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Post by sandiferhands (old) on Jan 15, 2014 13:45:02 GMT -5
Yes, that's me, the cart, getting so far in front of the horse I cant even see him, but...
We're trying to plan a family vacation for this summer. Is there any way to estimate when the training session(s) might take place, to try to avoid a conflict? In the event of a conflict, is your choice either to skip the vacay or decline the job offer, or is there some alternative work-around?
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Post by crab on Jan 15, 2014 13:48:31 GMT -5
Yes, I can tell you. Training will take place the weeks of your vacation regardless of the weeks you choose. It's how I planned for the WD/SI. ;-)
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Post by moopigsdad on Jan 15, 2014 14:22:50 GMT -5
Yes, that's me, the cart, getting so far in front of the horse I cant even see him, but... We're trying to plan a family vacation for this summer. Is there any way to estimate when the training session(s) might take place, to try to avoid a conflict? In the event of a conflict, is your choice either to skip the vacay or decline the job offer, or is there some alternative work-around? I think crab has it right as it will likely occur when you least want it to occur. I don't think any of us can tell you when a cert will occur or when training may occur after the cert. Hence, all you can do is pick a date and cross your fingers it doesn't interfere with your dreams of an ALJ position.
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Post by BagLady on Jan 15, 2014 14:28:43 GMT -5
Yes, I can tell you. Training will take place the weeks of your vacation regardless of the weeks you choose. It's how I planned for the WD/SI. ;-) Yep! Me, too!
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Post by 71stretch on Jan 15, 2014 14:33:32 GMT -5
Go about your life. There's no way to plan this. Pick the dates you want to go, and make the arrangements. In the unlikely event you have to change them for training, it will be worth it, I assume, based on the fact that you are stressing about it now.
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Post by Ace Midnight on Jan 15, 2014 15:23:55 GMT -5
Here's my issue - I volunteered for an August annual training period. I wonder if military "orders" will constitute a valid reason for an exception. - Likely not, but I wonder how I will handle it - I guess, worst case, I will just retire - or somehow make it up afterwards.
In any event, vacations or whatever aren't a problem. We have a wedding planned for the fall, but I'm sure I can fly back for that - should that unthinkable conflict occur.
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Post by redryder on Jan 15, 2014 16:06:15 GMT -5
Get vacation insurance if possible. Otherwise, make your plans. At this time, there is still no definitive budget. Once that is resolved, the big pie has to be sliced among all of the components in SSA and other agencies like DHHS. That's when the adjudicative branches will know how many judges they can hire. (And in the world of SSA, ODAR is a small slice of the pie.)
Nothing in the government moves fast unless live ammunition and/or a terrorist threat is involved.
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Post by bartleby on Jan 15, 2014 16:21:29 GMT -5
To be an ALJ one must begin to think like an ALJ. It is so very simple. Just plan your family vacation for Falls Church and you will not be disappointed on all counts.. See, I told you it was simple.
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Post by Buffalogal on Jan 15, 2014 17:20:16 GMT -5
DC is nice in the summer, although it's pretty crowded with tourists and can be humid.
I've now been on a few certs and am glad I didn't forego making my vacation plans. On the other hand, if I ever get that magic phone call and coveted job offer, I'll drop everything and my husband will be thrilled to rearrange any vacation plans. If you really want the job, you will too.
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Post by ssaogc on Jan 15, 2014 20:58:18 GMT -5
Wow this assumes that you have cleared multiple hurdles. First you have to assume you are one of the lucky top scorers, that the locations they are looking to hire are on your GAL, that you are one of the top three candidates at one or more of the locations they are hiring. Then you have to count that you do well in the agency interview. After that you have to hope that there is not a veteran in one of the slots before you that will need to be passed over because if they are not passed over then you cannot get selected ahead of them.
Like Observer stated, go on with your lives, hope for the best but do not put the carriage ahead of the horse, even by 10 miles!
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Post by privateatty on Jan 15, 2014 21:30:39 GMT -5
Wow this assumes that you have cleared multiple hurdles. First you have to assume you are one of the lucky top scorers, that the locations they are looking to hire are on your GAL, that you are one of the top three candidates at one or more of the locations they are hiring. Then you have to count that you do well in the agency interview. After that you have to hope that there is not a veteran in one of the slots before you that will need to be passed over because if they are not passed over then you cannot get selected ahead of them. Like Observer stated, go on with your lives, hope for the best but do not put the carriage ahead of the horse, even by 10 miles! SSA doesn't care about scores per se, only to the extent that they can get to you. As reported, very low scorers got hired.
