The MSPB conducted this study to find ways to improve the Federal Government ability to compete with other employers for highly skilled, well experienced and much sought after workers. This report presents findings on the hiring of new employees at the upper level grades 12 13, 14, and 15 in the General Schedule or equivalent in fiscal year 2005 and offers a number of recommendations that agencies and policy makers may consider to improve the hiring of highly skilled workers.
Agency website: https://www.mspb.gov/
Executive Summary i
Introduction 1
Purpose and Focus of the Study 1
Scope and Methodology 2
Why Supervisors Hire From Outside 5
Who Were the Upper Level New Hires 9
Average Age 11
Educational Attainment 12
Supervisory Level 12
Work Background 13
Women and Minorities 14
How They Were Hired 19
Excepted Service Hiring 19
Competitive Service Hiring 20
Competitive Examining 20
Direct Hire 21
Veterans Hiring 22
Achieving a Representative Workforce 24
How They Learned About Job Vacancies 27
Why They Applied for Their Jobs 29
Reasons for Applying for Federal Jobs 30
Job Security 30
Mission of Agency and Public Service 30
Desire to Fully Utilize Talents and Have a Better Job 31
Government’s Benefits and Pay 32
Strengths of Federal Employment 32
Recruitment Incentives 34
The Importance of Knowing Applicants’ Motivations. 35
How They Were Assessed 37
Meeting Minimum Qualification Requirements 37
Evaluating Applicants for Minimum Qualifications 38
Using Selective Factors 38
HR Staff Expertise and Managers’ Involvement 40
Barriers and Challenges Encountered by Supervisors
and New Hires 43
Length of the Hiring Process 43
Complexity of the Application Process 46
Conclusions and Recommendations 49
Appendix. PATCOB Definitions 53
Federal employees, their supervisors, agency management, union personnel, especially Human Capital officers and employees across the U.S. Federal Government may be interested in this report. Additionally, members of Congress, and Federal managers within the Office of Management and Budget, and Office of Personnel Management that is responsible for policy making authority may find this guide helpful as a reference with human resources and civil service matters. Additionally, students pursuing research for courses within these fields, especially public administration, human resources, employment law, organizational development, and industrial-organizational psychology may find this primary source document that deals with civil service issues helpful for assignments.
