need to be so anxious. OPM has been doing this for a while. Pixie But we haven't! As others noted on the DC thread, we are trained to prepare and part of that is what goes on, e.g. my question earlier about what type of computer. But we are all semper gumby, never grumpy, heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to the test we go!
my role model for this adventure:
Tally ho!
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Post by foghorn on Sept 20, 2016 12:35:12 GMT -5
Reminder to all: The announcement states that to enter you have to bring the announcement confirming your (reprinted on the reminder you get the week before). No announcement/date confirmation no admission! Also it says arrive by 8 am or no admit, "No exceptions." Which means arrive in time to clear metal detector.
In the words of the old spiritual:
Up in the morning with the rising sun, Gonna type,type type, ‘til the day is done. Up in the morning at the break of day, ODAR living is the only way.
I don't know, But I've been told, ALJ salaries, Are good as gold.
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Post by foghorn on Sept 28, 2016 14:51:35 GMT -5
logistics: I found on street parking on E Street by the State Plaza Hotel. However, the sign that says "unlimited hour parking 7 a.m. - 10p.m." is misleading. The meters are two hours. Fortunately a GSA policeman came by, and I asked and he said go by the meter, not the sign. Let me also note the meter took my card and wouldn't let go--imagine that moment of panic. (Lose card/take exam; wait for card exctraction personnel, forfeit exam. Sweat. Got card extracted. Said prayer of thanks and imprecation of malediction).
Fortunately I'd read up on parking and a couple of blocks down from the State, is the parking for the GW Fletcher School. At 7:15 am it was uncrowded, pick a place--eerily empty. A stroll to OPM. Went in the E Street entrance.
Getting into, out of the Foggy bottom area is a mind job. One way streets that end at T intersections or other one way streets. So leave plenty of time to get to that area.
For Embassy suites, I foiund there garage mind numbing. Ended up parking on the street. Even if you use their garage, leave time--it is cramped, confusing, many spaces where you have to leave a key, charged me even though I hadn't parked--but I was so anxious to get out I paid their fee rather than deal with the additional mind job.
I can highly recommend the Towne Motel in Alexandria on Washington Street. Short drive away,cheap, clan, quiet, good Chinese food next door.
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Post by mango54 on Sept 28, 2016 15:41:24 GMT -5
I have not gotten a reminder and I am to be tested next week. I went back and saw for the first time that the email was a google type meeting thing where you could reply that you would do it at that time....was I supposed to reply to that? Highly panicked now!!!!
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Post by msp on Sept 28, 2016 15:48:16 GMT -5
mango54, are you set for next Thursday? Your email reminder should arrive one week before testing. I would suggest you email OPM help desk (can't recall the actual name/email at the moment) and ask about the accept option. Good luck!
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