GovernmentExecutive.com

When the National Nuclear Security Administration first had to replace the swell of scientists and engineers who were retiring, they had very few applicants for the positions, and almost no one who was qualified, agency officials said.

Ten months later, there has been an eightfold increase in the number of applicants, and they are "the type of applicants we dreamed about," said James Cavanaugh, deputy associate administrator for management and administration at NNSA.

The dramatic turnaround was a result of the Extreme Hiring Makeover, a program run by the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization that promotes government careers. The project aimed to improve the recruitment and hiring process at NNSA, the Education Department and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The private sector experts recommended that the agencies reassess internal practices to eliminate unnecessary hiring steps, create a budget to attract better candidates and eliminate the barriers between hiring managers and human resources officials.

"The government doesn't have to take a back seat to the private sector when it comes to bringing in the best and brightest employees," said Marcia Marsh, vice president for government transformation at PPS. "Just like a real makeover, with discipline and commitment, great changes are possible."

COMMENTS

• Dear six, You have to be under FERs for retirement so you are vested. That means you get a pension annuity when you reach 62 (reduced benefits) or full benefits at 65. This does not require you to work for the government - the benefit you get is based on the 6 years you have worked. That is one of the beauties of FERs. You do not have to wait to qulaify for the retirement annuity. Your qualified and can start the annuity when you reach 62. sme is probably true for the HR guy that says he needs 14 more years - if he is under FERs. Both of your probably are better off from a retirement point of view if you go elsewhere and start another retirement plan before you get too old. That is what the military people do! They get their military pension and go get another job to build another retirement annuity. taxpayer Posted July 28, 2005 8:22 AM
• Dear 6 years of Federal Service, I know it is real tough now but hang in there-- I have 16 years of service and am looking at another 14 years. It will get better because half the government will either be retiring between now and January 2008 or be RIFed since the government has no money left to pay salary and benefits. Each budget just gets worse and worse-- did I hear another tax cut for the top 1% wage earners???? :-)))) In either case- retirements and RIFs, change of this magnitude will lead to great opportunity and perhaps a better and leaner government. Or the end of the federal civil service-- in the latter case we will both end up in the private sector by default. So hang in there and just be patient. After the civil service has just hit this current administration's iceberg it will take a while to see whether the ship sinks because we are a big and heavy ship. I'm waiting in the life raft just in case. :-))) Oh I can't stay in the life raft--I forgot, I'm HR-- it's my job to make sure the band keeps playing as the ship goes down. HR Specialist GovExec.com reader Posted July 22, 2005 12:07 PM
• And Marcia should add that DoD and others do not need to change their entire salary and personnel structure to achieve the same thing. The pay for performance move is an attempt to avoid establishment of the "discipline and commitment" in DoD. This totally is a reflection of the bad management in DoD - political, military and civilian! Congress should require that DoD make the current system work rather than subject everyone to changes that are designed totally to increase the political power of apointees in DoD to do as they want and spend where they get votes for their party. taxpayer Posted July 21, 2005 6:34 AM