Working for the USPTO

[Yet another examiner]

fsuchemist,

I have similar credentials to yours.  Masters in computer engineering and am a 3L at a top law school with average grades (B+).  I did do a summer associateship last summer where I did some (but not a lot, due to lack of work for even the partners) patent prosecution and have taken a couple patent courses - but I'm not sure if that counts as "IP experience."

Anyways I'm trying to be optimistic but obviously not getting my hopes up. 

Good luck!
 

Keep optimistic imo. With those credentials you and fsuchemist have, you guys will surely find great jobs eventually when the economy heats back up.

[patentgirl141]

anybody hear anything yet?? March 30 is comin awfully fast 

[cerass84]

nope. nothing yet.

[penny13]

I also haven't heard anything yet.  I don't know how they're going to notify those of us who emailed our resumes.  Does anyone know?  Thanks!

[thebigyellowjoint]

I also haven't heard anything.  I emailed my app.  I wouldn't be terribly shocked if they moved the dates again.

[NovaMV41]

Nothing here either

[Examinerguy]

anybody hear anything yet?? March 30 is comin awfully fast 

As I said above, being punctual is a very rare occurrence for HR. Return E-mails and phone calls often take days (if ever) to receive a response from. The laziness extends to meeting deadlines.

[cherryblue]

Interesting new article on the website. 

http://www.uspto.gov/news/speeches/2010/2010mar25.pdf

Nothing that hasn't been heard before, but interesting to see that Kappos expects only a net increase of 400-500 per year even though they hire 1000 each year.  I guess even a bad economy can't do much for the attrition rate. Also it does mention that this current hiring phase is only the beginning, so the job openings will likely be extended to inexperienced as well, though no time frame is specified.  So if you don't hear back from this first phase of hiring or if you don't meet the requirements, you can just wait it out and apply again when they're hiring inexperienced people.

[ChiefJRoberts]

Interesting new article on the website. 

http://www.uspto.gov/news/speeches/2010/2010mar25.pdf

Nothing that hasn't been heard before, but interesting to see that Kappos expects only a net increase of 400-500 per year even though they hire 1000 each year.  I guess even a bad economy can't do much for the attrition rate. Also it does mention that this current hiring phase is only the beginning, so the job openings will likely be extended to inexperienced as well, though no time frame is specified.  So if you don't hear back from this first phase of hiring or if you don't meet the requirements, you can just wait it out and apply again when they're hiring inexperienced people.

thanks for the link. it does say that they are targeting 250 examiners for FY 2010. It then says that they will increase hiring to around 1000 in FY 2011 and 2012. I get the feeling from this statement that they are done hiring examiners for 2010 but I hope I am wrong.  When does FY 2011 start anyway? It would be nice if it began in June.

[ChiefJRoberts]

i guess the government's FY starts on October 1.

[cherryblue]

Yes, fy2011 starts October 1. I expect they would start the hiring process in the coming months.

[thebigyellowjoint]

I just received an email from the pto:

Thank you for applying for the above-referenced position at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  After careful evaluation of your resume or application, the following determination was made:

You met the basic education qualification requirements; however, lacked the required specialized experience.

[whokebe]

I just received an email from the pto:

Thank you for applying for the above-referenced position at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  After careful evaluation of your resume or application, the following determination was made:

You met the basic education qualification requirements; however, lacked the required specialized experience.

How much experience do you have?

[thebigyellowjoint]

3L.  A few IP classes.  2 summers in IP firms.

[NovaMV41]

Got the same response as bigyellowjoint.  Similar experience (3L w/ IP classes, 1 summer program).

Oh well..