HOCALJ

[lospettro]

Nov 15, 2019 13:38:48 GMT -5 tripper said:

The are email solicitations to sitting ALJs.

Copy all. Thanks for clarifying. I was excited about ALJ hiring finally thawing... a girl can dream, I guess...

[lospettro]

Nov 15, 2019 13:55:54 GMT -5 natethegreat said:

Nov 15, 2019 13:12:30 GMT -5 lospettro said:

Wait...where are these postings? I can’t find this anywhere (including on usajobs). Please share links. Thanks!

Pretty sure HOCALJ vacancies are posted somewhere internally. I am not sure if even non-ALJ employees can see them.

aw jeez, Grandpa Rick. 

[natethegreat]

Nov 15, 2019 13:58:06 GMT -5 lospettro said:

Nov 15, 2019 13:55:54 GMT -5 natethegreat said:

Pretty sure HOCALJ vacancies are posted somewhere internally. I am not sure if even non-ALJ employees can see them.

aw jeez, Grandpa Rick. 

Wubbalubbadubdub!

[nylawyer]

I saw that the deadline to apply for Region 5 RCALJ was extended, does that mean no one applied?

I wonder because from where I sit the HOCALJ job does not look particularly attractive at the moment; are HOCALJ's looking at RCALJ (I swore I'd never adopt federal acronym-speak) and thinking, nope, don't want to do that?

[tripper]

nylawyer , that's just what I was thinking.

[arkstfan]

In my experience a reopening for a government position means one of two things.
1. They didn't like the pool they got the first time -OR-
2. The person they wanted to get the job didn't apply and so they reopen in order to explain that if they will apply they will get it.

[tripper]

It was set to close on Friday and was extended one week.

[Thomas fka Lance]

This particular position had not closed yet. The deadline for response was extended one week.

It had only been open two days, despite the notice being dated December 16, 2019. It was not to be released officially until Monday January 6, 2020.

Just saw tripper's post too

[nylawyer]

Jan 8, 2020 16:29:54 GMT -5 arkstfan said:

In my experience a reopening for a government position means one of two things.
1. They didn't like the pool they got the first time -OR-
2. The person they wanted to get the job didn't apply and so they reopen in order to explain that if they will apply they will get it.

Isn't option two just a subset of option 1? They wanted a particular person, that person wasn't in the pool, hence they didn't like the pool.

(Yes, I'm the guy who did not complain at all when OPM added the logic assessment to the exam process)

[Pixie]

Jan 8, 2020 17:05:58 GMT -5 nylawyer said:

Jan 8, 2020 16:29:54 GMT -5 arkstfan said:

In my experience a reopening for a government position means one of two things.
1. They didn't like the pool they got the first time -OR-
2. The person they wanted to get the job didn't apply and so they reopen in order to explain that if they will apply they will get it.

Isn't option two just a subset of option 1? They wanted a particular person, that person wasn't in the pool, hence they didn't like the pool.

(Yes, I'm the guy who did not complain at all when OPM added the logic assessment to the exam process)

And who was the member who missed the point of hamster's meme? Respectfully, Pixie

[nylawyer]

I think we changed threads.

To clarify, I figured he meant it the way you said and he confirmed.

My point was that's not usually how that particular meme if employed. Typically, the distracted boyfriend is being distracted by something that is the wrong thing, and the woman he is with is the correct thing. I looked it up in wikipedia, and (if accurate) apparently the first known use of the meme was with Phil Collins (in 2017?!) walking with progressive rock while being distracted by pop music. Other famous uses include millenials being distracted from capitalism by socialism, or a Republican being distracted by NRA money from kids lives.

So, if interpreted that way, it would have appeared hamster was suggesting that while ALJs may want to look to other agencies, they are already with the correct one.

From the context, I'd assumed it wasn't the point being made.

[Pixie]

It's OK.

[nylawyer]

Jan 9, 2020 17:18:02 GMT -5 Pixie said:

It's OK.

That's it? I expected a long detailed post about the merits of progressive rock.

Because as I noted in my post, the thing I found most interesting was that this meme was apparently created just two years ago about Phil Collins. Who I believe last released an album of original songs around 20 years ago.

(Interesting factoid for SSA types- apparently he completely ruined his spine playing drums for all those years. Not eligible for Title 16, though).

[pumpkin]

Please assume an ALJ is already at the max pay level and locality pay going up or down would not change that. Aside from relocating to a “better” location on the Government’s dime, what are the pros and cons of becoming a HOCALJ?

Does anyone know the formula for calculating the number of cases a HOCALJ is expected to close per year based on the size/number of ALJs in the office? Asking for a friend.

