Attorney Advisor (Trademark Examining Attorney) for USPTO

[Anonymous User]

Congrats to all those who have received e-mails/phone calls. I'm still waiting Out of curiosity, were specific start dates mentioned for either incoming class? Also, has anyone else received the initial phone call/e-mail today? Keeping my fingers crossed, but honestly, getting a bit discouraged. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous User]

I received my call today. This morning at around 10 am pacific, I am in CA. I didn't ask about start dates he just said it was for the May class. I am guessing first week of May.

[Anonymous User]

Congrats to all those who have received e-mails/phone calls. I'm still waiting Out of curiosity, were specific start dates mentioned for either incoming class? Also, has anyone else received the initial phone call/e-mail today? Keeping my fingers crossed, but honestly, getting a bit discouraged. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Its Feb 22nd for the early class.

[Anonymous User]

Congrats to all those who have received e-mails/phone calls. I'm still waiting Out of curiosity, were specific start dates mentioned for either incoming class? Also, has anyone else received the initial phone call/e-mail today? Keeping my fingers crossed, but honestly, getting a bit discouraged. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

My best advice to you if it doesn't pan out for you this time: Keep trying.

I literally applied for this job four different times; this go-round was my third time interviewing for it (which is why I'm so impatient to hear back about a final offer/not banking on anything until I get a final offer, just because I kinda can't believe it yet.)

If you really want it, don't give up. Be patient and persistent.

Good luck to you

[Anonymous User]

[quote="Anonymous User"][quote="Anonymous User"]Congrats to all those who have received e-mails/phone calls. I'm still waiting :( Out of curiosity, were specific start dates mentioned for either incoming class? Also, has anyone else received the initial phone call/e-mail today? Keeping my fingers crossed, but honestly, getting a bit discouraged. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated![/quote]

My best advice to you if it doesn't pan out for you this time: Keep trying.

I literally applied for this job four different times; this go-round was my third time interviewing for it (which is why I'm so impatient to hear back about a final offer/not banking on anything [i]until[/i] I get a final offer, just because I kinda can't believe it yet.)

If you really want it, don't give up. Be patient and persistent.

Good luck to you :)[/quote]

You are my hero. This go-round was my second time, and a few members of the interview panel made it quite clear that they had seen me before (which was a little awkward) but I tried to use it to my advantage as it shows dedication. If I do not receive a call, I will be applying when the position is posted again.

[Anonymous User]

Start date for the May class is May 2.

This was my fourth or fifth time applying and second time interviewing. So definitely don't give up if it's a position you really want.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks to each of you who have provided information regarding start dates and/or for the encouragement to not give up. Makes me feel like I'm not alone in this boat. This was my second time interviewing and I was a former intern.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, February class starts on the 22. Got my official offer phone call today, paperwork to follow. I have a feeling all calls/emails have not quite been done yet. While they are trying to get everything squared away, the snow storm in DC has really wreaked havoc on schedules.

[Anonymous User]

Did anyone who received an offer interview for this position more than once? I see several posters saying they interviewed more than once, but I'm wondering if there is a realistic chance that repeated interviewing could ultimately result in an offer.

[Anonymous User]

[quote="Anonymous User"]Did anyone who received an offer interview for this position more than once? I see several posters saying they interviewed more than once, but I'm wondering if there is a realistic chance that repeated interviewing could ultimately result in an offer.[/quote]

The dude/tte above just said they interviewed three times and received a phone call this time around.

[Anonymous User]

I know a managing attorney there that was offered a job on his third time through. He just kept trying. I thinking applying multiple times is in no way unheard of. In my interview, they specifically asked me how many times I had applied for the job.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know the extent of the background check? I assume that they check your credit and if you owe any money to the IRS or any other federal agency, student loans, etc. Anything else?

[Anonymous User]

From what I understand, the position does not require a security clearance of any kind, so it is probably a generic background check.

[Anonymous User]

I have applied 4 times, interviewed all 4 times to the last interview. And I finally got my first reference check call today after the 4 th time around. All it takes is for you to connect with one of the interviewers one of those times.

So you can interview multiple times and you still have a chance. There is just so much competition. If anything the multiple interviews help because they get to know you even better and know you are committed to it. In my interview we joked about them having seen me before and how they really didn't need to do the intro stuff because they knew I knew it already.

[Anonymous User]

Congrats to all those that received calls and emails, especially those that persevered through multiple cycles. Amazing for all of you.

[Anonymous User]

So for those of us who didn't get a email/call, should we consider this done and done?

[CamgLaw]

Has anyone contacted the USPTO for a status update? I tried yesterday but couldn't contact anyone.

[Anonymous User]

I have applied 4 times, interviewed all 4 times to the last interview. And I finally got my first reference check call today after the 4 th time around. All it takes is for you to connect with one of the interviewers one of those times.

Congrats! Smart move on your part sticking with them. I agree about the connection - I think the thing is to really focus on each person as they ask you a question. I think I sometimes tried to respond to the group as a whole, which as I think about it, means I missed a chance to connect with that one person who asked the question. Lesson learned.

[Anonymous User]

So for those of us who didn't get a email/call, should we consider this done and done?

I'm guessing at this point it would take someone who got an offer either declining or failing the reference check, thereby opening up a slot.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know what the "background check" consists of? Actually know, not just supposition?

It seems like they are cutting this very close since some people haven't gotten their okay from HR and the Feb class starts in 3 weeks.

[Anonymous User]

The background check goes on while you are working. I have a friend who started in the last class (Oct/Nov?) and his background check is still going on. They need the paperwork to start it now, but it won't be finished by the time February class starts.

[Anonymous User]

Wow, that is a really long background check investigation process. I too am very curious at to what it entails.

Has anyone received offers calls from HR for the May class? My references were checked but I am still waiting to hear from HR.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone received offers calls from HR for the May class? My references were checked but I am still waiting to hear from HR.

I know at least two of my four references were contacted yesterday. I haven't heard anything from HR yet. I wish I'd at least get some indication from the managing attorney that everything checked out and they're just waiting on HR.

[Anonymous User]

Just wondering, those with offers, what did you talk about when they asked about doing volume work efficiently? I'm a law clerk, and I don't know that this experience translated well. Thanks very much.

I'm the first one who posted about getting an email about references the other day. I spent 2 years as a law clerk to an ALJ and over 6 years as a staff attorney at a federal appeals court. I was a little nervous about how to handle questions about the production requirements because my experience doesn't really translate either. I just really hammered that I met/exceeded my monthly production requirements at the fed. ct., that my prior positions helped me develop the ability to balance quality and production, and that I was ready to take on the challenges of a fast-paced work environment because I take more personal satisfaction in my work when I'm able to accomplish a lot of tasks (one of the interviewers had said something about looking for people who take personal satisfaction in their work). I mentioned that one of the downsides of my prior positions was that some cases took a long time to work up because of the subject matter, and that I didn't feel as accomplished in my work in those situations as when I was able to churn through cases quickly.

Thank you - this was extremely helpful. Do you recall anything about them pushing you on how you would handle a situation when you and your mentor differed on the outcome of an examination? They seemed intent on this, and I haven't had substantive differences with my boss on the outcomes of cases.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone feel like one interviewer, the person on your immediate left, played a somewhat bad cop role - emphasizing that they only wanted to higher the best of the best, and pushing you to sell yourself as such? Any good way to respond to this, without obvious self-promotion?