Working for the USPTO

[patttent]

Now, I listed my availability as January 1, 2011 so they may be looking at hiring for later dates as well as immediately.  Of course I've got applications out for academic positions too, which I'd obviously prefer.  Won't hear about any of those until around February, leaving me kind of up a creek if they want to hire me in January. EEEK!

There's nothing incredibly evil about taking an examiner position and quitting while still in training. Two out of sixteen in my class quit before the training was over. You could tell a white lie (you have to quit to care for a sick parent) and they wouldn't question it.

Good point.  I would hate to just leave like that, but there must be plenty of people to step in.  In fact, I hear that this kind of massive turnover is quite common at the patent office.  And of course, an interview isn't a job offer.  I may be deemed utterly incompetent and, thus, confirm that I belong in academia!

If the hiring manager see this post, you are screwed. And with the economy the way it is, it is much tougher to get a job in academia especially with your kind of specialty. Thus, unless you are from top university, and very lucky, you are probably screwed. In NYTimes, I read an article where this guy got a Nuclear Engineering degree (forget if he had a PhD) from MIT, and he was working as a temp Census worker.

[hateresq]

Have any chemists heard anything from the gs7/9 announcement?  I received my NOR aug. 18th, but nothing since then.

I received my NOR aug. 18th for the chemistry position too and heard nothing since myself.

Same here.

[jm76]

Figured I'd pass on my experience so far for the Chem and ChemE individuals...

I applied for both the Chemistry and ChemEng positions before the early cut off date and got NOR's for both the GS-5 & GS-9/11 position. I'd already cold called a hiring contact for the Chem/ChemE division the week of the of the 8/27 cut-off and spoke to him briefly and then got a call a week ago Thursday asking if I could come for an interview on 9/7. (Still haven't gotten NOR's for the Chemistry positions but not too worried about it...)

My background is BS Chem, Ph.D. Physical Chem, JD with a focus on IP. The interview lasted a little longer than an hour with few traditional interview questions and a lot of discussion about research. I received the email from PHC yesterday, 9/8, requesting official transcripts, OF-306, HSPD-12, and Candidate Questionnaire which I have submitted and now I'm in the waiting period of director approval and HR approval...Got to love the hurry up and wait system.

Jim

[qdot]

is transfer between art unit possible?

[mk1023]

is transfer between art unit possible?

Yes, but difficult.

[exafsdude]

Figured I'd pass on my experience so far for the Chem and ChemE individuals...

I applied for both the Chemistry and ChemEng positions before the early cut off date and got NOR's for both the GS-5 & GS-9/11 position. I'd already cold called a hiring contact for the Chem/ChemE division the week of the of the 8/27 cut-off and spoke to him briefly and then got a call a week ago Thursday asking if I could come for an interview on 9/7. (Still haven't gotten NOR's for the Chemistry positions but not too worried about it...)

My background is BS Chem, Ph.D. Physical Chem, JD with a focus on IP. The interview lasted a little longer than an hour with few traditional interview questions and a lot of discussion about research. I received the email from PHC yesterday, 9/8, requesting official transcripts, OF-306, HSPD-12, and Candidate Questionnaire which I have submitted and now I'm in the waiting period of director approval and HR approval...Got to love the hurry up and wait system.

Jim

I applied for the chem position before 8/27 myself and got the NOR as well but have heard nothing since. Should I call the hiring manager to see what's going on? BS in Chem, Ph.D. in Physical Chem, current post-doc, 3 years fed experience.

[CaneLaw]

I know someone asked this question before and it was answered, but I am still a little concerned about health benefits after reading a few things.  Do health benefits kick in during the two-year probation period?  Or do they not occur until I become a "competitive permanent employee"?  I have read and heard different things.  I am hoping that someone with direct knowledge or experience can help out.

[patttent]

I know someone asked this question before and it was answered, but I am still a little concerned about health benefits after reading a few things.  Do health benefits kick in during the two-year probation period?  Or do they not occur until I become a "competitive permanent employee"?  I have read and heard different things.  I am hoping that someone with direct knowledge or experience can help out.

Health benefits kick in during the two year probation period, that is after you choose your health provider. ALL these questions, however will be answered on the day of your orientation, with bunch of HR people in attendance. But think about it, will the health provider care whether you are on probation or not, as long as you pay them? Nothing to worry.

