Working for the USPTO

[nomoreshaq]

nomoreshaq

How did you get a job offer? If so how and when?

not even close. sorry if i was misleading. getting into pto in the future (later this year when they reopen hiring i guess) is probably my best shot at employment and breaking it in somehow. so i wanted to know if would get paid enough for me and my wife to survive in alexandria.

[nomoreshaq]

do you know what the usual path to raises is? is it every 6 months, discretionary, etc?

Promotions are every year up until GS-13 (provide you have good production). The exception is the accelerated promotions (1 if you start GS9, 2 for GS<=7) at the beginning of your career which are six months
Best case scenario
0: GS 9/8
6 months: GS 11/5
1.5 years: GS 12/3
2.5 years: GS 13/1 (required to pass exam)
3.5 years: GS 14/1 (partial sig+Masters level; if you don't do masters level you won't become a 14 until you're a primary which will take around another year)
4.5 years: GS 15/1 SPE (competitive)

so it sounds like if im a good soldier and do my work reasonably well and am not a complete asshole or loon i should be able to hit GS 13/1 within 2.5 years? 13.1 pays 95k which isn't bad at all i think!

what's partial sig+Master's level?  is it usually just a matter of time before someone can reach G 14/1?

[AshEsquire]

Anybody hear anything from the PTO? I called and the guy did not even have me in his computer yet. I applied late - via Fax and US Mail around February 25th. He said I should hear something by the close of business tomorrow. Also, does anybody know when the hiring for the inexperienced people starts?

[patentfreak]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I got notification by email a few days ago that I "met minimum qualification requirements for the position". I'm a 3L with a EE background.

[drussell]

Since it's officially after the deadline and this site (http://www.uspto.gov/patents/applicants_forthcoming.jsp) still hasn't changed numbers, has anyone else not heard a peep from the PTO or am I the only one out here in the dark?


Also, for any current examiners who might know something about which AUs have vacancies, I have a BS in Mech Eng, 2.5 years searching experience, ~1 year in an in-house legal department's pat law group, and have passed the PatBar.  But I don't have any industry experience.  I know mechanical arts aren't exactly hot stuff, but are there any vacancies worth hoping for?

[tigerswood]

Since it's officially after the deadline and this site (http://www.uspto.gov/patents/applicants_forthcoming.jsp) still hasn't changed numbers, has anyone else not heard a peep from the PTO or am I the only one out here in the dark?


Also, for any current examiners who might know something about which AUs have vacancies, I have a BS in Mech Eng, 2.5 years searching experience, ~1 year in an in-house legal department's pat law group, and have passed the PatBar.  But I don't have any industry experience.  I know mechanical arts aren't exactly hot stuff, but are there any vacancies worth hoping for?

Attention mechanical applicants. Stay away from group 3700 if you don't want to ruin your career. Concentrate in finding a position in group 3600. Maybe even the design group if you can.

[penny13]

Since it's officially after the deadline and this site (http://www.uspto.gov/patents/applicants_forthcoming.jsp) still hasn't changed numbers, has anyone else not heard a peep from the PTO or am I the only one out here in the dark?

You're not the only one.  I still haven't heard anything.

[NovaMV41]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I got notification by email a few days ago that I "met minimum qualification requirements for the position". I'm a 3L with a EE background.

Congrats! How much experience with patents do you have if you don't mind me asking.

[what4]

Anyone know what the need for someone with a biomedical engineering background in the Office is currently?  I made it through the first round of the application review process.

thanks

[patentfreak]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I got notification by email a few days ago that I "met minimum qualification requirements for the position". I'm a 3L with a EE background.

Congrats! How much experience with patents do you have if you don't mind me asking.

Thanks... I don't have that much more experience than other people have previously stated. I worked for a Technology Transfer Office for about 8 months (doing patent searching), and worked at a law firm doing patent prosecution for about 7 months. Obviously, since this overlapped with law school, I did not work full time during that whole time. I also passed the patent bar, but I don't know if that matters at all. Hope that helps.

[drussell]

Since it's officially after the deadline and this site (http://www.uspto.gov/patents/applicants_forthcoming.jsp) still hasn't changed numbers, has anyone else not heard a peep from the PTO or am I the only one out here in the dark?


Also, for any current examiners who might know something about which AUs have vacancies, I have a BS in Mech Eng, 2.5 years searching experience, ~1 year in an in-house legal department's pat law group, and have passed the PatBar.  But I don't have any industry experience.  I know mechanical arts aren't exactly hot stuff, but are there any vacancies worth hoping for?

Attention mechanical applicants. Stay away from group 3700 if you don't want to ruin your career. Concentrate in finding a position in group 3600. Maybe even the design group if you can.

what's wrong with 3700?

and isn't it possible to transfer between art units?

[ChiefJRoberts]

man, i still haven't heard. Is there anyone else who didn't get an email from them? I still have to check my mail just in case.

[Akkon]

I still haven't heard (no mail, no email -- nothing).

[penny13]

I still haven't heard, but they updated the website with new dates.  They say we should know by Monday. 

[dablueman]

and isn't it possible to transfer between art units?

Not really.