AUSA/USAO hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello anyone with an offer/position willing to share their hiring timeline? Just curious applicant....

Sure. I had 3 interviews (and something tells me my timelines are highly unusual).

USAO #1
“Referred to hiring manager” -> request for the first interview: 2 weeks.
1st round of interviews -> rejection: next day.

USAO #2
“Referred to hiring manager” -> request for the first interview: 5 weeks.
1st round of interviews -> invitation to the 2nd round: within 1 hour after the first round.
Second round scheduled: 2 days after the first one.
2nd round -> offer: the day after the 2nd round.

USAO #3

“Referred to hiring manager” -> request for the first interview: 4 weeks.
1st round of interviews -> invitation to the 2nd round: within 2 hours after the first round.
Second round scheduled: the next day after the first one.
2nd round -> offer: within 10 minutes of the interview, accepted when directly asked by the USA.

For the offices where you had multiple rounds, could you explain, broadly, how the first rounds and second rounds differed?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement at USAO-DC in the last month?

[Anonymous User]

Hello anyone with an offer/position willing to share their hiring timeline? Just curious applicant....

Sure. I had 3 interviews (and something tells me my timelines are highly unusual).

USAO #1
“Referred to hiring manager” -> request for the first interview: 2 weeks.
1st round of interviews -> rejection: next day.

USAO #2
“Referred to hiring manager” -> request for the first interview: 5 weeks.
1st round of interviews -> invitation to the 2nd round: within 1 hour after the first round.
Second round scheduled: 2 days after the first one.
2nd round -> offer: the day after the 2nd round.

USAO #3

“Referred to hiring manager” -> request for the first interview: 4 weeks.
1st round of interviews -> invitation to the 2nd round: within 2 hours after the first round.
Second round scheduled: the next day after the first one.
2nd round -> offer: within 10 minutes of the interview, accepted when directly asked by the USA.

For the offices where you had multiple rounds, could you explain, broadly, how the first rounds and second rounds differed?

Surprisingly, the same experience for both offices despite them being on the opposite sides of the country:

1st round: a panel of 5-6 people who have been working in the office for 15+ years, including the division chief (criminal or civil); run of the mill personality fit questions; a couple of hypotheticals; a couple of questions about my litigation experiences.

2nd round: nakedly political; the US Attorneys in the both offices basically said "the panel really liked you and wants to bring you on board, I am just making sure I am hiring somebody who supports--and wants to advance--the current administration's agenda.

[Anonymous User]

For the offices where you had multiple rounds, could you explain, broadly, how the first rounds and second rounds differed?

Not the person you were asking, but fwiw, it’s pretty standard that you do an initial round, which is a panel interview with various folks in management/line AUSAs (often by video), and then a second round, in person, with the US Attorney. Basically, you can’t get hired without interviewing with the USA, but they will only interview finalists.

In my experience, during the second round, the meeting with the USA is the only proper “interview,” but you would likely meet with other AUSAs as well, just less formally. They will probably ask you questions, but not questions that the office has prepared for all candidates, if that makes sense.

The panel interview is generally going to be your classic interview process, although some offices may give you an assignment of some kind (one office had me prepare answers to hypos, a friend interviewed with an office that made you do a mock opening or close, I can’t remember which).

The USA interview will be highly dependent on the USA’s personality. Chances are good they’ll ask the usual kinds of things, but you kind of can’t really know.

[Anonymous User]

How long's the preliminary background check take after you submit the SF-86?

[Anonymous User]

How long's the preliminary background check take after you submit the SF-86?

It's been 1 month since the TJO and they are still investigating something on my end. I was hoping it would be quicker since I am moving from a different federal agency that requires a higher security clearance than the USAO I am joining, but I guess that doesn't matter!

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard anything from EDVA?