Hypothetical questions

[interested]

Suppose I successfully complete all three parts of the exam process and I'm offered an ALJ job. I decide, however, I'd rather take a choice litigation job (GS-15) with DOJ for at least the next 2 years. Can I "park" myself on the ALJ register and seek ALJ employment after I've exhausted my goals with the DOJ job? Even if I can, is it advisable? If it makes any differnce to your analysis, I filed my application on 8/1/08 before the closing and selected only 3 cities where I'd be willing to work. I'm not trying to count my chickens before they hatch -- I may not make the cut to take the written demonstration -- but having some input on these quesions may relieve the uncertainty involved in some upcoming decisions. Thanks for any info you can provide.

[jagghagg]

Sept 5, 2008 11:52:13 GMT -5 interested said:

Suppose I successfully complete all three parts of the exam process and I'm offered an ALJ job. I decide, however, I'd rather take a choice litigation job (GS-15) with DOJ for at least the next 2 years. Can I "park" myself on the ALJ register and seek ALJ employment after I've exhausted my goals with the DOJ job? Even if I can, is it advisable? If it makes any differnce to your analysis, I filed my application on 8/1/08 before the closing and selected only 3 cities where I'd be willing to work. I'm not trying to count my chickens before they hatch -- I may not make the cut to take the written demonstration -- but having some input on these quesions may relieve the uncertainty involved in some upcoming decisions. Thanks for any info you can provide.

The risk you run, when you "park" yourself on the Register is the potential detrimental effect of turning down a position. (It's not like most Bars where you can go "inactive" on the Register and not be offered a position if your slot comes into play for a Certificate. ) If you are on the Register, you are actively there - even if it seems passive. And if you turn down an offer three times, you will lose your slot on the Register and go to the bottom of the pile ---- (the lower Hinderlands where offers are unlikely to see the light of day....)

Thus if an agency - like the SSA or another - (1) wants a certificate of eligibles for an ALJ position in at least one of your cities for which you have made yourself available, and (2) your slot on the Register places you on the certificate AND (3) the agency calls you for an interview, you have two choices:

1) Refuse the interview.
2) Take the interview.

If you refuse the interview (or do not return the call), you will be suspended from the Register. Not a good thing.

If the agency interviews you and does not offer you a job, it does not work to your detriment. If you take the interview and they offer you a job, well - see above. (Three turn-downs and "yeeeerrrrrr out!")

(And if you are a vet-preference eligible, and the agency proposes to by-pass you, there is no detriment to you if you allow them to do so without appeal or protest.)

[batboy]

Interested - Don't loose any sleep over your perceived dilemna. Nothing personal, but you're really putting the cart before the horse.

[nonamouse]

The testing and OPM interview part of the process (for those invited to continue to that point) happens much sooner than any agency will likely be hiring. SSA has stated that it is done with hiring ALJs for 2008. Anyone with experience in the federal government should also know the phrase "operating on a continuing resolution" which will likely come into play for the first few months of 2009 as we do our regularly scheduled change of administrations dance.

Interested, you need only worry about turn downs and the register if you get through the first cut, then through the structured interview (SI) and written demonstration (WD), then onto the register with a really good score. To be brutally honest, having only 3 cities for your availability puts your chances of being offered a position into the "slim and none" range unless you smack it out of the park with your final score. If your 3 locations are popular with current ALJs who want to transfer, then your chances get closer to "none." There are certain locations that have 15 ALJs waiting on the transfer list for years, hoping that someone retires and makes an opening. The first offer must go to the person on the top of that list. If they turn it down, then the agency may go for a "new hire" or offer to the next on the list at their discretion. Therefore, the best hope for a "new hire" is that 2 openings magically come up in one location at the same time and the agency desires a new hire as the 2nd person.

[barkley]

If you have the opportunity to take a choice DOJ job which will allow you to do something you are interested in doing at a level of pay you would like to earn, think about how you would feel if you turn that job down AND don't get the ALJ gig. Are you OK with that lost opportunity or would you be sitting in your current job and kicking youself?

My advice is not to count on the ALJ position to work out. (Plenty here can testify to that!!) Make your life choices and career choices based on the now. If the ALJ offer cames in out of the blue, make those choices as well at that time.

[interested]

Thanks, all, for the kind advice.

[oldjag]

Remember also that if you limit yourself to a popular city (SSA has not hired for Washington DC or Baltimore off the register) you can only expand your geographic preferences when the application re-opens, which is not often.

This is a tough choice, but litigation is a blast so if you can enjoy yourself doing what you like--even for a few years, you come out ahead. Who knows what you may find in that job?

It's a difficult choicee but "riding the register" by selecting cities that don't hire from the register is a time honored way of waiting.

As the old saying goes--"pay your money and make your choice"