DOJ Honors 2013 Forum

[Anonymous User]

FWIW - I know a few folks who interviewed with OCIJ who said they have been selected as a finalist and their references have been contacted.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard from EOIR-OCAHO, EOIR-OLAP, or EOIR-OCG?

[Anonymous User]

I was selected as a finalist for a non-OCIJ position but my references have not been contacted.

[Anonymous User]

I was selected as a finalist for a non-OCIJ position but my references have not been contacted.

In EOIR?

[Anonymous User]

I was selected as a finalist for a non-OCIJ position but my references have not been contacted.

In EOIR?

Yes, and not at the BIA

[Anonymous User]

BIA finalist here, no word yet.

[Anonymous User]

BIA finalist here, no word yet.

BIA interviewee here as well. No word about references or anything. I was selected as a finalist, but not sure if by BIA or another component (I was interviewed by more than one). To the other BIA finalist above, have you been officially "Selected as a Finalist"?

[Anonymous User]

BIA finalist here, no word yet.

BIA finalist here as well. No word about references or anything. To the other BIA finalist above, have you been officially "Selected as a Finalist"?

Yes. Though I'm beginning to suspect that everyone who interviewed was.

[Anonymous User]

BIA finalist here, no word yet.

BIA finalist here as well. No word about references or anything. To the other BIA finalist above, have you been officially "Selected as a Finalist"?

Yes. Though I'm beginning to suspect that everyone who interviewed was.

I am thinking you are correct. According to my math, the BIA interviewed 16 people for the four spots. Therefore, there is about a 50/50 chance that one of us will be tapped (I think . . . that math is more fancy than just simple multiplication). I wonder if the BIA has checked any references yet. I know they have not checked mine.

[Anonymous User]

I am thinking you are correct. According to my math, the BIA interviewed 16 people for the four spots. Therefore, there is about a 50/50 chance that one of us will be tapped (I think . . . that math is more fancy than just simple multiplication). I wonder if the BIA has checked any references yet. I know they have not checked mine.

Did the other component you interviewed with contact references?

[Anonymous User]

I am thinking you are correct. According to my math, the BIA interviewed 16 people for the four spots. Therefore, there is about a 50/50 chance that one of us will be tapped (I think . . . that math is more fancy than just simple multiplication). I wonder if the BIA has checked any references yet. I know they have not checked mine.

Did the other component you interviewed with contact references?

Yes. Did you interview with any other components?

[Anonymous User]

Anybody get an actual offer from Crim?

[Anonymous User]

BIA finalist here, no word yet.

BIA finalist here as well. No word about references or anything. To the other BIA finalist above, have you been officially "Selected as a Finalist"?

Yes. Though I'm beginning to suspect that everyone who interviewed was.

Why would they select EVERYONE they interviewed with as a finalist?

[Anonymous User]

I'm a finalist (found out on Thursday, I think) for EOIR. Not OCIJ and not BIA. Anyone else? None of my references have been contacted, though. My friend who was offered OCIJ (and not at one of her top 5 locations either) was offered the position the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in the last cycle, so I'm hoping we'll all hear this week. But if my references haven't been contacted yet, I have a feeling I'm an alternate.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a finalist (found out on Thursday, I think) for EOIR. Not OCIJ and not BIA. Anyone else? None of my references have been contacted, though. My friend who was offered OCIJ (and not at one of her top 5 locations either) was offered the position the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in the last cycle, so I'm hoping we'll all hear this week. But if my references haven't been contacted yet, I have a feeling I'm an alternate.

I'm in the same boat - from people on this board it doesn't seem like OCAHO/OLAP/OCG has called references yet like OCIJ so I would retain hope . Has anyone interviewed for any of those offices and NOT been selected as a finalist?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard from ENRD? Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a finalist (found out on Thursday, I think) for EOIR. Not OCIJ and not BIA. Anyone else? None of my references have been contacted, though. My friend who was offered OCIJ (and not at one of her top 5 locations either) was offered the position the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in the last cycle, so I'm hoping we'll all hear this week. But if my references haven't been contacted yet, I have a feeling I'm an alternate.

I'm in the same boat - from people on this board it doesn't seem like OCAHO/OLAP/OCG has called references yet like OCIJ so I would retain hope . Has anyone interviewed for any of those offices and NOT been selected as a finalist?

