# Staffing for Support Positions Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/staffing-for-support-positions-course-self-paced>

## Overview

Staffing for Support Staff provides a comprehensive introduction to the federal recruitment and staffing process. Designed for HR assistants and other administrative professionals who support federal hiring, the course explores the federal Human Resources Management model, the legal and regulatory framework governing hiring, and the key steps involved in filling vacancies within the federal government. Participants learn how merit system principles, equal employment opportunity requirements, and federal regulations shape recruitment and staffing decisions.

Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, participants gain experience interpreting General Schedule Qualification Standards, researching federal HR policies, supporting vacancy announcements, and assisting with applicant evaluation and selection procedures. The course also introduces job analysis methods, interview techniques, and current federal hiring processes such as category rating and the Rule of Many, helping participants build the knowledge and confidence needed to support effective federal staffing operations.

## What you'll learn

- Explain the federal HRM model and describe how recruitment and staffing functions support mission-critical hiring.
- Differentiate key roles and responsibilities in federal staffing support, including HR Assistant and HR Specialist functions.
- Locate and apply governing guidance (e.g., Title 5 CFR, OPM VetGuide, and agency policies) to support compliant recruitment and staffing actions.
- Support vacancy-filling activities by interpreting hiring procedures and applying merit system principles and EEO requirements.
- Determine candidate eligibility and minimum qualifications using General Schedule Qualification Standards.
- Apply merit promotion and in-service placement procedures to help identify and refer qualified candidates.
- Use job analysis requirements and steps to support development of job-related assessment tools.
- Apply behavioral-based interview concepts to support structured, job-related selection decisions.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Federal Human Resources Management

- Overview of the federal Human Resources Management (HRM) model and HR functions
- Merit system principles and prohibited personnel practices
- Equal employment opportunity laws and diversity requirements
- Labor-management relations and federal HR oversight responsibilities

#### Module 2: Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Policies

- Statutory foundations of federal HR management including Title 5 and federal regulations
- Using resources such as the Code of Federal Regulations and OPM VetGuide
- Understanding the Guide to Processing Personnel Actions
- Key concepts including career tenure, probationary periods, and reinstatement eligibility

#### Module 3: Recruitment and Staffing

- Overview of the federal civil service: competitive, excepted, and senior executive services
- Strategies for filling federal vacancies
- Open competitive examining and merit promotion processes
- Veterans’ preference, category rating, and the rule of many

#### Module 4: Finding the Right Person at the Right Time for the Right Job

- Merit promotion programs and internal staffing procedures
- Competitive and noncompetitive personnel actions
- Special hiring authorities and veterans’ hiring programs
- Priority placement and career transition assistance programs

#### Module 5: Selecting the Right Person at the Right Time for the Right Job

- Applying General Schedule Qualification Standards
- Conducting job analysis to identify competencies and job requirements
- Developing assessment tools and evaluating candidate qualifications
- Structured and behavioral-based interview techniques
- Final selection procedures and documentation

#### Module 6: What’s Next?

- Emerging trends in federal recruitment and staffing
- Updates to hiring policies such as the rule of many
- Career development planning for HR professionals
- Next steps for professional growth in federal HR management

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1049