The Interview
Process (An “at a glance” overview of the interview
process, step-by-step)
Candidate Selection
Notification of Selection
Interview Scheduling and Travel
Travel Survey (What To
Submit to Schedule Your Interview)
Scheduling
Travel Reimbursement
Reimbursement Form
Overnight Stays
Travel Memo (Detailed information about
government travel, reimbursable expenses, lodging, and your interview)
Emergency Contacts (Attorney
Recruitment Coordinators)
Dates and Times
Locations
Component Interview Locations
What to Bring to An Interview (Checklist)
Interviewers
Candidate Selection: Each participating
component nominates candidates. The Department plans to interview between
600 and 700 candidates. The total number of candidates interviewed depends
on budget limitations, the ratio of nominations to available positions,
and mission requirements.
Notification of Selection: The Department
issues notice of selection for an interview by e-mail using the e-mail
address you provided in your application. All e-mail messages from the
Department are issued from mail@avuedigitalservices.com. We recommend
that you enter this into your computer’s personal address book
to ensure that you receive messages issued on behalf of the Department
through our private contractor. Selection for an interview will also
be posted on the application website. The links below provide component
contacts and guidance about submission of pre-interview writing samples.
Attorney Recruitment
Coordinators: Individuals in each component who are
available to assist you regarding your interview.
Component Interview Requirements
Writing Samples, Resumes, and Transcript Requirements:
A chart of specific component requirements regarding submission of pre-interview materials, including where to submit a writing sample, recommended content, length, format, and subject matter. Do not submit a writing sample unless you are selected for an interview and the interviewing component requires one.
Interview Scheduling and Travel: Interview
candidates should immediately submit a Travel
Survey to permit the Department to arrange travel and schedule an
interview. Even local candidates must submit a travel
survey to schedule an interview. We strongly recommend you read
the Travel Memo, below. The Department will
pre-pay certain costs, such as commercial air or train fare. The Department
may authorize mileage reimbursement for candidates who request to travel
by personal automobile if it is cost effective to do so.
Travel Survey : Once
notified of selection, complete this form and fax it to the designated
number to schedule your interview.
Scheduling: The Conference
Center Staff (CSS) schedules interviews based on availability of commercial
travel at the government rate, the component’s interview schedule,
and the number of interviews that the candidate was selected for.
Regrettably, due to fiscal issues associated with invitational travel,
the Department cannot consider a candidate’s desire to interview
with other employers, or plans for a long weekend to take advantage
of the visit to the Washington Metropolitan Area when making travel
arrangements and/or scheduling interviews. If you have personal
issues that may impact on your travel availability (e.g., are a single
parent, are a caretaker for an elderly person, require an accommodation,
etc.), please list your concerns on your Travel
Survey to alert the CCS staff.
Travel Reimbursement: Candidates
who are in a travel status in excess of 12 hours will receive a pro-rated
per diem allowance to cover costs of meals and other incidental expenses,
subject to the rates specified in the Federal Travel Regulations.
For current per diem amounts, see www.gsa.gov.
Reimbursements are not automatic - you must submit a reimbursement
request within 5 business days after your interview using a specific reimbursement
form. Original receipts are required for lodging and expenses
totaling $75 or more.
Reimbursement Form: To
be submitted with 5 business days following interview travel when
requesting reimbursement.
Overnight stays: The Department’s
policy is to schedule all interviews so that an overnight stay is
not required; however, if an overnight stay is necessary, the Department
will authorize reimbursement for lodging at the current federal government
per diem rate. You can tell if an overnight stay is required by looking
at your travel reservations. Candidates whose flights arrive and depart
on the same date are not authorized an overnight
stay. You may not contact the airline to rebook your
flight to justify an overnight stay. You will be responsible for making
your own hotel or lodging reservations and retaining a copy of the
original receipt to submit with your reimbursement request. If you
stay with family or friends, then no reimbursement is possible. Reimbursement
entitlements will be approved in advance on a case-by-case basis.
Not all candidates will qualify for all possible authorized reimbursements.
The Department will provide specific travel information to individual
candidates with their travel itinerary and invitational travel orders.
For additional details, please review the Travel
Memo.
Travel Memo: For important
information about interviews, including schedules, locations, travel,
authorized expenses, lodging, and how to request reimbursement.
Dates and Times: Most interviews will
take place between October 6 and October 24, 2008, excluding weekends
and holidays. Interviews are conducted during regular business hours.
Locations: The majority of interviews
will be conducted in Washington, D.C. The Executive Office for Immigration
Review will interview in Falls Church, VA (part of the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area - please see special instructions in the Travel
Memo). If you are selected to interview with a U.S. Attorney's Office,
you may be asked to travel to a city within their District. Components
with field offices (e.g., Antitrust, ENRD) may offer a limited number
of interviews in cities other than Washington, D.C. Specific interview
dates, times and locations will be faxed to candidates with their travel
itinerary after their interviews are scheduled.
Component Interview Locations
Map of Washington, DC Interview Sites
What To Bring to an Interview: We
suggest the following:
— Travel Itinerary (non-local travelers only)
— Your scheduler’s name and telephone number (in case
of emergency)
— The name and telephone number of the Attorney
Recruitment Coordinator for each
component with which you
are interviewing
— Addresses of Component Interview Sites
— Updated resume and law school transcript (in case the interviewer requests a copy)
— Two forms of photo identification (for access to buildings)
— An umbrella (recommended)
— Writing sample (if specified in Writing Samples, above)
— Copy of the Travel Memo (in case
you need emergency guidance)
— Notepad and pen
Interviewers: Due to the number of
interviews and the decentralized interview process, OARM is unable to
provide the names of specific interviewers. We recommend that you request
a business card from your interviewer(s) at the close of your interview.
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