Attorney Advisor (Trademark Examining Attorney) for USPTO Forum

[Anonymous User]

"Referred but not selected."

I also interviewed in the last round. I thought it went great, but no offer.
When did your status change?
Did you change up your cover letter/resume?
Mine changed to "Received" a few days after I applied and hasn't changed.

[Anonymous User]

Did not change my resume - cover letter tweaked to highlight my interest in working for the Feds (they seemed to harp on this during the interview - almost offensively so: "people tend to leave as soon as they complete the training period ... what's to stop you from doing the same?" etc.). However, I thought the interview went pretty well so who knows. I received the email last night at 10pm (bizarre) saying I was referred but not selected.

[Anonymous User]

The "Referred but not selected" emails were regarding the previous job posting that had interviews in September. The October one has not been referred yet as they are not referred until after the essay/writing sample is requested which will probably will be in next week or two.

[Anonymous User]

The "Referred but not selected" emails were regarding the previous job posting that had interviews in September. The October one has not been referred yet as they are not referred until after the essay/writing sample is requested which will probably will be in next week or two.

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

[Anonymous User]

The "Referred but not selected" emails were regarding the previous job posting that had interviews in September. The October one has not been referred yet as they are not referred until after the essay/writing sample is requested which will probably will be in next week or two.

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

My dreams are crushed.

[Anonymous User]

The "Referred but not selected" emails were regarding the previous job posting that had interviews in September. The October one has not been referred yet as they are not referred until after the essay/writing sample is requested which will probably will be in next week or two.

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

My dreams are crushed.

Don't give up. I won't.

[Anonymous User]

"Referred but not selected"

My rejection for the July posting said: "You were not selected for this position."

In an attempt to keep hope alive, was your "Referred but not selected" for this round or the previous round?

[Anonymous User]

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

Any idea what gets you into the group of folks from whom writing samples are requested?

I have no trademark experience. On the other hand, I have 2 years DOJ honors program clerkship (concluded during government hiring freeze), plus current federal clerkship (3 years), with previous summer or semester internships with three federal agencies. I emphasized my commitment to public service and writing experience. Cum laude grad, w/ law review. Live in the area.

Any realistic chance in future round?

[AlexandraJane]

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

Anyone know if it matters how early you submitted your application? That is, if you applied on the last day, is it possible the "slots" for writing samples were already allocated to earlier applicants?

[Anonymous User]

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

Any idea what gets you into the group of folks from whom writing samples are requested?

I have no trademark experience. On the other hand, I have 2 years DOJ honors program clerkship (concluded during government hiring freeze), plus current federal clerkship (3 years), with previous summer or semester internships with three federal agencies. I emphasized my commitment to public service and writing experience. Cum laude grad, w/ law review. Live in the area.

Any realistic chance in future round?

I'm not sure of your chances, but the problem might be that while you have a demonstrated commitment to federal service, it isn't necessarily to PTO. Trust me, there are lots of people in this area who want nothing more than to work for a federal agency, but don't have any interest in the kind of work that each agency does and if hired, it shows very quickly and those people tend to leave after a couple of years.

[Anonymous User]

I'm not sure of your chances, but the problem might be that while you have a demonstrated commitment to federal service, it isn't necessarily to PTO. Trust me, there are lots of people in this area who want nothing more than to work for a federal agency, but don't have any interest in the kind of work that each agency does and if hired, it shows very quickly and those people tend to leave after a couple of years.

Thanks very much - if the posting appears again, I'll try to address this point.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone been extended an interview from the latest hiring round? I haven't heard anything yet.

[Anonymous User]

I applied to the last round and was extended an interview, but I haven't heard anything about this most recent posting yet either.

[Anonymous User]

I applied to the last round and was extended an interview, but I haven't heard anything about this most recent posting yet either.

From the October round, correct? How did your interview go?

[Anonymous User]

I applied to the last round and was extended an interview, but I haven't heard anything about this most recent posting yet either.

From the October round, correct? How did your interview go?

I thought it went well but I didn't receive an offer so not really sure. So has anyone heard anything from the October posting?

[Anonymous User]

I applied to the last round and was extended an interview, but I haven't heard anything about this most recent posting yet either.

From the October round, correct? How did your interview go?

I thought it went well but I didn't receive an offer so not really sure. So has anyone heard anything from the October posting?

Congrats on at least getting to the interview stage. I haven't made it that far yet. You must have had great answers to the KSA's. I haven't heard anything from the October round either.

[Anonymous User]

Any updates for October

[Anonymous User]

Just received an email requesting a writing sample. I applied in October.

[Anonymous User]

I just got an email as well. Does anyone know how promotions work with this position? Most attorney positions with the Fed top out at gs-14, but the posting only lists promotional potential as GS-11.

[Anonymous User]

Just received an email requesting a writing sample. I applied in October.

Ditto.

[Anonymous User]

I just got an email as well. Does anyone know how promotions work with this position? Most attorney positions with the Fed top out at gs-14, but the posting only lists promotional potential as GS-11.

You are only GS 11 for the first year. Then you move up to GS12 and then start going up on a step basis. They explain all of this in the first interview.

[Anonymous User]

The "Referred but not selected" emails were regarding the previous job posting that had interviews in September. The October one has not been referred yet as they are not referred until after the essay/writing sample is requested which will probably will be in next week or two.

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

My dreams are crushed.

Don't give up. I won't.

Seems like this was not the case since I got my request for writing sample last night. Must have been another posting you were looking at or just trolling.

[Anonymous User]

The "Referred but not selected" emails were regarding the previous job posting that had interviews in September. The October one has not been referred yet as they are not referred until after the essay/writing sample is requested which will probably will be in next week or two.

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

My dreams are crushed.

Don't give up. I won't.

Seems like this was not the case since I got my request for writing sample last night. Must have been another posting you were looking at or just trolling.

Well, at least my dreams are crushed

[Anonymous User]

I just got an email as well. Does anyone know how promotions work with this position? Most attorney positions with the Fed top out at gs-14, but the posting only lists promotional potential as GS-11.

You are only GS 11 for the first year. Then you move up to GS12 and then start going up on a step basis. They explain all of this in the first interview.

So it tops out at gs-12?

[Anonymous User]

The "Referred but not selected" emails were regarding the previous job posting that had interviews in September. The October one has not been referred yet as they are not referred until after the essay/writing sample is requested which will probably will be in next week or two.

The writing samples have already been requested and the date by which they were to be submitted has passed.

My dreams are crushed.

Don't give up. I won't.

Seems like this was not the case since I got my request for writing sample last night. Must have been another posting you were looking at or just trolling.

Wasn't trolling at all. I was thinking of another posting. Anyway, congratulations!!