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Post by gadourylaw on Oct 8, 2008 19:30:16 GMT -5
I don't know why but I thought they were hiring another 125 or so ALJ's. I was looking at some older threads and it seems like the number was thought to be only 45-55. Is this the "rumor" presently ?
Thank You,
Mike G.
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Post by pm on Oct 8, 2008 19:44:22 GMT -5
After the big hire last year, they did another small hire of 45-50 ALJs.
ODAR was next planning another big hire of 100-125 or so, but for awhile no one really knew when that next big hire would take place. It was theoretically possible that they might do it at the end of this year. But when OPM reopened the exam, ODAR definitely decided to wait until the new register comes out (probably March 2009) to start working on the next big hire.
Of course federal agencies other than ODAR might hire someone at any time, but they just don't hire that many off the register.
And everyone is stuck with whatever cities they chose when they originally applied or the changes they made when the exam reopened (for those already on the register).
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Post by Pixie on Oct 8, 2008 20:18:44 GMT -5
OPM reluctantly reopened the register at the urging of SSA as SSA felt the register was getting thin. There are still some on the present register that Falls Church would like to pick up in a small class before the new names are added to the present register. But with the agencies operating under a continuing resolution, I'm not sure how viable that would be.
If a budget is passed before the register is expanded, I imagine there will be a small class consisting of those currently on the register deemed desirable by the agency. Might happen before a new budget is in place, but I'm not sure that is a real possibility. Pix.
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Post by gadourylaw on Oct 8, 2008 20:40:58 GMT -5
Dear PM & Pixie,
Thank you for all your help.
Mike G.
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Post by Pixie on Oct 8, 2008 21:26:11 GMT -5
That is the situation. They know exactly who will show up on a certificate at this point. Whether it can be done under a continuing resolution is something I don't know. If it can be done, I imagine it will be done. Pix.
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Post by george007 on Oct 9, 2008 15:28:20 GMT -5
Pixie,
Your name is constantly complimented! You are obviously awesome. Anyway, could anyone explain to me this "certification" or "certificate." I'm scheduled to take the WD/SI, but don't know much about the process after that. Thanks!
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Post by pm on Oct 9, 2008 19:16:41 GMT -5
Pixie, Any thoughts on whether the appellants with be tested and scored first so that they might be added to the register in time for this last small hiring before all the new applicants are added to the register next March? I know the question was directed at Pixie, but the issue of the appellants does not rest with ODAR. Their fate is in the hands of OPM. I'm just guessing but my guess is that OPM will deal with the current applicants before they will deal with the appellants, unless you are an appellant who is part of the current WD and SI process. |
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Post by pm on Oct 9, 2008 19:17:28 GMT -5
OPM reluctantly reopened the register at the urging of SSA as SSA felt the register was getting thin. There are still some on the present register that Falls Church would like to pick up in a small class before the new names are added to the present register. But with the agencies operating under a continuing resolution, I'm not sure how viable that would be. If a budget is passed before the register is expanded, I imagine there will be a small class consisting of those currently on the register deemed desirable by the agency. Might happen before a new budget is in place, but I'm not sure that is a real possibility. Pix. Pixie, thank you for posting this info. I had heard a rumor that ODAR wanted to do a small hire of a dozen or so people they had run cross in the interview process but had not been able to hire for one reason or another. But I have been unable to get any confirmation of this. The way it was explained to me was that ODAR actually likes being able to hire a few ALJs at this point in the process because they know almost exactly who is going to show up on the cert if they open up a few spots. If they wait until the new register is out, they won't be able to predict who will be reachable and they may not be able to reach the people they are now thinking of hiring. Thanks to both of you, That is very interesting and makes sense. |
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Post by pm on Oct 9, 2008 19:21:38 GMT -5
Pixie, Your name is constantly complimented! You are obviously awesome. Anyway, could anyone explain to me this "certification" or "certificate." I'm scheduled to take the WD/SI, but don't know much about the process after that. Thanks! If your score is high enough after OPM finishes the WD and SI, and issues final scores, you will be placed on OPM's register of ALJ eligibles. When a federal agency wants to hire an ALJ they will ask OPM for a certificate of elgibles which will consist of those with the three highest scores for the desired city. |
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mango
Full Member
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Post by mango on Oct 9, 2008 20:02:44 GMT -5
If the testing is scored as before, and I would think it would have to be, those invited to sit for the WD and SI WILL make the register. The only cut off was making it past the application. If you sit for the other two parts, you will have your name added. The three parts are made equal, added together, and that becomes your final score. If you are a VA preference, 5 or 10 points are added to your score and that becomes your final score. No attempt to eliminate anyone based upon their score on the WD or SI is done. This was a surprise to me as I thought you had to get a minimum total score to make the register. Again, this is how it was done on the first go-round and I think they would have to stick with this formula to survive legal scrutiny.
