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Post by zero on Mar 6, 2009 9:18:43 GMT -5
OK, I've looked through the old threads and I'm still confused about what happens next.
1. Is there a notice that informs candidates that they made the cert?
2. Is that the same notice that offers you an interview?
3. I've read that SSA gives you a chance to further narrow your geoprefs. Is that before or after you find out you're on the cert?
4. I've read conflicting accounts about whether the notice is via phone call or email. Which is it?
5. Would somebody be willing to share the text of an email received from SSA offering an interview?
6. The "when" would also be nice to know. I know previous threads suggested that interviews begin in April which means these notices will start flying very soon. But how soon?
7. Do you have any time between when you find out you're on the cert and when you schedule the interview?
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Post by aljsouth on Mar 6, 2009 10:31:55 GMT -5
1. Is there a notice that informs candidates that they made the cert?
A: OPM did not used to tell candidates that their name was sent to an agency. I can't say they don't, but would be surprised if they do. SSA is not obligated to notify you that you are on a list. When I went through the process I found out I was on a cert to SSA when SSA called me to set up an interview. Caveat: government changes methods all the time and certainly it may have instituted a notice to candidates on a cert.
2. Is that the same notice that offers you an interview?
A: In effect this is how you find out you are on a cert to SSA -- when SSA communicates with you to set up an interview.
3. I've read that SSA gives you a chance to further narrow your geoprefs. Is that before or after you find out you're on the cert?
A: After. SSA does not know you exist until you pop up on a cert to them from OPM. They send a list of your preferences to you and ask you to strike off any site to which you will not go. When I went through this was repeated many times including at the interview.
4. I've read conflicting accounts about whether the notice is via phone call or email. Which is it?
A: For me it was by phone, although I did have email. It seems the agency uses email more now than in the past. Check you email account.
5. Would somebody be willing to share the text of an email received from SSA offering an interview?
A: not applicable in my case.
6. The "when" would also be nice to know. I know previous threads suggested that interviews begin in April which means these notices will start flying very soon. But how soon?
A: This is really known only to SSA/ODAR. If there is to be July training class then past experience suggest interviews in April and selection in May. Remember they are hiring for more than one training class so interviews may go into May. It is a massive undertaking to put the panels and candidates together. I suspect work will begin soon to get the panels and then contact the candidates.
Also the agency has to work the transfer list to know the final list of sites to which judges will be hired. This may have been done, for the first time in years I am not tuned in to transfers.
7. Do you have any time between when you find out you're on the cert and when you schedule the interview?
AL Not when I went through.
Maybe a more recently hired ALJ can comment on the current process.
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Post by buckeye on Mar 6, 2009 11:15:34 GMT -5
I'll follow up on aljsouth (who was very helpful with posts last year). Insiders will already be aware of much of this, but for the benefit of outsiders like I was...
I received my score via e-mail in October. By the way, I was very underwhelmed. to quote my wife, "you got a D+." However, I had no idea what the context was. I then heard nothing until I received an e-mail from ODAR in late November, inviting me to interview, asking for additional referenceces and asking once again about geographical preferences. I could delete but not add. I faxed all that in and about two weeks later, I got a call on a Saturday to schedule an interview. Traveled to DC at gov't expense and went through the ODAR interview in January. As I recall, they were scheduled from the first week in January through the first few days of February. I got an e-mail with the offer on Feb 28 and reported to my office on Apr 14.
I suspect the timeline and communications will track in a pretty similar fashion this time around. Hope this is helpful.
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Post by zero on Mar 6, 2009 11:31:06 GMT -5
That post was extremely helpful.
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Post by deaddisco on Mar 6, 2009 13:14:48 GMT -5
the next step: post more
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Post by hopeful on Mar 6, 2009 14:07:50 GMT -5
6. The "when" would also be nice to know. I know previous threads suggested that interviews begin in April which means these notices will start flying very soon. But how soon?
