OPM identified land-grant universities, religious colleges and universities, community colleges, high schools, trade and technical schools, homeschooling groups, faith-based groups, American Legion, 4-H youth programs, and the military, veterans, and law enforcement communities. Image: T. Schneider/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffFollowing is the section of the new OPM hiring policy directive addressing an initiative to focus on “Recruiting Patriotic Americans for Federal Service.”
OPM’s Talent Team, working with agency Talent Teams, will launch a government-wide recruitment effort to attract “individuals committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution” to Federal service.8 Three areas (Early Career, STEM and Veterans) are highlighted below as examples of this recruitment strategy.
Early Career Recruitment
The Federal government struggles to recruit qualified early career talent. In addition, Federal hiring too often focuses on elite universities and credentials, instead of merit, practical skill, and commitment to American ideals. Going forward, agencies shall ensure that early career recruitment focuses on patriotic Americans who will faithfully adhere to the Constitution and the rule of law. OPM’s Talent Team will partner with agency Talent Teams to build and maintain a strong talent pipeline of students, recent graduates and other early career talent. They will do so by targeting recruitment at state and land-grant universities, religious colleges and universities, community colleges, high schools, trade and technical schools, homeschooling groups, faith-based groups, American Legion, 4-H youth programs, and the military, veterans, and law enforcement communities. Agency Talent Teams, led by their CHCO, shall set early career hiring targets and track annual early career hires.
STEM Recruitment
The Federal government struggles to recruit and retain top STEM talent. To improve recruitment of candidates for STEM roles, OPM’s Talent Team will facilitate regular meetings with Agency Talent Teams, the Federal Chief Information Officer, the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, cross-agency councils (e.g., Chief Information Officer Council, Chief Data Officer Council) and functional communities to drive STEM hiring across the Federal government. OPM will also update, modernize and centralize STEM position descriptions and job titles across the Federal government, including the use of functional job titles.
Veterans’ Recruitment
To improve recruitment of qualified veterans, OPM’s Talent Team will own a strategic government-wide veteran recruiting roadmap, defining target occupations with agency leadership, and partnering with agency veterans’ program leaders to find opportunities to match the talents of individuals exiting the military with skills in demand at agencies.
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