Hiring managers to select employees in 15 days Published May 4, 2012 By Erin Tindell Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas -- Hiring managers now have 15 days instead of 30 to choose the best-qualified candidate to fill civilian vacancies. The reduction, implemented May 1, is part of continued efforts to meet a presidential mandate to hire federal employees within 80 days by the end of fiscal year 2012. "We continue to refine the civilian hiring process to drive toward the president's mandate to get to a timelier civilian fill," said Michelle LoweSolis, Air Force Personnel Center civilian force integration director. "Our goal is to fill civilian vacancies in less than 80 days, and with the support of managers Air Force-wide, we can get civilians onboard in a timelier manner. It really is about working as a team to get civilians on-board to do Air Force missions. " Getting to 80 days Process changes based on the 80-day model began in May 2010, and soon after, the Air Force reduced the hiring selection timeframe from 45 to 30 days. In 2011, hiring controls delayed the Air Force from reducing selection time to 15 days, officials said. Most commands have lifted hiring controls, and AFPC is receiving more than 400 requests for fill action weekly. "We filled more than 6,400 jobs in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012, and our average time to fill those positions was 70 days," said Paula Blackwell, AFPC's civilian force integration production division chief. "We consistently seek innovations in our hiring process and are committed to sustaining this average." In addition to selecting employees within 15 days, hiring managers should take an active role at the beginning of the recruitment process to help attract the best qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions. "Posting a job announcement may not be enough to attract the best employee," Blackwell said. "Hiring managers should actively communicate their vacancies through public forums such as career fairs and networking events. This will help attract a broader pool of quality candidates and communicate the required skills and experience needed for the position." "Hiring 101" To enable hiring officials to take a more active role, Air Force officials have added a hiring manager's resource center to the Air Force Civilian Careers website, which contains information for those interested in Air Force jobs and for current Air Force employees. The new resource center is at www.managers.afciviliancareers.com. Officials said the center details ways hiring managers can best fulfill their responsibilities in managing human resources. "Having a one-stop-shop for hiring managers is another way the Air Force is working to achieve the 80-day hiring model for all Air Force civilian hires," said Mike Brosnan, AFPC's chief of workforce planning and enterprise recruiting. "This resource center will educate hiring managers on the steps they should take before, during and after they decide to hire a new employee." The resource center also includes rules and regulations that impact the recruitment and hiring processes as well as the hiring authorities that should be considered when filling a new position. There's also a section on tips for interviewing and assessing candidates. Brosnan said hiring managers should also take advantage of the available videos that explain the 80-day hiring model and current Air Force workforce reshaping guidance. "These are three-minute, information-packed videos that explain the 80-day process," he said. "There are also videos to assist managers in explaining civilian personnel tools used in restructuring," he said. The 15 day selection time and new hiring resource center are just two initiatives to help reduce hiring time. In 2010, the Air Force implemented a streamlined, resume-based application process via the Single Staffing Tool and in April, officials began piloting a tool to help onboard new employees faster. For information about hiring initiatives and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil. For more information about civilian careers opportunities, go to www.afciviliancareers.com.