Acting collaboratively, quickly and decisively can help agencies hire mission-critical cybersecurity and IT personnel, according to a recent blog post by Angela Bailey, the Department of Homeland Security's chief human capital officer.
In a CIO.gov entry dated Nov. 21, Bailey recounts lessons learned from a two-day hiring event DHS held in July 2016. "Don't spend your precious time deliberating over potential barriers or complications; stop asking Congress for yet another hiring authority or new personnel system, instead capitalize on the existing rules, regulations and hiring authorities available today."
The DHS event — which garnered 14,000 applicants, over 2,000 walk-ins, 800 interviews and 150 tentative job offers — took two months to execute.
"The most important step is the first: Set the date," said Bailey.
Success was due to all component agencies combining resources as one entity, collaborating under the DHS brand rather than competing for talent, according to the blog. Hiring agents from different agencies suggested applicable, impressive candidates to one another.
And the security clearance process was incorporated in the event, which included positions for Secret and Top Secret clearance to broaden the application pool. The appropriate paperwork was started at the event, helping candidates become invested in the process and allowing hiring to take place within six weeks.
By partnering c-level executives to plan for their mutual interests, DHS executed a successful hiring event "playbook" they are happy to share, said Bailey.
The entire entry can be read on CIO.gov.
