Attorney Advisor (Trademark Examining Attorney) for USPTO Forum

[Anonymous User]

No interview email here. May try again next go around but this was my fourth time. Good luck to all that got an interview!

I heard interview requests go out in waves. I have not heard anything yet either. For those that got interview requests, when did you submit a written response?

I submitted my written response at 11:59pm on the due date. Is there information on how they do the waves? It may be alphabetical or something arbitrary like that. I'm an "H" last name.

[Anonymous User]

No interview email here. May try again next go around but this was my fourth time. Good luck to all that got an interview!

I heard interview requests go out in waves. I have not heard anything yet either. For those that got interview requests, when did you submit a written response?

I submitted my written response at 11:59pm on the due date. Is there information on how they do the waves? It may be alphabetical or something arbitrary like that. I'm an "H" last name.

Similar- I submitted my response at 11:57pm on the due date! I am "M" last name. Does your usa jobs profile reflect the written statement was submitted (mine does not) or did you get an email from Pholanda Jackson confirming receipt (I got an email)?

[Anonymous User]

No interview email here. May try again next go around but this was my fourth time. Good luck to all that got an interview!

I heard interview requests go out in waves. I have not heard anything yet either. For those that got interview requests, when did you submit a written response?

I submitted my written response at 11:59pm on the due date. Is there information on how they do the waves? It may be alphabetical or something arbitrary like that. I'm an "H" last name.

Similar- I submitted my response at 11:57pm on the due date! I am "M" last name. Does your usa jobs profile reflect the written statement was submitted (mine does not) or did you get an email from Pholanda Jackson confirming receipt (I got an email)?

I received an email right after I sent mine saying it was received. I received that after midnight, so I messaged Ms. Jackson the next day to make sure it was received on time, she confirmed that it was timely.

[Anonymous User]

In a new and exciting twist this cycle, rejection letters are pre-drafted and were briefly already available online. I went on USAjobs and clicked through to "track my application," which took me to the USPTO site, and at the top of a list of subjects (above the written statement request) was one dated February 24 for the usual "referred not selected" garbage. The last time i got an email like that, it arrived the same day the job was re-posted for the next cycle and close in time to when the position started. I suspect this pre-written memo is meant to only be viewable internally by USPTO staff. I actually checked back ten minutes later, and the referred not selected subject dated Feb. 24 is now gone, with the request for the written statement back at the top.

Cruel optimism: A relation of cruel optimism exists when something you desire is actually an obstacle to your flourishing.

[Anonymous User]

No interview email here. May try again next go around but this was my fourth time. Good luck to all that got an interview!

The conventional wisdom re all gov't jobs is: if you really want it, keep applying. I know of someone eventually hired who applied nine times. The only issue is time--this agency likes fresh meat, and age discrimination is apparent. The ideal candidate is Generation Z, just graduated from any law school, knows little to nothing about trademark law, has little to no business communication experience.

[Anonymous User]

In a new and exciting twist this cycle, rejection letters are pre-drafted and were briefly already available online. I went on USAjobs and clicked through to "track my application," which took me to the USPTO site, and at the top of a list of subjects (above the written statement request) was one dated February 24 for the usual "referred not selected" garbage. The last time i got an email like that, it arrived the same day the job was re-posted for the next cycle and close in time to when the position started. I suspect this pre-written memo is meant to only be viewable internally by USPTO staff. I actually checked back ten minutes later, and the referred not selected subject dated Feb. 24 is now gone, with the request for the written statement back at the top.

Cruel optimism: A relation of cruel optimism exists when something you desire is actually an obstacle to your flourishing.

Update--I confirmed that Feb. 24, 2022 is the date on which I received the "referred, not selected" email from Pholanda Jackson last year (the last time I applied). Perhaps that is what I was seeing at the top of my application after clicking through to the USPTO site. That makes infinitely more sense than a pre-drafted memo not timed as usual in this process. I'm still not holding out hope, however.

[Anonymous User]

In a new and exciting twist this cycle, rejection letters are pre-drafted and were briefly already available online. I went on USAjobs and clicked through to "track my application," which took me to the USPTO site, and at the top of a list of subjects (above the written statement request) was one dated February 24 for the usual "referred not selected" garbage. The last time i got an email like that, it arrived the same day the job was re-posted for the next cycle and close in time to when the position started. I suspect this pre-written memo is meant to only be viewable internally by USPTO staff. I actually checked back ten minutes later, and the referred not selected subject dated Feb. 24 is now gone, with the request for the written statement back at the top.

Cruel optimism: A relation of cruel optimism exists when something you desire is actually an obstacle to your flourishing.

Update--I confirmed that Feb. 24, 2022 is the date on which I received the "referred, not selected" email from Pholanda Jackson last year (the last time I applied). Perhaps that is what I was seeing at the top of my application after clicking through to the USPTO site. That makes infinitely more sense than a pre-drafted memo not timed as usual in this process. I'm still not holding out hope, however.

I am glad it was from last year! Stay positive. It is pretty quiet here, maybe the rollout is slow.

[Anonymous User]

In a new and exciting twist this cycle, rejection letters are pre-drafted and were briefly already available online. I went on USAjobs and clicked through to "track my application," which took me to the USPTO site, and at the top of a list of subjects (above the written statement request) was one dated February 24 for the usual "referred not selected" garbage. The last time i got an email like that, it arrived the same day the job was re-posted for the next cycle and close in time to when the position started. I suspect this pre-written memo is meant to only be viewable internally by USPTO staff. I actually checked back ten minutes later, and the referred not selected subject dated Feb. 24 is now gone, with the request for the written statement back at the top.

