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[Karl]

I have scheduled a personal interview at the PTO next week. Are they even worth attending?

Do the people conducting the interview eventually decide if you get hired?

Any thoughts....

[patentlyconfused]

How do you get an in-person interview?

[Karl]

http://usptocareers.gov/jobfair/

Answer the 6 questions and choose your discipline. They have job fairs all over the country.

What i've signed up for is a personal interview at the USPTO, and I'm not sure if its worth going because I haven't filled out the USA Jobs Application.

I've heard bad things about attempting to get a job through the USA Jobs website. Bad things.....

[Lxw]

Enlighten us.

[ekdouge]

If you're nearby, you should definitely go, but it hasn't helped me any.  I've applied to three different examiner positions on usajobs since September, and haven't heard anything yet.  In early November, I went to one of those jobfair interviews you're talking about. There was a half-hour information session where a guy showed some powerpoints and told us all we could be making $150k a few years down the road. The personal interview was with someone who was either a SPE or a hiring manager in the specific TC I indicated when signing up for the job fair, so I think he had some decision powers. 

The interview follows a standard checklist, you can find the questions online if you look around.  Some people were walking out of there very very happy, I think they do make some offers on the spot. I didn't get one. I got an email a week later thanking me for attending and suggesting that I apply on usajobs. I think maybe they don't link together their two hiring systems. What bad things have you heard about applying via usajobs?

[Karl]

The biggest problem I am aware of is the lengthy delays which can occur from the time you submit your application until the time someone actually reviews it, and ultimately makes a decision.

Are you telling me the interviewers make offers on the spot? I haven't filled out the USA jobs application either, so is that required of me?

[JustAnotherExaminer]

What i've signed up for is a personal interview at the USPTO, and I'm not sure if its worth going because I haven't filled out the USA Jobs Application.

I've heard bad things about attempting to get a job through the USA Jobs website. Bad things.....

It may be worth going.  Telephone interviews are generally sufficient for them to tell HR to make an offer.

USAJobs is run by contractors.  At the closing date of a position (there may be multiple, staggered closing dates), the contractors go through each application and identify which applicants meet the minimum requirements (as posted on USAJobs) for the position. The contractors filter out any applicants that don't meet the absolute minimum requirements.  The contractors pass all qualified applicants and their associated documents/answers to the USPTO HR.  HR does a brief review of each applicant and then adds each and every applicant to a hiring manager's list based on the applicant's general skill area (ie. chemical vs electrical), along with each applicants associated documents/answers.  These hiring managers are the folks in the TC.  HR may include a predicted GS/S level and bonus for each applicant they pass along (based on experience/degree type) to the hiring managers.  This does not always happen, however.

At this point, no one has been weeded out unless they do not meet the absolute minimum requirements.  As you can tell, the hiring managers for each TC have huge lists of potential applicants.  Their job is to tell HR "Offer soandso a position" and fill the demand for examiners in their TC. 

How hiring managers identify which applicants to contact off their huge lists is entirely up to the hiring manager.  Some may randomly pick names off their list to then set up interviews.  Some may initially review each applicant to see who the more qualified candidates are.  Some may pick candidates who have been on their list the longest amount of time.  How they identify which of the contacted applicants get offered a position is entirely up to the hiring manager as well.  Once they make a decision, they may then contact HR and tell them to make an offer.  In this communication to HR, the hiring manager may recommend a specific step or bonus to HR if he notices specific qualifications.

The hiring manager has no control over what final offer/bonus you receive from HR.  If the hiring manager tells HR to make you an offer, you most definitely will receive an offer.

[Karl]

Thanks JAE:

The personal interview is set up with a Hiring Contact. Are these contacts the same people as the Hiring Managers, or are they wholely separate?

[cpastor7]

If you live in the general area or can find a cheap plane ticket out to Virgina it is worthwhile to attend the interview. You will also have a chance to see the facilities and meet your possible SPE (supervisor).

And yes they can hire you on the spot!

I have scheduled a personal interview at the PTO next week. Are they even worth attending?

Do the people conducting the interview eventually decide if you get hired?

Any thoughts....

[runner3735]

I really appreciate the post above by JustAnotherExaminer.  I've been doing a lot of reading here, and it's the first post I've seen that lays out the hiring process and sequence of events.  I am, however, left with a few questions and observations.

First off, let me say that I attended the interview invitational event on Jan 10.  At the end of the interview, the interviewer made sure that I had received the promotional goodies bag (I hadn't, so he actually went out into the lobby and fetched one for me) and when I asked what the next step would be, he said my application would be reviewed, and if I hadn't heard anything within a month, to call back to HR.  Although I didn't get a contingent offer like some others did, I also don't have the in-demand EE or CE degree, so I am guessing they just didn't have immediate need for examiners with my specialty.

1. Were all of the interviewers at the Jan 10 event either SPE's or Hiring Managers?

2. I have learned, I think, from other sources that Hiring Managers are a subset of SPE's. (In other words, all Hiring Mangers are  SPE's, but not all SPE's are Hiring Managers).  Is this true?

3. At the event we filled out a questionnaire regarding experience and interests.  At first I thought this might be for the use of the interviewer, but the interviewer only collected it from me at the end of the interview, so I wonder how it is used.

4. I did not hear back within one month.  In the meantime, I discovered that I actually qualify for 5-point Veteran's Preference.  I call up HR about a week ago and get connected with a friendly and helpful person - she has me add my veteran's info to my application package on USAJobs, revise my application answers to claim 5-point VP and get back to her.  I get back to her, she verifies everything, and then she says I will be placed on the next referral list to go out (I think she said that would happen on 2-13).  Okay, so this leads to the question: is this "referral list" the same as the "hiring manager's list" mentioned by JustAnotherExaminer?  Does anyone know if the hiring managers pay attention to Veteran's Preference, and how it plays into the process?

