Is there to be a new hire next year?

[zero]

"Zero - just out of curiosity, is it your position that all the appeals should have been resolved BEFORE the WD and SI were conducted ?"

I'm not really taking a position. I'm just asking: why bother with the appeals if the successful appellants are in the same position as a second-round applicant?

While I don't understand why they didn't resolve all of the appeals before offering the WD and the SI to anyone, that issue is obviously yesterday's news. Even I'm getting sick of whining about appeals and I'm pretty-much the whiner-in-chief.

[morgullord]

A potential second-round applicant (I include myself in this category) has a chance of being sent over on the cert for 2009 hirings. Successful appellants would be in that mix. There are worse things.

I am not trying to be mean or condescending but OPM is required to consider all appeals and make determinations on each of them. Approximately 1500 people applied. 600 or so got past the hurdles and made it onto the register. That leaves a pool of approximately 900 appellants, all of whom are well-educated, experienced, and highly motivated attorneys. We do not know how many appeals were filed.

The other thing is that I am a federal employee and I try to do my best on my work no matter how long it takes. I have no reason to believe that other federal employees who work for OPM would have an attitude substantially different from mine. I do not believe OPM is "sitting" on appeals since I know of at least one appellant who successfully concluded her appeal.

The appeals were not all resolved before the WD and SI because that is not the way OPM works. They view it as an on-going process. Also, look back to the testimony of the head of OPM before Congress in April 2007. She got scorched because of register problems and delays and she promised the committee that CoSS would have a register by late October.

Do I have any specific advice for you? Unfortunately, no, other than to caution you not to let the appeals process turn you bitter against the process for that bitterness will seep out in interviews and could cost you an ALJ position.

[semipa]

I heard from another independent but historically reliable source yesterday that SSA would be hiring an extra 25 this year to bring the total hires to 175 this year and not just 150. I did not press my source for more information but this information does match that reported here.

[jagghagg]

semipa said:

I heard from another independent but historically reliable source yesterday that SSA would be hiring an extra 25 this year to bring the total hires to 175 this year and not just 150. I did not press my source for more information but this information does match that reported here.

And I, too, have had this confirmed from another source.

[doctorwho]

jagghagg said:

semipa said:

I heard from another independent but historically reliable source yesterday that SSA would be hiring an extra 25 this year to bring the total hires to 175 this year and not just 150. I did not press my source for more information but this information does match that reported here.

And I, too, have had this confirmed from another source.

Is that now, or sometime this fiscal (calendar?) year?

[jagghagg]

doctorwho said:

Is that now, or sometime this fiscal (calendar?) year?

Hey, Who - how goes it?

Oh, um....I hear-tell it is THIS fiscal year.

[doctorwho]

jagghagg said:

doctorwho said:

Is that now, or sometime this fiscal (calendar?) year?

Hey, Who - how goes it?

Oh, um....I hear-tell it is THIS fiscal year.

Going well, thank you.

If it is THIS fiscal year, it would make sense to do it off of the cert they have as the last class is scheduled for June. They could easily spread the additional 25 in the three classes rather than add an additional class with additional overhead (room rental, flying teachers, etc) expense. Anybody out there know anything? That would certainly improve the odds for all of us.

[counselor95]

Justfoundthisboard posted this in
"Re: Reference checks
« Reply #68 on Yesterday at 11:39am »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My current supervisor was called by Yale Associates yesterday. She told me that the interviewer said there were 500 applicants and 250 positions that they were working on, so it was a lengthy process. I immediately questioned those numbers - I said I thought it was 450 applicants and 150 positions, but my supervisor said she was positive this is what she was told.

I am guessing that the interviewer from Yale just has her information wrong, but who knows??? Anything could be possible!"

Hummm . . .

[cybear]

I had lunch today with a first person ODAR source who had just been privy to an Agency conference call. My source tells me that, according to the call, the number of persons being interviewed for this cert approximates 425, rather than the 450 I think conventional wisdom had suggested were being evaluated. Further, this source confirmed, as corroborated elsewhere in this thread, that there are plans to hire another 25 ALJs this year. I regret that I cannot confirm whether we're talking fiscal or calendar year; however, as has been suggested by others, fiscal would seem to make more sense.

[privateatty]

That's semipa, cybear and the 'hagg all hearing the same thing, workdrone. Good and compelling authority.

I think the Commish has got the $ for the 25 and figures he can finagle the $$ for another 125 plus staff come October. Of course, as odarite has stated, the Register would have to open. The question is when. This is all just commentary-- I don't know anything.

"Don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Dylan

The Commish has gotta face those same Congressmen and women (who all have to answer to an angry on this topic electorate) again. Cleveland comes to mind as an example. That thought must focus the Commish's mind.

[Propmaster]

cybear said:

I had lunch today with a first person ODAR source who had just been privy to an Agency conference call. My source tells me that, according to the call, the number of persons being interviewed for this cert approximates 425, rather than the 450 I think conventional wisdom had suggested were being evaluated. Further, this source confirmed, as corroborated elsewhere in this thread, that there are plans to hire another 25 ALJs this year. I regret that I cannot confirm whether we're talking fiscal or calendar year; however, as has been suggested by others, fiscal would seem to make more sense.

This makes sense, as we knew some people from the certificate were out (I think I even remember the estimate of 425 actual contenders having been guessed). After all, we have several people already hired by other agencies, at least one board member who indicated he had only one city left and could no longer go to it, so had to turn down the FEAI, etc. I assume that 450 names were certified, but the interviewees are more like 425.

[Propmaster]

semipa said:

I heard from another independent but historically reliable source yesterday that SSA would be hiring an extra 25 this year to bring the total hires to 175 this year and not just 150. I did not press my source for more information but this information does match that reported here.

Does this include the Puerto Rico certificate (if I understand correctly, it was a separate group of Spanish speaking candidates other than the 150)?