Titles are not to include “jargon, abbreviations or acronyms that will be difficult for non-governmental job seekers to understand”. Image: mtkang/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffOPM has told agencies to put in plain language federal job titles both for current employees and in recruiting – and to cut out jargon that can hamper the public’s understanding of the position’s duties.
Job vacancy announcements are to use “descriptive, organizational, or functional job titles that resonate with jobseekers” written in a way to “ensure individuals outside of the federal government can easily match their skills to the role” and “accurately convey the nature of the position and the skills sought by the agency,” OPM said in a memo on opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos.
Those titles are not to include “jargon, abbreviations or acronyms that will be difficult for non-governmental job seekers to understand” and are not to be “merely generic or non-descriptive in nature.”
It says for example that rather than listing a vacancy by title and series—such as IT Specialist, GS-2210—agencies should use a descriptive or functional title—such as, in that case, artificial intelligence/machine learning engineer. Similarly, instead of Human Resources Specialist, GS-0201, agencies should announce that they are seeking a recruiter.
“In addition to applying these practices to new hires, agencies should review and update working titles for incumbents, to ensure consistency, clarity, and alignment with evolving roles and responsibilities. Revised functional job titles or working titles should reflect the actual work performed and should not include acronyms, abbreviations or jargon that would be difficult for those outside the Federal government to understand,” it says.
Agency HR offices are to “audit and revise job titles and descriptions to ensure they are descriptive, organizational, or functional job titles that resonate with jobseekers—not generic descriptors” and “work with supervisors to choose working titles for employees that accurately reflect their role at the agency,” it says.
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