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[TRYINGIP]

IS there a way around the requirements? I mean, I am so close. I was trying to get back into the PTO; however, they had the hiring freeze. Can anyone give me some advice? Does it matter, my production was 110% when I left. I mean, could a SPE push me through because I passed the required probationary period, and they just opened the hiring last week?

[LivingItUp]

He doesn't meet either of the 2 criteria that xephay posted above:

from USPTO Intranet:
Former examiners who have passed their probationary requirement and who have resigned less than three years ago or have more than three years experience examining patents are invited to apply.

He resigned more than 3 years ago and had less than 3 years experience examining patents.

You are assuming "experience examining patents" means "working at the USPTO examining patents"?

As I pointed out earlier, perhaps he has alternate employment/education/club memberships, etc that he/she can say is ".5 years of experience examining patents". 2.5 USPTO experience + .5 other "trust me I got it" experience.

The quote above does not say "the experience must be from working at the USPTO".

[dablueman]

He doesn't meet either of the 2 criteria that xephay posted above:

from USPTO Intranet:
Former examiners who have passed their probationary requirement and who have resigned less than three years ago or have more than three years experience examining patents are invited to apply.

He resigned more than 3 years ago and had less than 3 years experience examining patents.

You are assuming "experience examining patents" means "working at the USPTO examining patents"?

Correct. I'm assuming examining patents means exactly that, examining patents. I suppose if he worked for the EPO, JPO, etc. examining patents that would count too. The meaning of "three years experience examining patents" isn't really open for interpretation. Now whether a SPE is willing to get the rule waived is another matter.

[dablueman]

IS there a way around the requirements? I mean, I am so close. I was trying to get back into the PTO; however, they had the hiring freeze. Can anyone give me some advice? Does it matter, my production was 110% when I left. I mean, could a SPE push me through because I passed the required probationary period, and they just opened the hiring last week?

Did you have a good relationship with your old SPE? Are they still there? Do you know anyone that is now a SPE or higher?

[TRYINGIP]

That is what I am worried about. I did not leave on a good note with my SPE. However, before I left. I spoke to a friend of mine that was a SPE, now a primary, he said that as long as you have good production the PTO may hire you back. However, I found out that all the SPE have a black-book for all the employees, all the negatives are written about them in black-book. Any ideas or suggestions would be great.

[TRYINGIP]

Do you know what questions they ask? Is it about production or is it about work ethics?

[nypatentlaw]

do any current examiners or other pto insiders on this thread have any updated information on the 're-hiring' of past examiners?  my sense is that this will have to be expanded hiring to any interested qualified persons (i'm skeptical about how many past examiners that left the PTO would want to come back, if they chose to leave, or would be allowed back, if they were fired in the first place).

thanks for sharing any (inside) information regarding regular hires.

ps - is there any way to lobby for a hire without waiting for the pto to make official announcements?  i hear that the agency is always hiring, despite the apparent 'freeze', and you just have to know the channels...

thanks.

[horsechute]

Holy Hannah, you're still trying to get in there? I hate to tell you, but I hear they hava a bias against people from New York.

Actually, I think that unlike past "hiring freezes" at the PTO when they actually hired a small number of EE's, this time there is both literally and figuratively a freeze at the PTO.

Perhaps you might score some points if you tell them your real name is Horsechute.....or...Triple Direct.

[nypatentlaw]

Holy Hannah, you're still trying to get in there? I hate to tell you, but I hear they hava a bias against people from New York.

Actually, I think that unlike past "hiring freezes" at the PTO when they actually hired a small number of EE's, this time there is both literally and figuratively a freeze at the PTO.

Perhaps you might score some points if you tell them your real name is Horsechute.....or...Triple Direct.

lol well i'm not sure what you consider "still trying" - they went on a freeze just about the time i submitted my interest.  i actually received an eligibility notice, had the interview with an SPE, and they'd apparently already put the hiring freeze in place couple of weeks before i did the phone interview. 

in any case, thanks for your input.  and yes, i am still interested gettin in working at the PTO.  I know what people are posting about the horrible working conditions, etc, i'm willing to give it a try...

[dablueman]

@nypatentlaw - there is a reason they're looking for only ex-examiners. It's so the people they hire don't have to go through the training academy, which is winding down (last class graduates in Feb.). To get the academy going again hiring would have to be on a larger scale than the budget allows for.

P.S. a registration number/J.D. are not exemptions from having to go through the academy.

[Examinerguy]

ps - is there any way to lobby for a hire without waiting for the pto to make official announcements?  i hear that the agency is always hiring, despite the apparent 'freeze', and you just have to know the channels...

It's government, so probably not. In order to do anything it has to be prepared, written, presented and voted on. In general when a non open-ended rule is made, the guidelines are strict.

By the way...99% of the time examiners don't get "inside" information...at least not more than 24 hours before the public does. Usually we will get or find a memo/article describing a change that I will see publicly online the next day.

[xephay]

There's a lively discussion on the same topic (rehiring ex-examiners) over at Patently-O.  It seems we examiners get a little break for now, as it's SPE-bashing time!

http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2009/12/uspto-seeks-to-rehire-limited-number-of-former-examiners.html

[nypatentlaw]

@nypatentlaw - there is a reason they're looking for only ex-examiners. It's so the people they hire don't have to go through the training academy, which is winding down (last class graduates in Feb.). To get the academy going again hiring would have to be on a larger scale than the budget allows for.

P.S. a registration number/J.D. are not exemptions from having to go through the academy.

This actually makes sense - thanks for your input.  I'm not sure it's the best strategy though - in general terms, how many professionals actually would go back to work for the same company they left?  Probably would have made more sense for the agency to devise an improved training system to get new hires up to speed quicker...

BTW - do you, or anyone else working at the agency, know what types of jobs are available for people with a registration number and JD (beside examiner position)?

thx

[Robert K S]

No idea if they're actually hiring (probably not) but those credentials sound like they match the necessary qualifications for an attorney ghostwriting appeal decisions for the BPAI.

[dablueman]

This actually makes sense - thanks for your input...

BTW - do you, or anyone else working at the agency, know what types of jobs are available for people with a registration number and JD (beside examiner position)?

You mean currently available or "available" in general?