Working for the USPTO

[patttent]

If you have a good SPE this job is so damn easy.
I do wonder what art units most of you who have trouble are in.

Sounds like you are in one of those easy art units, such as that deals with toiletry.

I'm in a fairly tough art unit, and I've also had a fairly easy time with it. Got promoted to GS11 within a year, never had to work voluntary overtime. I think it all just depends on your training and your SPE.

Is that done before I start or afterward?  Is there a chance that I might have a problem given that I don't have any criminal record or anything like that. 

Dude, don't stress out about it. Follow the directions they give you, and you'll be fine. You can have the fingerprinting done at your local police station beforehand for a nominal fee.

What is your BD hours?

[patttent]

what kind of bonuses are available once you start?  i am taking close to 50% pay cut so i would like to find out what my financial compensation can be for the next year or two.

They used to have recruitment bonus of ~$9000 for the EE and ComPE majors for the next 4 years of your hire date
and ~$5000 for other majors, provided you continue to maintain fully successful rating during those periods,
but it does not appear they have that anymore.

There are however SAA awards and gain share awards, but you have to maintain 4 consecutive quarters of >110% of production,
and they can amount to a maximum of 10% of your basic salary. This is in addition to overtime pay provided your SPE approves.
For the gain share awards, which are awarded fiscal year to fiscal year, you might have to be there for at least one year to qualify.
Ask your SPE about this however to be certain.

[patttent]

Good luck all. I hope everyone who applies get the job, and do well.

[qdot]

starting when, can u start overtime?

what kind of bonuses are available once you start?  i am taking close to 50% pay cut so i would like to find out what my financial compensation can be for the next year or two.

They used to have recruitment bonus of ~$9000 for the EE and ComPE majors for the next 4 years of your hire date
and ~$5000 for other majors, provided you continue to maintain fully successful rating during those periods,
but it does not appear they have that anymore.

There are however SAA awards and gain share awards, but you have to maintain 4 consecutive quarters of >110% of production,
and they can amount to a maximum of 10% of your basic salary. This is in addition to overtime pay provided your SPE approves.
For the gain share awards, which are awarded fiscal year to fiscal year, you might have to be there for at least one year to qualify.
Ask your SPE about this however to be certain.

[patttent]

Also, even if you might not get hired this time around,
USPTO will start hiring whole bunch of people once the funding
situation really improves, and when they do that, apply again.

In the past, USPTO used to have "hiring events",
where you can sign up for the interviews conducted
at the USPTO, instead of waiting for them to call you.
In these events, they used to have a lot of interviewers who
will interview many candidates.

Check the USPTO websites regularly to see if they have
any of these in the future.

[patttent]

starting when, can u start overtime?

what kind of bonuses are available once you start?  i am taking close to 50% pay cut so i would like to find out what my financial compensation can be for the next year or two.

They used to have recruitment bonus of ~$9000 for the EE and ComPE majors for the next 4 years of your hire date
and ~$5000 for other majors, provided you continue to maintain fully successful rating during those periods,
but it does not appear they have that anymore.

There are however SAA awards and gain share awards, but you have to maintain 4 consecutive quarters of >110% of production,
and they can amount to a maximum of 10% of your basic salary. This is in addition to overtime pay provided your SPE approves.
For the gain share awards, which are awarded fiscal year to fiscal year, you might have to be there for at least one year to qualify.
Ask your SPE about this however to be certain.

It all depends on your production, GS level and your SPE once you get to your designated TC. You have to get the authorization from your SPE first.

[bobo77]

does any one know when the spe will get the certificate for people applied after june 28th" first cut of date"?

[rmr236]

I work in an AU with a BD less than 20 and I work in an up and coming buzz-word technology.
Toliet arts sounds fun!

[tigerswood]

Despite a huge 12.50% increase PTO ranked 105 out of 216 government sun agencies for Employee Satisfaction and Commitment.
 
http://data.bestplacestowork.org/bptw/overall/sub

When the economy does heat up again there will be a mass exodus of examiners.
Poor newbies have no clue till its too late.

[teege]

Question about promotions.

I went from GS7 step 10 to GS9 step 7 to GS11 step 4.

Question #1:  Is that correct, was I supposed to go to step 4?

Question #2:  I just made my GS12 promotion. What step should I expect to be at coming from GS11 step 4?

[qdot]

does transportation subsidy cover the cost of parking at metro station?

[Agent_X]

Question about promotions.

I went from GS7 step 10 to GS9 step 7 to GS11 step 4.

Question #1:  Is that correct, was I supposed to go to step 4?

Question #2:  I just made my GS12 promotion. What step should I expect to be at coming from GS11 step 4?

You have been in the office for 3 promotions and still have no idea how it works...seriously?

And you ask here outside the office (mostly former and disgruntled Examiners who may provide out of date information) instead of checking with your SPE or other current Examiners?  Whiskey tango foxtrot?

Now...that being said i guess the joke is on me b/c you are getting your answer.

This was passed on many many pages ago in this thread.  It may not be the official HR formula but it is accurate enough

Go 2 steps up from current pay (GS11-4 = 76,888) and find the pay (81,547) then look for the pay greater than that on the next GS level (GS12-2 = 82,836)

Congrats on reaching 12.  You can now hotel

[Yet another examiner]

what kind of bonuses are available once you start?  i am taking close to 50% pay cut so i would like to find out what my financial compensation can be for the next year or two.

How is it you managed to get through the hiring process without finding out what your compensation/benefits would be? Anyway, the compensation will differ form year to year, so you're better off getting this info from the PTO. They've either sent this info out already, or they will send  it to you, or you'll have a chance to find out all about stuff like this on your start date, where you'll have plenty of opportunities to talk to the HR people.

[eeca]

I'm a new examiner and will be starting August 30th. Anyone else new to the area looking for housing? If so, let me know. I'm looking to room with a female only. Also, if anyone knows where do most ppl live that work in the PTO? Are there any areas I should stay away from?
I'm moving from the West Coast so I'm totally new to the area.

Any help would be appreciated.. thanks!

[mk1023]

Also, if anyone knows where do most ppl live that work in the PTO? Are there any areas I should stay away from?

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