[ssaogc]

Aug 10, 2020 18:22:20 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Please assume an ALJ is already at the max pay level and locality pay going up or down would not change that. Aside from relocating to a “better” location on the Government’s dime, what are the pros and cons of becoming a HOCALJ?

Does anyone know the formula for calculating the number of cases a HOCALJ is expected to close per year based on the size/number of ALJs in the office? Asking for a friend.

St Petersburg is waiting for you Pumpkin!  Do not know the exact number but the amount of ALJs determines the percentage of cases. Smaller offices are 75 percent and bigger offices are 50 percent. 

[redsox1]

Aug 10, 2020 18:22:20 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Please assume an ALJ is already at the max pay level and locality pay going up or down would not change that. Aside from relocating to a “better” location on the Government’s dime, what are the pros and cons of becoming a HOCALJ?

Does anyone know the formula for calculating the number of cases a HOCALJ is expected to close per year based on the size/number of ALJs in the office? Asking for a friend.

I think the op is correct re formula. I did it for 2 years. Re why to do it IMO.
Pro’s - It’s interesting to “see His the sausage is made”. There are some things that were really eye opening to me and it made me understand how things work in the Agency. Also, OHO is isolating. As a HOCALJ you work with the RO and other HO’s and get to meet/network.
Cons- IMO Management responsibility s@ck in general and we are talking OHO so . . . Draw your own conclusions here.
In sum, I would think carefully and only do it if you want a challenge not to get a reduced workload.

[hopefalj]

Pro: competence not required!

Con: competence seems to be discouraged.

[luckylady2]

Aug 10, 2020 18:22:20 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Please assume an ALJ is already at the max pay level and locality pay going up or down would not change that. Aside from relocating to a “better” location on the Government’s dime, what are the pros and cons of becoming a HOCALJ?

Does anyone know the formula for calculating the number of cases a HOCALJ is expected to close per year based on the size/number of ALJs in the office? Asking for a friend.

While there are lower dispo requirements, you have to add all the management meetings, personnel problem solving, and responding to inquiries/direction from higher-ups.  Oh and the spectre of being loaned out to other offices to help them out or given certain types of cases that are assigned only to the HOCALJs (and not because they are easier).

And then there's the problem that if you become a HOCALJ, you can't go back to being a line ALJ in the competitive service with APA protections; you go back under the "new" hiring paradigm.

That's not to say that if there were a HOCALJ position that opened in in my backyard, I wouldn't consider it seriously....  But there's a lot more to the job than reduced dispo requirements.

[Loopstok]

Aug 27, 2020 21:53:16 GMT -5 luckylady2 said:

While there are lower dispo requirements, you have to add all the management meetings, personnel problem solving, and responding to inquiries/direction from higher-ups.  Oh and the spectre of being loaned out to other offices to help them out or given certain types of cases that are assigned only to the HOCALJs (and not because they are easier).

And then there's the problem that if you become a HOCALJ, you can't go back to being a line ALJ in the competitive service with APA protections; you go back under the "new" hiring paradigm.

That's not to say that if there were a HOCALJ position that opened in in my backyard, I wouldn't consider it seriously....  But there's a lot more to the job than reduced dispo requirements.

Assuming the current administration wins re-election in November, and the COSS/DCOSS plans for consolidation of OHO into Operations and/or the Appeals Council proceed apace, would HOCALJ become a safer position (in terms of medium/long-term job security) than line ALJ?  This is a genuine question in my mind.

[nappyloxs]

Aug 27, 2020 22:04:58 GMT -5 Loopstok said:

Aug 27, 2020 21:53:16 GMT -5 luckylady2 said:

While there are lower dispo requirements, you have to add all the management meetings, personnel problem solving, and responding to inquiries/direction from higher-ups.  Oh and the spectre of being loaned out to other offices to help them out or given certain types of cases that are assigned only to the HOCALJs (and not because they are easier).

And then there's the problem that if you become a HOCALJ, you can't go back to being a line ALJ in the competitive service with APA protections; you go back under the "new" hiring paradigm.

That's not to say that if there were a HOCALJ position that opened in in my backyard, I wouldn't consider it seriously....  But there's a lot more to the job than reduced dispo requirements.

Assuming the current administration wins re-election in November, and the COSS/DCOSS plans for consolidation of OHO into Operations and/or the Appeals Council proceed apace, would HOCALJ become a safer position (in terms of medium/long-term job security) than line ALJ?  This is a genuine question in my mind.

If you have to ask this question, you aren’t HOCALJ material.

Let me put it another way, HOCALJ who produces 200-300 dispo per year vs ALJ who produces 600-700 dispos per year. Many HOCALJs meet or get close to 500 a year. If you want job security, just produce more dispositions.