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Dec 22, 2008 16:32:09 GMT -5
Post by zero on Dec 22, 2008 16:32:09 GMT -5
Just looked over the damage on my credit card bills:
Round trip ticket to DC: $320
Baggage fee: $15 (each way): $30
Hotel: $125
Cab: $20
Metro rail: $5.00
New clothes: $375
Food: $75
Parking at airport: $25
Gas to and from airport: $8
Round trip ticket back to DC: $320
Baggage fee (again): $15 (each way): $30
Hotel (again): $125
Cab (again): $20
Metro rail (again): $5.00
Food: $75
Parking at home airport: $25
Gas to and from home airport: $8
Value of vacation days taken from work: $270
Total expended for two trips to D.C.: $1,861
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Dec 22, 2008 17:10:30 GMT -5
Post by nonamouse on Dec 22, 2008 17:10:30 GMT -5
At least the agency picks up the trip once you make a certificate.
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Dec 23, 2008 0:15:52 GMT -5
Post by nothingventured on Dec 23, 2008 0:15:52 GMT -5
If you're not an agency attorney you still have to use your vacation days for the third trip to DC for the agency interview.
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Dec 23, 2008 13:50:29 GMT -5
Post by privateatty on Dec 23, 2008 13:50:29 GMT -5
At least the agency picks up the trip once you make a certificate. For private attorneys too? Doubt it. We get bottom of the pay scale too... |
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Dec 23, 2008 15:50:03 GMT -5
Post by workdrone on Dec 23, 2008 15:50:03 GMT -5
For private attorneys too? Doubt it. We get bottom of the pay scale too... Based on last year's experience, SSA will pay for your travel expenses if you are on the cert and invited to the agency interview at Falls Church. If you are an ODAR attorney, the agency did provide for admin leave last year. For all other government and private attorneys, while SSA will fund the travel expenses, you'll be using your own vacation time. Hope this explains it. |
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Dec 23, 2008 18:54:24 GMT -5
Post by nonamouse on Dec 23, 2008 18:54:24 GMT -5
For private attorneys too? Doubt it. We get bottom of the pay scale too... Based on last year's experience, SSA will pay for your travel expenses if you are on the cert and invited to the agency interview at Falls Church. If you are an ODAR attorney, the agency did provide for admin leave last year. For all other government and private attorneys, while SSA will fund the travel expenses, you'll be using your own vacation time. Hope this explains it. ODAR sent out a statement this fall just in time for the recent batch of applicants who are current employees to find out that they were not going to allow admin time for the OPM testing. We will see what they do if any of the current employees make a cert for ODAR. At that point I hope they will allow admin since the applicant is obviously not going for another agency, but honestly there is no real way to predict which way the wind will blow things. |
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Dec 23, 2008 19:06:46 GMT -5
Post by nonamouse on Dec 23, 2008 19:06:46 GMT -5
At least the agency picks up the trip once you make a certificate. For private attorneys too? Doubt it. We get bottom of the pay scale too... Oh cynical one, you have been hanging around here too long absorbing the negative vibes. Most, if not all of the "inside" hires started right at the bottom of the pay scale just like those coming from private practice or state government. The agency does not pay most of its attorneys enough for them to have surpassed the bottom ALJ pay band. Check the GS scale against the attorney positions (in all components) sometime and have yourself a good laugh. I know someone who was a GS-15 and by moving to a location with lower locality pay they only got about $600 more per year by becoming an ALJ. Now people coming from somewhere else in federal service, that's another story. I hope that no one is going for the ALJ job with the idea of making themselves wealthy. I'm still clipping coupons and hunting for bargains at the local warehouse store. ;D |
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Dec 23, 2008 20:52:06 GMT -5
Post by flannery on Dec 23, 2008 20:52:06 GMT -5
Zero, my tab ended up being even more expensive than yours. The way I am looking at it is it is a better investment bet than the stock market right now. Best of Luck,
Flannery
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Dec 25, 2008 18:03:33 GMT -5
Post by judicature on Dec 25, 2008 18:03:33 GMT -5
IMHO, the job is worth every penny....
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Dec 28, 2008 13:14:18 GMT -5
Post by tricia on Dec 28, 2008 13:14:18 GMT -5
Zero, haven't been on this board for a long time. I'm just so glad that you've made it this far. Bet you look great in that $375.00 suit.
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Dec 29, 2008 12:41:12 GMT -5
Post by george007 on Dec 29, 2008 12:41:12 GMT -5
Zero, haven't been on this board for a long time. I'm just so glad that you've made it this far. Bet you look great in that $375.00 suit. He did (and, it was more than just a suit).  |
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Dec 31, 2008 11:59:54 GMT -5
Post by traceb on Dec 31, 2008 11:59:54 GMT -5
I'm doing this as cheap as I can. First trip:
1. Tickets and room for 1 night: 712.05
2. Cab fare to and from airport: 30.00
3. Parking at Will Rogers: 16.00
Total: 758.05 (not including 16 hours of annual leave)
Second trip:
1. Tickets and room for 1 night: 544.33 (which is suprising since I'm going in on 1-15-09)
2. Estimate cab fare: 30.00
3. Parking at Will Rogers: 16.00
4. New suit, shirt and tie: 300.00
Total: 890.33 (not including 16 hours of annual leave)
Estimated total for both trips: $1648. and some change. First trip I took some food, this trip I won't but didn't include meals so it will be more I'm sure.
For a lowly state attorney, this is an expensive undertaking for a run up to DC, take a test, turn around and run back to the great state of Oklahoma. (where the winds come sweeping down the plains) If you have never been here, you can't appreciate the truth of that line.
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