Final answer:
Agencies filling federal government positions must follow various requirements, depending on whether the role is in the competitive service, excepted service, or senior executive service, with differing criteria for selection and hiring standards to ensure fairness and equal opportunity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Agencies seeking to fill positions within the federal government have to abide by certain requirements. These standards vary depending on the category of work: competitive service, excepted service, and senior executive service. In the competitive service, regulations set by Congress and administered by the Office of Personnel Management ensure that the best applicant is chosen based on work history, education, and sometimes civil service exams.
Excepted service positions are not subject to the same hiring regulations and can involve more rigorous processes or specialized skills, with agencies having the flexibility to set their own requirements and pay rates. On the other hand, senior executive service positions are filled by individuals with a proven executive experience and who have to demonstrate executive core qualifications.
Furthermore, certain principles govern the appointment to these positions, like ensuring fair equality of opportunity and benefiting the least advantaged members of society. Previously, civil service exams played a more significant role, but now education and experience are more heavily considered, with exams often required for more specialized roles. Regular conversations between agencies and political principals are essential for evaluating and improving the recruitment process.