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[john122]

Today I got the email containing the candidate questionnaire and OF-306 Declaration for Federal Employment, and invitation for interview. I am trying to decide if I will go in for a in-person interview.

From my experience, they don't give in person interviews, only telephonic, unless the person at HR was lying to me.

[IsolatedSystem]

Today I got the email containing the candidate questionnaire and OF-306 Declaration for Federal Employment, and invitation for interview. I am trying to decide if I will go in for a in-person interview.

From my experience, they don't give in person interviews, only telephonic, unless the person at HR was lying to me.

That is inconsistent with my experience. I interviewed in person. They don't require in-person interviews because some of their candidates don't live in the area, so many candidates elect to do the phone interview because it's more convenient. I live in the area and I think I make a good impression in person (at least that's what people whose opinion I trust have said).

[Oh, Crud]

I interviewed in person. .... I live in the area and I think I make a good impression in person (at least that's what people whose opinion I trust have said).

Dude(/ette), your Mom and Grammy were lying to you.

 

Sorry, couldn't stop myself...

[john122]

Well that sucks for me then, because I told BR that I'm willing to drive to the patent office for an in person interview. I actually had my telephone interview today, and they said 4-6 weeks for a decision. Does anyone know how long after getting a decision the first day of work is?

[blaze1306]

I sent in the paper work, left a message and emailed my request for a in person interview. We will see what happens.

[IsolatedSystem]

Well that sucks for me then, because I told BR that I'm willing to drive to the patent office for an in person interview. I actually had my telephone interview today, and they said 4-6 weeks for a decision. Does anyone know how long after getting a decision the first day of work is?

Invited for interview Jan. 13th. Interview held Jan. 20th.

Offer extended Feb. 28th with a March 12th start date.

[blaze1306]

I got an email today, no in-person interviews allowed.

[IsolatedSystem]

I got an email today, no in-person interviews allowed.

Interesting. I guess they changed their policy.

[smrunner99]

what type of questions do they ask in the interveiw...anything about the technical field you are in, your patent law experience or general how do you work with multiple projects on your plate questions?

any insight or discussion would be helpful

[kjw5029]

what type of questions do they ask in the interveiw...anything about the technical field you are in, your patent law experience or general how do you work with multiple projects on your plate questions?

any insight or discussion would be helpful

When I interviewed, they didn't ask a single technical question.  Every question was how you would react in types of situations.  Literally the most "technical" question I got was, "What did you like best about the senior design project you talked about earlier?"

[r0lf3cbn]

The interviewer probably won't ask technical questions. For one, the interviewing supervisor might not be in the same art unit as the one that ends up hiring you. And sometimes an art unit's supervisor was in a different art when they were an examiner.

The types of questions you might get are more typical interview questions, like:
-tell me about how you usually formulate a prior art search (for applicants with IP experience)
-what do you think has been the most important (or any important) patent-related, recent court decision
-tell me about a time you applied your technical skills to a problem
-tell me about a time you received criticism on your work and how you handled it

I think they are supposed to keep interviews under thirty minutes, because I've interviewed twice and both ended somewhat abruptly after a half hour.

[eh2008]

This may be a stupid question. Is there any age limit to be a patent examiner?

[blaze1306]

My interview for grade 9 is today and got referred for grade 7 this morning.

[smrunner99]

same here blaze   

[blaze1306]

It is so hard to evaluate how my interview went, They asked the same diagnostic questions they ask everyone, "How do you respond to criticism" etc.They did ask me what grade I was willing to come in at. They did say they are coming to the end of the fiscal year and hiring is 1500 this year ( almost done)and 1500 next year, then 400 after that.