5. What decides when and how many people a given hiring manager "picks" off the "list"?  I am guessing that for each academy class, some really high-level person decides they need to fill the class with X number of Examiners for TC2600 and Y number of Examiners for TC2100 and so on.  I guess also that once you are on the "list" it is already determined which TC you will be placed in.

6. I didn't understand the classification system of the art units into workgroups and technology centers on Jan 10.  As a result, I screwed up when answering the questionnaire and provided some unintentionally misleading answers to the interviewer on questions which involved the types of patents I would be best suited to examine.  I am an experienced applicant (i.e., not fresh out of college) and it seemed to me that the interviewer hadn't actually read my resume.  Well, now I know exactly which TC I should be placed in, and even which class of devices I would be best suited to examine.  Not that I would insist on a single class of devices, but I would like to make sure that the notes attached to my application are accurate - anyone have suggestions as to who I should contact to get this fixed?  Perhaps I could/should try to schedule a second interview?

[Karl]

I can only speak from my experience. Yesterday I attended an in-person interview at the PTO, and at the end of the interview, the Examiner told me that he was going to recommend me. He asked me which art unit(s) I was interested in. I went with Computer Networks.

He indicated that the hiring process is actually a combination of  a number of simultaneous processes. He said all of the following needed to happen before I was made an official offer.

1) I needed to fill out the application on the USA Jobs website. This website is run by a 3rd party, and the only purpose is to determine if the applicants meets the bare minimum requirements to be a patent examiner (i.e. U.S. Citizen, proper degree, etc..)

2) My application (resume/cover letter/ interview summary) will be put on a recommendation list. My application will sit on that list until an SPE decides that they would like for me to work in their art unit. (He said this could take months, on average he said about 2 months).

3) Once an SPE decides they would like for me to work in their art unit, then they would have to contact Human Resources. Human resources would then review my resume and interview summary, and they would make the ultimate decision on whether to extend an official offer to me, and the amount of the offer.

He indicated that the next training academy for Computer Engineers was not until June or July anyways. And that regardless of how soon or late an offer was extended, that I wouldn't start until the summer. This process may differ depending on what type of background you have. I believe the Examiner that interviewed me was a CoE, but he was not in a computer networks art unit. I can tell you that yesterday they were interviewing chemical/mechanical/computer/electrical all in the same room.

If there is an SPE out there in computer networks, looking for a new hire, please feel free to contact me. I'm looking to leave the firm I work for.

[Karl]

6. I didn't understand the classification system of the art units into workgroups and technology centers on Jan 10.  As a result, I screwed up when answering the questionnaire and provided some unintentionally misleading answers to the interviewer on questions which involved the types of patents I would be best suited to examine.  I am an experienced applicant (i.e., not fresh out of college) and it seemed to me that the interviewer hadn't actually read my resume.  Well, now I know exactly which TC I should be placed in, and even which class of devices I would be best suited to examine.  Not that I would insist on a single class of devices, but I would like to make sure that the notes attached to my application are accurate - anyone have suggestions as to who I should contact to get this fixed?  Perhaps I could/should try to schedule a second interview?

I will tell you that you must wait at least 3 months to interview again. I found that out on the jobfair website. If you live in the area, and it has been 3 months, I would attend another interview session and tell them exactly what you're looking for.

Did the Examiner interviewing you indicate whether he/she was going to recommend you to be hired?

[JustAnotherExaminer]

1. Were all of the interviewers at the Jan 10 event either SPE's or Hiring Managers?

I don't think they have to be.  Not 100%, but they definitely have to be a senior patent examiner. Primary or higher would be my guess.

2. I have learned, I think, from other sources that Hiring Managers are a subset of SPE's. (In other words, all Hiring Mangers are  SPE's, but not all SPE's are Hiring Managers).  Is this true?

Not quite.  A subset of hiring managers are a subset of SPEs.

3. At the event we filled out a questionnaire regarding experience and interests.  At first I thought this might be for the use of the interviewer, but the interviewer only collected it from me at the end of the interview, so I wonder how it is used.

Did it have classification-esque language? If so, it was probably to determine a good AU to put you in.

is this "referral list" the same as the "hiring manager's list" mentioned by JustAnotherExaminer? 

Maybe. Probably. Unless it's something special for vet's preference.

Does anyone know if the hiring managers pay attention to Veteran's Preference, and how it plays into the process?

Aren't they required to give you preference?

What decides when and how many people a given hiring manager "picks" off the "list"?  I am guessing that for each academy class, some really high-level person decides they need to fill the class with X number of Examiners for TC2600 and Y number of Examiners for TC2100 and so on.  I guess also that once you are on the "list" it is already determined which TC you will be placed in.

I would imagine that each TC's group of hiring managers get together and determine the demand for examiners based on backlog and current production.  They would then shoot for that demand level (Hire a total of 500 examiners) or hiring rate (Hire 30 examiners a month).  How you get assigned into an academy class is a whole different ballgame.

Not that I would insist on a single class of devices, but I would like to make sure that the notes attached to my application are accurate - anyone have suggestions as to who I should contact to get this fixed?  Perhaps I could/should try to schedule a second interview?

Your interviewer? I also wouldn't worry about it too much. Where they need examiners trumps all. As long as they have a rough idea you should be fine.

[chagol]

i also attended this years january 10th event. what's weird is that i have heard NOTHING from them yet?
is that unusual? should i call them to find out?

[Lxw]

i also attended this years january 10th event. what's weird is that i have heard NOTHING from them yet?
is that unusual? should i call them to find out?

Hiring freeze in effect except for CE/EE