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[chemistry major]

Hi everyone.  I'm graduating next month with a B.S. in chemistry and I was wondering how good my chances of getting hired by the US patent office are.  I'm looking for a job as an examiner and have just started the application.  Does the patent office ever hire people with only an undergraduate degree?  I have had two years of biochem research experience and an internship in another government office. Thank you to anyone that replies!

[Wolfcastle]

The USPTO hires mostly people with just undergraduate degrees. The PTO has been on a hiring binge recently, and I believe they are still actively recruiting. I was at a conference in March and someone mentioned that in one art, the expected time to a first office action was over 10 years(For those of you wondering I believe it was either in an area of  business practices or computer something-or-other).  Now thats an extreme case, but there are many areas that desperately need more people.

[Isaac]

The USPTO hires mostly people with just undergraduate degrees. The PTO has been on a hiring binge recently, and I believe they are still actively recruiting. I was at a conference in March and someone mentioned that in one art, the expected time to a first office action was over 10 years(For those of you wondering I believe it was either in an area of  business practices or computer something-or-other).  Now thats an extreme case, but there are many areas that desperately need more people.

The only place I've heard times to first office actions that large is in the PTOs dour predictions used to justify their proposed changes to examination practice.

I think something around 4 years is the conventionally cited number.

[Wolfcastle]

You're right Isaac, I believe that was the source of the numbers cited, and to be fair, it was the most extreme of a likely over exaggerated set of numbers. Still, the point remains that there is a big backlog and the USPTO is trying to hire a lot of new people.

[Isaac]

The USPTO does appear to be subject some kind of budget driven hiring cycle.   At times during the past few years there have been temporary hiring freezes despite the ever increasing backlog.

In any event, your point is well taken.  The backlog is huge by any reasonable measure.