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U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

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HiringToolkit

Recruit Top Talent

Posting a job announcement to satisfy public notice requirements may not be enough.  To hire top talent, we must actively recruit in ways that appeal to highly qualified individuals. 

The job announcement is not only a marketing tool – it’s also the first step in the assessment process, as it is the basis upon which potential applicants determine whether or not they meet the requirements of the job.  This is why it is so important to clearly articulate the requirements for skills and experience, sell the position, and pursue candidates in the right places.

Use these tools to attract a larger applicant pool of quality candidates.

  • Career Patterns
    Federal human capital managers are facing increasing competition in attracting and retaining talented men and women to work in the civilian workforce. To meet this challenge, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has developed the Career Patterns initiative - a new approach for bringing the next generation of employees into Federal Government positions.

  • Job Posting Quick Reference PDF formatted document [61.7 kb]
    Quick tips to improve job postings, including what to link and action words to use.

  • Job Posting Generic Template PDF formatted document [65.4 kb]
    Suggestions for crafting compelling, plain English job postings. Because systems may differ across agencies, tailor this generic template to suit your specific needs.

  • Job Posting Wizard
    Flash Flash document [104 kb] | HTML HTML document [7 kb]
    An interactive tool to help you identify the parts of a job announcement that can be improved – and then actually improve them!

       Student Recruitment Programs
  • Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)
    Helps agencies recruit exceptional individuals into a variety of occupations at the GS-5, GS-7, and GS-9 grade levels.

  • Student Educational Employment Program
    Provides Federal employment opportunities to students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment as degree-seeking students.

  • Student Jobs
    Provides information on Federal Government job opportunities.

  • Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) Program
    Attracts to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in and commitment to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.

  • Superior Qualifications and Special Needs Pay-Setting Authority
    Explains how appointing a job candidate to a GS-11 position at a pay rate above the minimum can be justified by the candidate's superior qualifications, his or her current pay, and a special need within the Government for the candidate's services.

     Recruitment Case Studies
     How other agencies recruit top talent.

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An HR professional describes Federal job opportunities to a prospective applicant.

Five Things Job Seekers Want from You:

  1. Concise, plainly written job descriptions that “get to the point” of what the job really entails.

  2. A bulleted list of exactly what an applicant needs to know or have accomplished to qualify for the job.

  3. Capability of applying online using a resume created through USAJOBS.

  4. Layman’s terms in job descriptions – no jargon.

  5. Confirmation that an application was received and timely updates about where in the process the application is – even if it’s been passed over.

Each year, senior leaders at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) make more than 50 visits to college campuses to meet prospective applicants face to face and promote career opportunities available at the agency.

After the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) redesigned its website to be more welcoming and informative to job seekers, more than double the usual number of job applicants visited the site.