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Post by ssaogc on Jan 15, 2014 21:34:36 GMT -5
Wow this assumes that you have cleared multiple hurdles. First you have to assume you are one of the lucky top scorers, that the locations they are looking to hire are on your GAL, that you are one of the top three candidates at one or more of the locations they are hiring. Then you have to count that you do well in the agency interview. After that you have to hope that there is not a veteran in one of the slots before you that will need to be passed over because if they are not passed over then you cannot get selected ahead of them. Like Observer stated, go on with your lives, hope for the best but do not put the carriage ahead of the horse, even by 10 miles! SSA doesn't care about scores per se, only to the extent that they can get to you. As reported, very low scorers got hired. I believe that scores will have some type of effect in this first group of folks should there be a hiring this summer. Its the first batch and will likely have many of the 10 pointers (and insiders) on the cert.
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Post by gottabeme on Jan 15, 2014 22:22:31 GMT -5
Yes, that's me, the cart, getting so far in front of the horse I cant even see him, but... We're trying to plan a family vacation for this summer. Is there any way to estimate when the training session(s) might take place, to try to avoid a conflict? In the event of a conflict, is your choice either to skip the vacay or decline the job offer, or is there some alternative work-around? Just plan your vacation for WDC and ride a double decker around town until you get "the call"
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Post by gottabeme on Jan 15, 2014 22:25:33 GMT -5
To be an ALJ one must begin to think like an ALJ. It is so very simple. Just plan your family vacation for Falls Church and you will not be disappointed on all counts.. See, I told you it was simple. oops, sorry Bartleby ..didn't see your post... I also recommended a long bus tour around WDC
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Post by privateatty on Jan 16, 2014 6:28:35 GMT -5
SSA doesn't care about scores per se, only to the extent that they can get to you. As reported, very low scorers got hired. I believe that scores will have some type of effect in this first group of folks should there be a hiring this summer. Its the first batch and will likely have many of the 10 pointers (and insiders) on the cert. The ten pointers will have a score inclusive of the five or ten points added. CALJ will have a list that they want. Yes, the higher scores will be easy pickings, but the lower scores will require three striking down the list to get to them. This will be a large Cert and thus just that much easier to do the three striking. They are pros at this and they will get 'er done.
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Post by tmgesq on Jan 16, 2014 7:43:05 GMT -5
So you are all aware the new ALJ training team apparently had a meeting this week so it appears things may be moving forward...
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Post by sandiferhands (old) on Jan 16, 2014 10:52:44 GMT -5
So you are all aware the new ALJ training team apparently had a meeting this week so it appears things may be moving forward... Boom. I'm aware of all the preliminary events that have to fall in place for vacation to be an issue, but my "intuition" based on several of the posts recently (Mr. Sklar's conference call comments, the apparently surprisingly generous budget, this training team post, the possible strategy of moving quickly on a cert to avoid appeal delays) tells me that once this train gets rolling it may be rolling very, very fast. Of course, I'm aware I could fall off of the train at any moment, as are the others here awaiting the NOR. But it never hurts to plan ahead.
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Post by zebra51 on Jan 16, 2014 12:25:33 GMT -5
I believe that scores will have some type of effect in this first group of folks should there be a hiring this summer. Its the first batch and will likely have many of the 10 pointers (and insiders) on the cert. The ten pointers will have a score inclusive of the five or ten points added. CALJ will have a list that they want. Yes, the higher scores will be easy pickings, but the lower scores will require three striking down the list to get to them. This will be a large Cert and thus just that much easier to do the three striking. They are pros at this and they will get 'er done. Then the three strikers can file their lawsuit because OPM did not use Categorical Rating as mandated by Executive Order.
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Post by hopefalj on Jan 16, 2014 12:46:42 GMT -5
The ten pointers will have a score inclusive of the five or ten points added. CALJ will have a list that they want. Yes, the higher scores will be easy pickings, but the lower scores will require three striking down the list to get to them. This will be a large Cert and thus just that much easier to do the three striking. They are pros at this and they will get 'er done. Then the three strikers can file their lawsuit because OPM did not use Categorical Rating as mandated by Executive Order. They can try, but the Presidential Memo (not an EO-perhaps a distinction without a difference) also explicitly states it "is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person."
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Post by ssaogc on Jan 16, 2014 20:35:52 GMT -5
So you are all aware the new ALJ training team apparently had a meeting this week so it appears things may be moving forward... Boom. I'm aware of all the preliminary events that have to fall in place for vacation to be an issue, but my "intuition" based on several of the posts recently (Mr. Sklar's conference call comments, the apparently surprisingly generous budget, this training team post, the possible strategy of moving quickly on a cert to avoid appeal delays) tells me that once this train gets rolling it may be rolling very, very fast. Of course, I'm aware I could fall off of the train at any moment, as are the others here awaiting the NOR. But it never hurts to plan ahead. LOL, I have been saying this all along, that the NORs were tied to ODAR's hiring plans and possible litigation and everyone said I was nuts--that ODAR had nothing to do with OPM and their decision to release NORs.
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