ApplyGov's Federal Hiring Assessment Capabilities

Accurately assess federal job candidates

The FedHire talent acquisition system can support a range of hiring assessment options that comply with the Chance to Compete Act and OPM’s Merit Hiring Plan. FedHire’s Hiring Management offers agencies flexible tools, such as cut scores and the Question Library, that can be used for screen-out and eligibility self-assessments. The Collaborate module can support SME-based reviews, such as structured resume reviews. For additional alternative and technical assessments, federal agencies can use the Applicant Assessments platform to seamlessly administer online assessments within the application process and automatically score and send results into the candidate staging area – making it even easier for HR teams to qualify/rank/rate its applicants and narrow down the applicant pool to the best and brightest. The Job Analysis module can facilitate a virtual skills analysis process to ensure the right competencies are being assessed.

Not sure where to begin? Check out our resource page on Implementing Assessments for the Merit Hiring Plan, including an on-demand webinar with guidance, checklists, and considerations.

Competency-Based, Alternative Assessments

Standardized, Off-the-Shelf Assessment Batteries

Standardized, off-the-shelf assessment batteries

  • Quickest and easiest to implement
  • Supervisory battery (10 competencies across 3 sections) and Non-Supervisory battery (9 competencies across 4 sections)
  • Candidate scores can be reused within the agency for other vacancies that administer the same assessment

Agency-Specific Assessments

  • MonsterGov can leverage pre-developed tests to an agency-specific competency model to create and validate these batteries
  • Candidate scores can be reused within the agency for other vacancies that administer the same assessment

Custom Situational Judgment Tests

  • Work with MonsterGov’s I/O team to develop a test that evaluates how applicants would respond to job-related scenarios – customized for the agency, series/position, culture and values

Standardized, Off-the-Shelf Assessment Batteries

  • Quickest and easiest to implement
  • Supervisory battery (10 competencies across 3 sections) and Non-Supervisory battery (9 competencies across 4 sections)
  • Candidate scores can be reused within the agency for other vacancies that administer the same assessment

Agency-Specific Assessments

  • ApplyGov can leverage pre-developed tests to an agency-specific competency model to create and validate these batteries
  • Candidate scores can be reused within the agency for other vacancies that administer the same assessment

Custom Situational Judgment Tests

  • Work with ApplyGov’s I/O team to develop a test that evaluates how applicants would respond to job-related scenarios – customized for the agency, series/position, culture and values

Technical Skills-Based Assessments

Writing Assessments with AI-Scoring

  • Off-the-shelf and custom prompts available
  • AI scoring with seamless integration with FedHire
  • Candidate scores can be reused within the agency for other vacancies that administer the same assessment

Structured Interviews

  • ApplyGov’s I/O Psychologists can develop agency-specific structured interviews, including conducting a Job Analysis 
  • Can measure technical and non-technical competencies; responses to standardized questions are compared to standardized scoring protocol
  • Depending on when interviews are conducted, SMEs and HR have a range of options to include interview scores and commentary in FedHire to help with the selection process
  • ApplyGov also provides Professional Development courses on Principles of Structured Interviewing

Structured Resume Reviews

  • ApplyGov’s I/O Psychologists can facilitate an SME workshop to develop specialized experience statements and train SMEs/panelists on how to review/score resumes
  • SME reviewers can use the Collaborate module to enter scores/comments, which HR can easily apply to the applicant listing with just one click
Writing assessment with AI scoring

Writing assessment with AI scoring

  • Off-the-shelf and custom prompts available
  • AI scoring with seamless integration with FedHire
  • Candidate scores can be reused within the agency for other vacancies that administer the same assessment

Structured Interviews

  • ApplyGov’s I/O Psychologists can develop agency-specific structured interviews, including conducting a Job Analysis 
  • Can measure technical and non-technical competencies; responses to standardized questions are compared to standardized scoring protocol
  • Depending on when interviews are conducted, SMEs and HR have a range of options to include interview scores and commentary in FedHire to help with the selection process
  • ApplyGov also provides Professional Development courses on Principles of Structured Interviewing

Structured Resume Review

  • ApplyGov’s I/O Psychologists can facilitate an SME workshop to develop specialized experience statements and train SMEs/panelists on how to review/score resumes
  • SME reviewers can use the Collaborate module to enter scores/comments, which HR can easily apply to the applicant listing with just one click

Integrations with 3rd Party or Agency-Developed Assessments

  • Already have an assessment vendor of choice? ApplyGov can explore new integrations with your provider.
  • For agencies with their own assessments, ApplyGov can build those onto our integrated testing platform for a seamless assessment experience for applicants and HR users.

I/O Psychology Services

Advisory services for an agency’s assessment strategy and Merit Hiring Plan compliance

Change Management for new system implementations and assessment program rollouts

Local content validation study for off-the-shelf assessments

Off-the-shelf and agency-customized Professional Development courses for best practices in Human Resources