Location Location Location

[scandar2005]

The key to becoming an ALJ is to say you will go anywhere, get an OFFER, and THEN decide
if you like the city or not. You can always turn down the offer (go to bottom of list), get lucky and hit your lucky lottery city you wanted, or take a city that is not high on your list (Fargo) and try to transfer.

[privateatty]

They key seems to be and I'd love to be corrected if wrong:

1. Having a high enough score to get interviewed. No idea what that is.

2. Saying you'll go anywhere despite your geographical preference saying only City One and City Two.

What's weird is I know when I did the AR I put down more than two but that's all that showed up on the AR and from the email yesterday.

[shadow]

My kids are grown, grandkids getting there. I chose ALL.

[deadwood]

scandar2005 said:

The key to becoming an ALJ is to say you will go anywhere, get an OFFER, and THEN decide
if you like the city or not. You can always turn down the offer (go to bottom of list), get lucky and hit your lucky lottery city you wanted, or take a city that is not high on your list (Fargo) and try to transfer.

Couldn't agree with you more.

My theory is to get your foot in the door, and then worry about your final destination at a later date.

[tejas]

I selected 70 cities. But with a score in the 50s it will be a long shot I presume. Maybe I'll get lucky and nobody will want to go to expensive cities in California. My family will be living under a bridge but some of them have very nice views.

[mle06]

doctorwho said:

O.K. - so now that scores are out, and we can't understand what the heck is going out with them yet, let's see if we can't get a better idea of how many sites people selected for availability. No value judgments. Just those of us that want to share, sharing. I'm lucky. I can truly go anywhere. So, I chose "all." How about you? How many sites did you choose?

I got a "63+change" and picked every site except PR. Feeling pretty down and thinking I probably don't have chance. New to the Board and joined for the opportunity to discuss this confusing situation with others. Thanks to everyone for your supportive attitudes toward each other.

[aljhunter]

I have a solid job with excellent pay, tremendous responsibility, relative flexibility and a modicum of respect. However, I have been in my current position (with no hope of advancement ever in any respect) for over 16 years. (Yawn!) I pursued the Register as an option for "change," but I limited myself to the D.C. area (lifelong home) and two cities in Region I. I understand from previous posts that Region I will probably not be hiring in this "wave." My score--slightly above mean according to rough calculations on this board--is likely not high enough to garner me an interview for anything in the D.C. area. So, I will sit on the Register until given the opportunity to expand my geographical preference list. (Some in the know say that the opportunity will come eventually without my having to sit for the WD/SI again. . . )

[nonamouse]

8 offices (fewer cities) in the south central US where the living is easy (and cheap)

If I'm still rotting on the list when they reopen the posting, then I might take advantage and add about 5 more locations. I feel like no job is worth living somewhere that would make me miserable at this stage of my life. I never want to see 3 feet of snow fall in 24 hours ever again!

[ruonthelist]

jagghagg said:

If I may ask, in 1999 people accepting ALJ offers had to pay their own relocation costs. Is that still true; does anyone know ?

My understanding is that only those in federal civil service when hired as ALJs got their moves paid for.

[johnthornton]

jagghagg said:

If I may ask, in 1999 people accepting ALJ offers had to pay their own relocation costs. Is that still true; does anyone know ?

In 2005, SSA paid my relocation expenses. I was hired from a different Federal agency. In 1997 a friend of mine (from the very same agency) was denied relocation benefits by SSA.

[kolekole]

"In 2005, SSA paid my relocation expenses. I was hired from a different Federal agency. In 1997 a friend of mine (from the very same agency) was denied relocation benefits by SSA."

If you don't mind sharing, what relocation benefits were offered in 2005?

[aljsouth]

kolekole said:

"In 2005, SSA paid my relocation expenses. I was hired from a different Federal agency. In 1997 a friend of mine (from the very same agency) was denied relocation benefits by SSA."

If you don't mind sharing, what relocation benefits were offered in 2005?

I don't know about 2005. In 2001 those not in federal service got nothing. Those in service got some benefits, time to visit and look for a home,and/or the agnecy paid about 90 days of rent up to a certain amount.

ALWAYS remember that SSA tries to be cheap in all things, except for management. A HOCALJ move is paid for including moving van. If needed your old house will be purchased. Grunts like you will get the minimum or less. I know the recent medicare judges hired from medicare were told they would be hired only if they waived all relocation benefits.

[govtattorney]

So where are the new ALJs going? What specific locations are expanding/replacing retired ALJs? I see some posts on transfer lists, how bout a list on this topic.

And, how long will this certification list be closed? The longer the better for those who scored near or just above the middle of the pack, assuming more than 150 ALJs are hired over the next couple of years.

[bradley]

govt atty
all over the map - Phoenix, Tucson, Colo Springs, Denver, DC, Dover, Balt, Manchester, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phila, Salt Lake, Arlington, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk and Richmond

[johnthornton]

kolekole said:

"In 2005, SSA paid my relocation expenses. I was hired from a different Federal agency. In 1997 a friend of mine (from the very same agency) was denied relocation benefits by SSA."

If you don't mind sharing, what relocation benefits were offered in 2005?

Temporary living expenses (90 days). Physical move. Subsidized closing costs for home sale. Some purchase closing costs subsidized.

[hooligan]

jagghagg said:

If I may ask, in 1999 people accepting ALJ offers had to pay their own relocation costs. Is that still true; does anyone know ?

I don't mean to quibble, but SSA made no ALJ offers in 1999. They had a class in August, 1997 and did not have another one before April, 1999 when the Azdell litigation put a restraining order on hiring off the registry. No one was hired again until the September, 2001 notices went out. There was a 4 year period when no ALJs were hired at OHA.

[regalzr7]

I also picked all in NYC metro area, about 6.

[odarite]

govtattorney said:

So where are the new ALJs going? What specific locations are expanding/replacing retired ALJs? I see some posts on transfer lists, how bout a list on this topic.

There is simply no way to know where the new ALJs are going yet. First, as far as I can tell the transfers for sitting judges are not complete. Until they are, SSA won't know which cities they want to request on their cert. Then, we have to depend on leaks from OCJ or OPM as to what cities are on the certificate, because this is not usually published. If OCJ sticks with past practice and calls candidates to say "if you are offered a position in East Bumford would you accept?" before they schedule interviews, we may get a list from the folks here. Otherwise, it may not be until the hires are confirmed that we can piece all the places together. As I recall, other than 2001, there is no general list released and we piece this stuff together region by region.

[jagghagg]

I wasn't suggesting SSA did. I was simply trying to find the answer to this question, searching around on the web and actually found an old ALJ announcement from the SSA which indicated no relocation expenses would be paid.

I am glad to hear that those of us in federal service would - if offered a position - likely have relocation expenses paid.