If you have been in the government for a while, you are likely familiar with the Rule of 3 and/or Category Rating. Both of these terms refer to candidate lists provided to hiring managers from which they may select while ensuring that eligible veterans receive appropriate priority.
In a memorandum called, Reinvigorating Merit-Based Hiring through Candidate Ranking, OPM issued new guidance modernizing federal hiring by eliminating the Rule of 3 and replacing it with the Rule of Many. The Rule of Many is meant to provide hiring managers for both competitive and excepted service positions with a broader selection pool that emphasizes practical skills and merit by measuring both through various skills-based assessments.
Here are some of the highlights:
- The Rule of Many rates candidates numerically using assessments. In addition, candidates are listed on the hiring certificate in rank order for selection. Veterans preference is taken into account in the scoring.
- This process may be used for hiring under delegated examining (when vacancies are posted as open to all US citizens) when agencies use numerical ratings of applicants. It may also be used for hiring in the excepted service.
- Unlike Category Rating which puts candidates into predetermined “buckets” such as best, qualified, highly qualified, etc., the Rule of Many uses numerical rankings for candidates and hiring lists are presented in numerical order. Basically, it combines the Rule of 3 and Category Rating.
- Agencies may use the Rule of Many OR Category Rating to fill positions; the Rule of 3 may not be used. Hiring managers are not typically limited to 3 candidates.
- When the Rule of Many is used, veterans preference points (either 5 or 10 points for CPS and CP disabled vets) are added to the score of candidates. Veterans with a 10% or more compensable rating are put at the top certificate (hiring list) except for Professional and Scientific positions (as defined by OPM) at GS-9 and above.
- Job postings must state that they are using the Rule of Many when applicable.
The above is a lot, especially for people not that familiar with how federal hiring works. To summarize this in plain language, here’s what you need to know about the Rule of Many:
- Your eligibility and rank will be based on scored assessments.
- Your application may be among a larger pool of candidates considered than under previous rules.
- Veterans with qualifying disabilities are still given preference as required by law.
- Agencies are required to select fairly and document decisions clearly.
HR policies can be complicated and this information is not meant to be all inclusive.
Want more? Ask your Human Resources Representative or see:https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/reinvigorating-merit-based-hiring-through-candidate-ranking.pdf