The score is then used to decide who's name is sent to the requesting agency when a cert is issued. They send over the top three based upon your score and the locations you said you were willing to serve at.
On the first cert last year, SSA was looking to hire 150 judges and, according to the Commish, they looked at something like 450 people. I have no idea how OPM figured it all out or the mechanics of how people were considered or whether they were looked at for multiple locations.
Good luck to those headed to DC for the rest of the test!
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Post by gadourylaw on Oct 9, 2008 21:12:15 GMT -5
Dear Mango, Thanks for that information. I was wondering if there was a "cut-off" score to make it on the register, but I had not seen any definitive threads on the matter. Again, thank you.  Mike G. |
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Post by pm on Oct 9, 2008 22:32:24 GMT -5
Mango is right. There is no cut off for making the register after you have taken the WD and SI. I was thinking of the cut off for making it past the application stage when I posted above.
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Post by zarco522 on Oct 13, 2008 15:28:52 GMT -5
Hi, How is the ranking scored; presented? Do I want a low number (like, say below 80) to be at the top? Or a number close to 100%? Or a high "raw" number like 450? I just don't want to get a number and be all excited, only to find out that it means I am at the bottom. Thanks. (I do realize that it is months away -- just trying to get all my hopes straight.)
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Post by pm on Oct 13, 2008 19:15:56 GMT -5
There is a topic that discusses last year's scores in detail. Here is my best guess from memory. I know these are a little off but it will give you the general idea.
About 80% of the scores were from 60-80. About 10-12% were above 80 and 10-15% below 60. The average I believe, or maybe it was the median, was in the low 70s.
So you want an 85.
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Post by hooligan on Oct 13, 2008 19:29:41 GMT -5
Hi, How is the ranking scored; presented? Do I want a low number (like, say below 80) to be at the top? Or a number close to 100%? Or a high "raw" number like 450? I just don't want to get a number and be all excited, only to find out that it means I am at the bottom. Thanks. (I do realize that it is months away -- just trying to get all my hopes straight.) The highest possible is 100 + the disabled veteran's preference. With the new scoring system, very few reach that level, if any. A very high score is above 90. At that level, you will be a player. Scores above 80 are also rare. Most of the scores above 80 also seem to include the 5 point veteran's preference. Scores above 60 generally were afforded interviews but the selection rate was lower. Some scores in the mid 50's were also considered and apparently a few made the grade, usually because they were willing to take any location. These numbers were based upon a hiring expectation of about 150 new judges. These numbers can change based upon the consistency of the next batch of scores and the effect on the overall mix. There are lots of variables that make solid predictions useless. You can generally presume that the higher the score, the higher the probability of being selected. High scorers also get passed over. Generally they will interview a bit more than three times the number of openings. If they plan to hire 60, they may interview about 200. If the total number to be hired at one time is more, they can dig deeper into the registry. Obviously, the cut-off point will be at a higher level if the number to be hired is smaller. |
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Post by hooligan on Oct 13, 2008 19:38:20 GMT -5
I don't know why but I thought they were hiring another 125 or so ALJ's. I was looking at some older threads and it seems like the number was thought to be only 45-55. Is this the "rumor" presently ? Thank You, Mike G. Our Regional Chief indicated in her monthly conference call that the expectation was that they would hire 123 ALJs in FY2009. The chances are that a small group will be from the current registry because they do not want to wait for the new process to be finished. The rest will come from the expanded list. There was a special budget resolution that funded all government agencies for 6months. I suspect that will allow them to proceed with hiring for attrition replacements. There is a good chance there will be a small class after the first of the year and a bigger group next summer. |
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Post by samone on Oct 13, 2008 19:47:18 GMT -5
Would the small class be people who have already interviewed or would they go further down on the list?
Thanks
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Post by pm on Oct 13, 2008 20:20:43 GMT -5
Would the small class be people who have already interviewed or would they go further down on the list? Thanks Pixie posted on that. If you look at her recent posts you will see her response. She believes a small class would be made up of people who ODAR already knows they want to hire. I suspect that would probably indicate that most are people who have already interviewed, with maybe an ODAR insider or two who haven't interviewed yet. |
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Post by Pixie on Oct 13, 2008 21:05:37 GMT -5
Yes, pm has it right, at least as it stands now. Pix.
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Post by appellant on Oct 14, 2008 9:27:26 GMT -5
Does anyone know whether those who appealed based on the 2007 vacancy announcement, and who are finally interviewing & testing this month, will be given any special consideration in the process? (i.e. will we get processed in time to make the next cert whenever that may be?) It's very frustrating to have already missed a couple of opportunities and now it looks like we're set to be excluded again until the new vacancy announcement is processed. Any thoughts?
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