Let the Agencies Recruit

Linda Brooks Rix and James Miller

We read with great interest your editorial endorsing the Office of Personnel Management's newly announced television advertising campaign. ["TV ads a good start - now, let's see some real funding," May 8 issue.] As a company that provides management technology and services to the federal government - including recruitment and staffing solutions - we spend thousands of hours every month assuring that our agency customers are reaching the broadest, most diverse field of applicants to fill open positions.

First, it has become clear to us that agencies are most successful with their recruitment efforts when they are free to advertise specific positions themselves. Branding federal service overall is a noble, yet long-term, effort.

Second, the "staffing challenge" you allude to in your editorial does not end with the nation's need to recruit experts to fight the problems of the day. Federal agencies still lack access to the technology needed to facilitate the recruitment process we all agree is so important. Our data demonstrates - and has demonstrated for years - that there is no shortage of qualified applicants for open positions in the federal government. Instead, those who do apply for positions are held hostage by archaic, paper-based processes and inadequate, government-sold recruitment software. Additional funds spent on recruitment efforts will be wasted if agencies are not empowered to employ the technology needed to fill the actual positions.

We agree: Congress and the administration should assemble millions of dollars to meet federal recruitment challenges. But providing funds to OPM for a campaign broadly marketing federal service is not the way to proceed. Specific agencies are best equipped to recruit for and fill their very specific positions. If additional funds are available for recruitment advertising and technology, they should be appropriated at the agency level.

Linda Brooks Rix and James Miller, co-chief executive officers, Avue Technologies