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

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Introduction to Using Flexibilities

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Authorities

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Implementation Guidelines

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Statutes and Regulations

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Agency Practices

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Additional Resources: Reference Manuals

Category Rating

  • The Delegated Examining Operations Handbook provides operating procedures for agencies with delegated authority to conduct examining for positions in the competitive civil service, except for administrative law judge.

Direct-Hire Authority

  • The Delegated Examining Operations Handbook explains that delegated examining authority is an authority OPM grants to agencies to fill civil service jobs. The handbook also provides step-by-step procedures for obtaining delegated examining authority. Agencies must have delegated examining authority in order to request direct-hire authority. Select this link to read about how to obtain delegated examining authority.

Student Employment

Veterans

  • OPM VetGuide explains the special rights and privileges that veterans enjoy in Federal civil service employment. The guide conveniently summarizes in one place material from many laws and regulations that affect the employment of veterans. The guide will help Federal human resources specialists ensure that veterans receive the advantages and entitlements they have earned.
  • OPM VetsInfo Guide provides general information about how the system works and how veterans' preference and the special appointing authorities for veterans operate within the system.

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Additional Resources: Memorandum

Direct-Hire Authority

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Additional Resources: Programs

Student Employment

  • Student Loan Repayment. The Federal Employees Student Loan Assistance Act (Public Law 108-123, November 11, 2003) increased the maximum amounts Federal agencies are authorized to repay under the Federal student loan repayment program. The act amended 5 U.S.C. 5379 to increase the limitation on payments authorized by an agency from $6,000 to $10,000 per employee in any calendar year and from a total of not more than $60,000 for any one employee.
  • Scholarship and Fellowship Programs. The e-Scholar Web site provides information about the wide variety of scholarship and fellowship programs throughout the U.S. Government.

Veterans

  • The Veteran Invitational Program (VIP) targets veterans nationwide by providing informative educational tools and publications to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and Federal regional offices of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Labor. The new VIP educates veterans and allows a timely and accurate distribution of information on job opportunities in the Federal workforce.

    Select this link to view the kickoff VIP address titled "A Promise Given — A Promise Kept: Providing Opportunities for Veterans in the Civil Service."

  • Disabled Veterans Enrolled in VA Training Programs, 5 CFR 315.604. Disabled veterans who are eligible for training under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) vocational rehabilitation program may enroll for training or work experience at an agency under the terms of an agreement between the agency and the VA. The veteran is not a Federal employee for most purposes while enrolled in the program, but is a beneficiary of the VA. The training is tailored to individual needs and goals so there is no set length. If the training is intended to prepare the individual for eventual appointment in the agency rather than just work experience, the agency must ensure that the training will enable the veteran to meet qualification requirements for the position.

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Additional Resources: Reports

Veterans

  • The Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government FY 2002. Most departments and agencies in the Federal Government are required to have an affirmative action program for the recruitment, employment, and advancement of disabled veterans. The law requires agencies to develop annual Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program (DVAAP) Plans.

    Each year, agencies must submit DVAAP accomplishment reports to OPM. The accomplishment reports describe agency efforts to promote the employment and job advancement opportunities for disabled veterans as well as certain veterans of the Vietnam era and of the post-Vietnam era who are qualified for such employment and advancement. The Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government Report summarizes these accomplishments.

  • Operation Transition: Year One Report. Using the San Diego community as a 12-month demonstration site, Operation Transition examined the existing military employment transition resources to develop a transitioning veterans model that can be replicated in other communities. The project defined and created local solutions that effectively bridge the gap between employers who need workers, the providers of workforce services, and the transitioning military and their spouses in need of jobs and advancement opportunities.

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Additional Resources: Web Tools

Category Rating

  • OPM's Category Rating Information Page. Provides category rating resources such as Statutes & Regulations and recent presentations on category rating.
  • The USA Staffing software system is a cost-effective means of getting the best-qualified candidates for public sector hiring in a single, integrated software solution. The complex staffing process of the public sector is simplified with this user-friendly, Web-enabled software that completely automates the recruitment, assessment, referral, and notification processes.

Direct-Hire Authority

  • Governmentwide Direct-Hire Authorities contains an updated list of Governmentwide direct-hire authorities.
  • The USA Staffing software system is a cost-effective means of getting the best-qualified candidates for public-sector hiring in a single, integrated software solution. The complex staffing process of the public sector is simplified with this user-friendly, web-enabled software that completely automates the recruitment, assessment, referral, and notification processes.

Excepted Service Employment

  • DisabilityInfo.gov. Provides information on assisting people with disabilities.
  • Federal Employment of People With Disabilities. Contains comprehensive information about people with disabilities for applicants, employees, HR professionals, and managers. Among the key topics covered are recruiting and hiring, resources, laws and Executive orders, and reasonable accommodation.
  • Statutory Exemptions. Provides a list of agencies that are exempted statutorily from competitive civil service procedures. These agencies have their own hiring criteria and procedures.

Student Employment

  • Presidential Management Fellows Program provides agencies with program guidance, OPM and agency responsibilities, training requirements, list of annual finalists, and job fair information. This Web tool also provides prospective and/or current fellows with program information and information on how to apply.
  • Presidential Management Alumni Group (PMAG) is a membership organization of former and current Presidential Management Fellows (PMFs) and others interested in recruitment and development of Federal Government career managers. PMAG sponsors professional and social activities, maintains a network among the 4,500 former PMFs, and provides support to maintain the PMF Program as the Federal Government's premier mechanism for recruiting future managers from America's graduate schools.
  • e-Scholar is an OPM Web site that provides students (high school and higher), parents, and career professionals information on different educational opportunities offered by Federal Government departments and agencies or partnering organizations.
  • Studentjobs.gov lists an array of scholarship and fellowship programs offered by agencies. The site provides a fabulous opportunity to advertise your agency with profile articles and links to your Web pages.

Veterans

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Additional Resources: News Releases

Direct-Hire Authority

Excepted Service Employment

Additional Resources: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Student Employment

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