[dablueman]

I know someone asked this question before and it was answered, but I am still a little concerned about health benefits after reading a few things.  Do health benefits kick in during the two-year probation period?  Or do they not occur until I become a "competitive permanent employee"?  I have read and heard different things.  I am hoping that someone with direct knowledge or experience can help out.

You'll get the information either before or on day 1, and you pick your insurance then. It's effective as of the 1st day you start work.

[ChiefJRoberts]

I know someone asked this question before and it was answered, but I am still a little concerned about health benefits after reading a few things.  Do health benefits kick in during the two-year probation period?  Or do they not occur until I become a "competitive permanent employee"?  I have read and heard different things.  I am hoping that someone with direct knowledge or experience can help out.

You'll get the information either before or on day 1, and you pick your insurance then. It's effective as of the 1st day you start work.

this is incorrect. you can pick health insurance for up to 90 days after you start work and it will only kick in the start of the next pay period after you choose.

edit: it's actually 60 days from your first day

[somedude]

is transfer between art unit possible?

Yes, but difficult.

It's possible, but try to get it done while you're still in the Academy.

[dablueman]

I know someone asked this question before and it was answered, but I am still a little concerned about health benefits after reading a few things.  Do health benefits kick in during the two-year probation period?  Or do they not occur until I become a "competitive permanent employee"?  I have read and heard different things.  I am hoping that someone with direct knowledge or experience can help out.

You'll get the information either before or on day 1, and you pick your insurance then. It's effective as of the 1st day you start work.

this is incorrect. you can pick health insurance for up to 90 days after you start work and it will only kick in the start of the next pay period after you choose.

I chose the 1st day, used the copy they gave me and it was used that first biweek, so what exactly is incorrect?

[ChiefJRoberts]

I know someone asked this question before and it was answered, but I am still a little concerned about health benefits after reading a few things.  Do health benefits kick in during the two-year probation period?  Or do they not occur until I become a "competitive permanent employee"?  I have read and heard different things.  I am hoping that someone with direct knowledge or experience can help out.

You'll get the information either before or on day 1, and you pick your insurance then. It's effective as of the 1st day you start work.

this is incorrect. you can pick health insurance for up to 90 days after you start work and it will only kick in the start of the next pay period after you choose.

I chose the 1st day, used the copy they gave me and it was used that first biweek, so what exactly is incorrect?

I am just repeating what HR's current policy is. If you got your health insurance immediately, then good for you.

[Monkey1]

I know someone asked this question before and it was answered, but I am still a little concerned about health benefits after reading a few things.  Do health benefits kick in during the two-year probation period?  Or do they not occur until I become a "competitive permanent employee"?  I have read and heard different things.  I am hoping that someone with direct knowledge or experience can help out.

You'll get the information either before or on day 1, and you pick your insurance then. It's effective as of the 1st day you start work.

this is incorrect. you can pick health insurance for up to 90 days after you start work and it will only kick in the start of the next pay period after you choose.

I chose the 1st day, used the copy they gave me and it was used that first biweek, so what exactly is incorrect?

See http://www.opm.gov/insure/new_employ/index.asp?AnswerId=7 regarding when do medical health benefits kick in.

[dablueman]

I know someone asked this question before and it was answered, but I am still a little concerned about health benefits after reading a few things.  Do health benefits kick in during the two-year probation period?  Or do they not occur until I become a "competitive permanent employee"?  I have read and heard different things.  I am hoping that someone with direct knowledge or experience can help out.

You'll get the information either before or on day 1, and you pick your insurance then. It's effective as of the 1st day you start work.

this is incorrect. you can pick health insurance for up to 90 days after you start work and it will only kick in the start of the next pay period after you choose.

I chose the 1st day, used the copy they gave me and it was used that first biweek, so what exactly is incorrect?

See http://www.opm.gov/insure/new_employ/index.asp?AnswerId=7 regarding when do medical health benefits kick in.

Ok, don't know what to tell you. The website says you can enroll anytime within the first 60 days after you start and it's effective the next biweek. All I can say is that I picked on the first day and my doctor took it and the insurance company authorized payment when I went to the doctor's office the next week to get a refill script. Obviously you should go by what OPM says, I'm just giving my firsthand experience with it. Since the OP was worried about having to wait 2 years for them to kick in I'm not sure if the 2 weeks is relevant to him.