Cruel optimism: A relation of cruel optimism exists when something you desire is actually an obstacle to your flourishing.

Update--I confirmed that Feb. 24, 2022 is the date on which I received the "referred, not selected" email from Pholanda Jackson last year (the last time I applied). Perhaps that is what I was seeing at the top of my application after clicking through to the USPTO site. That makes infinitely more sense than a pre-drafted memo not timed as usual in this process. I'm still not holding out hope, however.

I am glad it was from last year! Stay positive. It is pretty quiet here, maybe the rollout is slow.

Thanks for the encouragement--I really appreciate it! This process really grinds me down.

[Anonymous User]

Happy Friday! Has anyone else received an interview request email? I know one person posted that they did earlier this week. The wait every time makes me very antsy.

[Anonymous User]

Happy Friday! Has anyone else received an interview request email? I know one person posted that they did earlier this week. The wait every time makes me very antsy.

I received an interview request email on Tuesday for a slot early next week. I have a last name early in the alphabet.

[Anonymous User]

Happy Friday! Has anyone else received an interview request email? I know one person posted that they did earlier this week. The wait every time makes me very antsy.

Unscientific poll: For those who received interview invitations, how many of you are first-time applicants or have applied before but never gotten an interview? For those still waiting, how many of you have interviewed before, especially during the pandemic/past few cycles? I have a hunch that for the past few cycles the powers that be have been looking for more new faces.

[Anonymous User]

Happy Friday! Has anyone else received an interview request email? I know one person posted that they did earlier this week. The wait every time makes me very antsy.

Unscientific poll: For those who received interview invitations, how many of you are first-time applicants or have applied before but never gotten an interview? For those still waiting, how many of you have interviewed before, especially during the pandemic/past few cycles? I have a hunch that for the past few cycles the powers that be have been looking for more new faces.

I am a first-time applicant and have received an interview invitation.

[Anonymous User]

Are we still working on the assumption interview invites will go out about the same time they did last week? As in Tuesday around 3?

[Anonymous User]

Are we still working on the assumption interview invites will go out about the same time they did last week? As in Tuesday around 3?

I don't know if we can make that assumption (or any assumptions actually - embrace the chaos). The first time I did the process I got my interview invite on a Friday at nearly 8pm CST (New Years Eve), I did not get an interview invite last time. I am not holding my breath this time around. As someone mentioned earlier, it feels like there is some anti experience bias, and I have a significant amount of experience outside of trademarks.

[Anonymous User]

I am a seasoned trademark attorney about 20 yrs out of law school. Fourth time applying, fourth time submitting written response, last interviewed in Jan 2021, no offer. With other submissions, never got asked to interview again. I believe there is an age and experience bias. I also am not holding my breath on getting an interview request. I believe this ship has sailed for me but I keep trying as once you train, the flexibility and benefits can’t be beat. And I am mid alphabet.

[Anonymous User]

Are we still working on the assumption interview invites will go out about the same time they did last week? As in Tuesday around 3?

I don't know if we can make that assumption (or any assumptions actually - embrace the chaos). The first time I did the process I got my interview invite on a Friday at nearly 8pm CST (New Years Eve), I did not get an interview invite last time. I am not holding my breath this time around. As someone mentioned earlier, it feels like there is some anti experience bias, and I have a significant amount of experience outside of trademarks.

I second all of the above. There is no reason to assume more invitations are forthcoming at all and no pattern re waves to be deduced from this forum. My past invitations were received on various weekdays around 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

[Anonymous User]

As someone who got an interview: This is my first time applying, I have no trademark experience, and I have been licensed 9 years this month.

Significantly, I'm currently an AA (grouped broadly a a "decision writer" with non-attorneys who do the same work) at the SSA disability hearing office. I have been told that they often have a special interest in SSA decision writers (and AAs at the Appeals Council level) since we are used to working on a quota-type system, have federal telework experience, and are used to routine, and often monotonous, work.

I hate to hear that there is evidence of ageism and a prejudice against experience. I'm hoping to apply again if I don't get it, and that's disheartening

[Anonymous User]

I am a seasoned trademark attorney about 20 yrs out of law school. Fourth time applying, fourth time submitting written response, last interviewed in Jan 2021, no offer. With other submissions, never got asked to interview again. I believe there is an age and experience bias. I also am not holding my breath on getting an interview request. I believe this ship has sailed for me but I keep trying as once you train, the flexibility and benefits can’t be beat. And I am mid alphabet.

If the USPTO is going to continue to hire the way it does, throwing away hundreds of (over)qualified attorneys because it only wants young blood, then it should only hire law clerks. "Despite decades of research finding that age does not predict ability or performance, employers often fall back on precisely the ageist stereotypes the ADEA was enacted to prohibit."
https://www.eeoc.gov/reports/state-age- ... employment

[Anonymous User]

So it's been a silent week for everyone then?

[Anonymous User]

to those of you who did interviewes this week, how was the interview??

[Anonymous User]

Start date for this class is April 24 - Offers expected to go out in early March

[Anonymous User]

Assuming this process is like past cycles then we should be expecting for interview invites to go out again this month?

[Anonymous User]

First time applying to this position--if we didn't get an interview invite on 1/31, should we assume that we're not being considered for the position?

[Anonymous User]

First time applying to this position--if we didn't get an interview invite on 1/31, should we assume that we're not being considered for the position?

Crickets. It is oddly quiet unless most people that got interviews are not on here? So curious!

[Anonymous User]

Assuming this process is like past cycles then we should be expecting for interview invites to go out again this month?

If they do go out again I wonder if the remaining spots to fill in the class will be even more _competitive_ (in the random, backwards way that this position is "competitive").