2010 USPTO Hiring GS-9/7/5 Positions Thread

[GenericThermos]

I figured it would be a good time to start up a new thread, as the other one dates back to 2005, and has also become cluttered with people asking for general career advice, where to live, etc...

I'd like to keep this thread focused on information relating to the hiring process   If you have questions relating about where to live in the DC area, please post in this thread:    http://www.intelproplaw.com/ip_forum/index.php/topic,15175.0.html



To start off, I applied for the Mechanical Engineering Patent Examiner position at the GS-9/7 level.  I have a JD, have been a registered patent agent for 2 years, and have about 4 years worth of relevant patent experience. 

I applied for the position on 08/16 and received my NOR on 08/23.  When I receive any further information I will make sure to update.

Good luck to everyone!

[u2ishorrible]

SO...

I applied while back (like 07/16 or so) got interviewed 08/19 via phone.  I completely rocked the interview... I had some of the questions they asked already set with prepared responses.  I just read about how the interview goes and successfully predicted like half of the questions.

I am applying for GS-7 FCIP patent examiner as an EE.  I received some additional forms ( OF-306 and HSPD-12) to fill out on 08/24 and returned them promptly to the Patent Hiring Office.

I have not heard back since then.  Is anyone else in the same boat as me? 

Furthermore, can anyone who has gone through this process before tell me a time frame I should expect (I know it varies, but tell me about your experience or what you have heard)

The interviewer mentioned something about a "mid September" training date... does this depend heavily on Art Unit?  Does anyone else know of that?

Thanks in advance guys (and girl(s))

[ChiefJRoberts]

SO...

I applied while back (like 07/16 or so) got interviewed 08/19 via phone.  I completely rocked the interview... I had some of the questions they asked already set with prepared responses.  I just read about how the interview goes and successfully predicted like half of the questions.

I am applying for GS-7 FCIP patent examiner as an EE.  I received some additional forms ( OF-306 and HSPD-12) to fill out on 08/24 and returned them promptly to the Patent Hiring Office.

I have not heard back since then.  Is anyone else in the same boat as me? 

Furthermore, can anyone who has gone through this process before tell me a time frame I should expect (I know it varies, but tell me about your experience or what you have heard)

The interviewer mentioned something about a "mid September" training date... does this depend heavily on Art Unit?  Does anyone else know of that?

Thanks in advance guys (and girl(s))

I think that the other thread would prove invaluable here. The training date for September is on the 27th. It does not depend on the art unit.

[sallie]

U2...,

I'm in the same boat, except that I've been waiting much longer. (more than a month)

[u2ishorrible]

Hmm... the supervisory patent examiner told me i should "definitely here something in 2 weeks".  I'm starting to think she actually has no idea cause its way out her control (in HR world).

[u2ishorrible]

..."definitely hear"

also whats the purpose of the e-QIP submission for patent examiners?  Is it for a security clearance?

[ChiefJRoberts]

..."definitely hear"

also whats the purpose of the e-QIP submission for patent examiners?  Is it for a security clearance?

exactly

[log5]

Curious if I would qualify for the GS-9 patent examiner postion in biological sciences or if it would be waste of time to apply.  I have a J.D. and recently received patent bar registration in biological sciences but no graduate level study in biology and no patent prosection experience.  I have many years of legal experience in other areas i.e., contracts, bankruptcy, tax, environmental law, etc.  Thanks.   

[engineerIP]

log5: usually with a JD you may qualify for a GS 9. But I don't know why anyone without any patent prosecution experience would want to start at GS 9 particularly when the production expectation is higher than a GS 7. I don't know if they fire you If you can't meet your production quota during your first year as it is a probationary period, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. However, you receive two accelerated promotions in your first year depending on your performance, so starting out at GS 7 is not a bad idea.

[log5]

Thanks engineer.  The job posting indicates it is for a 9.  If I apply do you think they would consider hiring me as a 7? 

[hamster patent]

SO...

I applied while back (like 07/16 or so) got interviewed 08/19 via phone.  I completely rocked the interview... I had some of the questions they asked already set with prepared responses.  I just read about how the interview goes and successfully predicted like half of the questions.

I am applying for GS-7 FCIP patent examiner as an EE.  I received some additional forms ( OF-306 and HSPD-12) to fill out on 08/24 and returned them promptly to the Patent Hiring Office.

I have not heard back since then.  Is anyone else in the same boat as me? 

Furthermore, can anyone who has gone through this process before tell me a time frame I should expect (I know it varies, but tell me about your experience or what you have heard)

The interviewer mentioned something about a "mid September" training date... does this depend heavily on Art Unit?  Does anyone else know of that?

Thanks in advance guys (and girl(s))

what questions did they ask?  I've looked online and i see that they ask you to describe a project youve worked on and to describe the patent process as you understand it.  what else do they ask?

[bioeng]

SO...

I applied while back (like 07/16 or so) got interviewed 08/19 via phone.  I completely rocked the interview... I had some of the questions they asked already set with prepared responses.  I just read about how the interview goes and successfully predicted like half of the questions.

I am applying for GS-7 FCIP patent examiner as an EE.  I received some additional forms ( OF-306 and HSPD-12) to fill out on 08/24 and returned them promptly to the Patent Hiring Office.

I have not heard back since then.  Is anyone else in the same boat as me? 

Furthermore, can anyone who has gone through this process before tell me a time frame I should expect (I know it varies, but tell me about your experience or what you have heard)

The interviewer mentioned something about a "mid September" training date... does this depend heavily on Art Unit?  Does anyone else know of that?

Thanks in advance guys (and girl(s))

what questions did they ask?  I've looked online and i see that they ask you to describe a project youve worked on and to describe the patent process as you understand it.  what else do they ask?

simple behavioral stuff like - have you been in a situation where your supervisor gave you some constructive criticism and how did you react? can you manage deadlines and give an example of how you keep up with multiple priorities. have you dealt with tech support over the phone ? if you mentioned that you supervised a team - then they ask about how you deal with difficult people etc.

[hamster patent]

thanks bioeng!

[u2ishorrible]

that's exactly what they ask....

Also they obviously make you talk about your resume

[physwm2501]

It seems I am in a little different boat then what I have seen from most of these posts.  I recently graduated with a bachelors in physics, and notice that most people applying for these postions have atleast a masters.  Now I missed the early deadline of I believe the 27th of August but applied on the 31st.  My question is do I have much of a chance of getting this position?  I am also only applying at the gs-5 paygrade, I do have some research and experiance working on some larger school projects.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.