7. Do you have any time between when you find out you're on the cert and when you schedule the interview?
[/quote]
I have heard from my sources and others on this board that the SSA interviews will be the week of April 20-24 (regional chief judges have been asked to participate in interviews that week). Dont' know when you will get notice, but it is a pretty good idea to clear your schedule for this week if you think you will make the cert. Last year the first big cert dipped well into the 50s.
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Post by newalj on Mar 6, 2009 16:53:40 GMT -5
To the best of my recollection, this was the approximate timeline for most of us who were hired last year.
-NOR on 10/30/07
-On 11/30/07 I got the FEAI at the bottom of this post. The deadline to reply with my narrowed geographical preferences was 12/7/07.
-Within a few days/weeks of faxing the FEAI back, someone called me on a Sunday and gave me a choice of interview dates. They also gave me a travel authorization number so that I could travel at the government's expense. I think they confirmed that conversation with a subsequent email.
-I interviewed in Janary 2008.
-Got my offer via email 2/27or 2/28. It gave me a week to reply but I requested and was granted an extra 2 weeks to decide.
Good luck!
************
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES 11/30/2007
5107 LEESBURG PIKE
ONE SKYLINE TOWER ROOM 306
FALLS CHURCH VA 22041
**FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT AVAILABILITY INQUIRY**
Position: Administrative Law Judge
Pay Plan - Series/Grade: AL -0935/03
Vacancy ID:
Certificate Number:
Agency: Social Security Administration
Location: ...... LIST OF LOCATIONS
The Office of Personnel Management has referred your name for consideration as an ALJ for the above location(s). You will receive further information via email on November 30, 2007.
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL MESSAGE. IT IS AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED.
For additional information, please refer to the vacancy announcment for this position.
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Post by gadourylaw on Mar 6, 2009 18:53:20 GMT -5
Dear Newalj,
Thanks for the post. Regarding the "list of locations" section of the email you received, did it contain all the locations that you were willing to work (i.e. that you indicated on the application) or just the limited locations for which your score qualified you for consideration ?
Thank you,
Mike G.
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Post by newalj on Mar 6, 2009 19:27:00 GMT -5
Dear Newalj, Thanks for the post. Regarding the "list of locations" section of the email you received, did it contain all the locations that you were willing to work (i.e. that you indicated on the application) or just the limited locations for which your score qualified you for consideration ? Thank you, Mike G. You bet. It included all of the 6 locations I originally listed. Good Luck, Mike. |
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Post by gadourylaw on Mar 6, 2009 19:54:02 GMT -5
Dear Newalj,
Thanks again.
Mike G.
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Post by odarite on Mar 6, 2009 20:19:36 GMT -5
The REAL next step is for the agency to request a certificate. That could happen any time now as OPM has notified the agencies that the register is now ready.
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Post by northwest on Mar 7, 2009 9:42:47 GMT -5
The REAL next step is for the agency to request a certificate. That could happen any time now as OPM has notified the agencies that the register is now ready. Are you sure? Per the thread "UPDATE on appeal of 10/30/2007 NOR", they're only half way through resolving the appeals. I wonder if they're waiting until they resolve the appeals before they deem the register ready. Does anyone know how many appeals there were? |
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Post by pm on Mar 7, 2009 13:11:23 GMT -5
The REAL next step is for the agency to request a certificate. That could happen any time now as OPM has notified the agencies that the register is now ready. Are you sure? Per the thread "UPDATE on appeal of 10/30/2007 NOR", they're only half way through resolving the appeals. I wonder if they're waiting until they resolve the appeals before they deem the register ready. Does anyone know how many appeals there were? I don't think that OPM is waiting to resolve the appeals. For OPM, it's just more work on top of their regular duties. So I'm guessing that resolving the appeals is at the very bottom of OPM's "to do" list. |
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Post by judicature on Mar 7, 2009 22:00:20 GMT -5
Appeals were pending when the last group was at this point in the process in 2007 and OPM did not wait on the resolution of those appeals when it notified the agencies that register was ready.
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