Good to know I'm not alone. I'll post if I hear anything, either way!

[Anonymous User]

I'm a finalist (found out on Thursday, I think) for EOIR. Not OCIJ and not BIA. Anyone else? None of my references have been contacted, though. My friend who was offered OCIJ (and not at one of her top 5 locations either) was offered the position the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in the last cycle, so I'm hoping we'll all hear this week. But if my references haven't been contacted yet, I have a feeling I'm an alternate.

I'm in the same boat - from people on this board it doesn't seem like OCAHO/OLAP/OGC has called references yet like OCIJ so I would retain hope . Has anyone interviewed for any of those offices and NOT been selected as a finalist?

I interviewed with one of those offices, and have been selected as a finalist, but I also interviewed with OCIJ, so I don't know who's selected me as a finalist. I haven't heard that anyone's contacted my references (which, like the poster above, I tend to see as a bad sign - but I'm a pessimist, so...). (Will certainly update if I learn more!)

[Anonymous User]

BIA finalist here, no word yet.

BIA finalist here as well. No word about references or anything. To the other BIA finalist above, have you been officially "Selected as a Finalist"?

Yes. Though I'm beginning to suspect that everyone who interviewed was.

Why would they select EVERYONE they interviewed with as a finalist?

Logically I'm not sure, but they only interviewed 16 people for BIA and everyone who posts here who was interviewed was also selected as a finalist. Plus they need to have at least an offer and an alternate for each spot. I heard it was more like two alternates per spot so maybe there are four people who interviewed with BIA but weren't selected as finalists and don't post here.

[Anonymous User]

BIA finalist here, no word yet.

BIA finalist here as well. No word about references or anything. To the other BIA finalist above, have you been officially "Selected as a Finalist"?

Yes. Though I'm beginning to suspect that everyone who interviewed was.

Why would they select EVERYONE they interviewed with as a finalist?

Finalist status just means the component has approval from OARM and the political appointees to extend an offer to the applicant. Some components only send their top choices to OARM for approval, but others seem to send all their interviewees (maybe because it gives them more freedom to decide on who to hire after the finalist approval deadline has passed).

If you're a finalist, it just means OARM doesn't have a problem with you getting hired. It doesn't necessarily mean you're a top contender or anything. After a component requests finalist approval, OARM mostly just rubber stamps things unless they have some reason for screening the candidate out.

[Anonymous User]

Finalist status just means the component has approval from OARM and the political appointees to extend an offer to the applicant. Some components only send their top choices to OARM for approval, but others seem to send all their interviewees (maybe because it gives them more freedom to decide on who to hire after the finalist approval deadline has passed).

If you're a finalist, it just means OARM doesn't have a problem with you getting hired. It doesn't necessarily mean you're a top contender or anything. After a component requests finalist approval, OARM mostly just rubber stamps things unless they have some reason for screening the candidate out.

Well, that's depressing.

[Anonymous User]

Finalist status just means the component has approval from OARM and the political appointees to extend an offer to the applicant. Some components only send their top choices to OARM for approval, but others seem to send all their interviewees (maybe because it gives them more freedom to decide on who to hire after the finalist approval deadline has passed).

If you're a finalist, it just means OARM doesn't have a problem with you getting hired. It doesn't necessarily mean you're a top contender or anything. After a component requests finalist approval, OARM mostly just rubber stamps things unless they have some reason for screening the candidate out.

I'm not sure about the finalist approval deadline, though. According to OARM,

We hope that components complete their selections in the next few days but they have the discretion to add finalists at any time. Most will finalize their selections by next week.

[Anonymous User]

Though I am usually a pessimist, I don't know that if your references haven't been contacted for OCIJ yet, that you won't be offered a position. Logistically speaking, contacting 3 references for 55-60 applicants has to take a while. I think we could see this process going on until at least second week of December.

[Anonymous User]

Though I am usually a pessimist, I don't know that if your references haven't been contacted for OCIJ yet, that you won't be offered a position. Logistically speaking, contacting 3 references for 55-60 applicants has to take a while. I think we could see this process going on until at least second week of December.

OCIJ seems to be contacting them by email, so it may not take too terribly long.

[Anonymous User]

Any phones ring yet?