QuickHire Xi Update

by Chris McCarrick
Senior Vice President, Monster Government Solutions

QuickHire Xi is the latest version of the market-leading hiring management solution for government, and a key component of Monster Government Solutions’ end-to-end Human Capital Management Solution. Completely Web-based, QuickHire Xi is both an evolution to a new technology platform and an upgrade to the existing QuickHire client-server product. It contains the best of both worlds: all the great benefits and features of the previous version, plus many enhancements.

Enhanced Integration

Perhaps the most anticipated enhancement to the QuickHire product is extended USAJOBS support, which allows for full integration with the newest features of OPM’s Recruitment One-Stop (ROS) initiative, in accordance with our business philosophy of providing our customers with the most innovative, effective hiring management system possible. The QuickHire system has provided USAJOBS support since 1999, before any other commercial vendor. Since then, we have ensured that the QuickHire staffing solution has stayed seamlessly in step with USAJOBS, often without requiring any change to our users’ processes.

Monster Government Solutions is following the ROS release plan, matching key milestones in ROS releases with the corresponding functionality in QuickHire Xi. The current stage of ROS integration is vacancy integration, which the Office of Personnel Management often refers to as “agency integration.” In the spirit of creating “clean, concise, understandable and attractive job announcements,” ROS includes a new, tabbed format for vacancies. QuickHire Xi fully supports this new format, making it easy for HR staffers to create and post attractive announcements.

The same extensible architecture that allows Xi to integrate so well with ROS will also enable Monster Government Solutions to easily integrate Xi with other systems in the future.

Enhanced Usability

Other exciting improvements to the product stem from a redesign of the user interface, following best practices for Web applications. The interface now offers a greatly improved and Section 508-compliant user experience, including easier navigation and more intuitive controls.

Enhanced Security

Today’s government has a stronger concentration on security than ever before. All government employees, including HR professionals, know that the security of our nation is tied to the security of government systems and tools. Agencies have specific security requirements that must be met, and many are struggling with how to ensure that those requirements are met in any system they deploy or utilize.

QuickHire Xi was created with the highest security in mind. The QuickHire Xi system complies with the tough security requirements of FISMA and can be tailored to meet stringent needs for specific agencies. For example, since some agencies cannot allow vendor software to be installed on internal users’ desktops, QuickHire Xi is completely Web browser-based, requiring no additional software to use the system.

Other Benefits

The QuickHire Xi platform leverages best-of-breed technology, offering many other benefits that provide significant advantages as development continues and new features are added. In particular, this advanced platform offers a great deal of flexibility and scalability. Going forward, the platform provides a world-class foundation upon which to design, integrate, and deploy new components and customizations into the base system. In addition, it will be easier to configure the standard system to meet specific client requirements without necessitating customization. This will allow Monster Government Solutions to quickly implement new clients and provide updates to existing clients.

Who’s Using Xi?

Over 10 customers are already deployed on QuickHire Xi and are in various stages of implementation or active use. Since the original production release in November 2003, over 20,000 applicants have applied to vacancies posted by clients using the new system.

In addition, Monster Government Solutions is preparing to transition existing clients to the QuickHire Xi platform. Xi is being evaluated by select current customers as part of the final testing process in preparation for the transition, which will begin Summer 2004. PREP (Product Review and Evaluation Program) is the first stage of this process. Clients participating in the program will be able to use and evaluate the Xi product in a training environment, as a means of becoming familiar with the new system and identifying any possible issues that will need to be addressed during the upgrade. The PREP program also offers clients a means for providing feedback to product development. Questions about PREP should be directed to the QuickHire Support Desk.

All current customers will be notified in the coming months about their specific transition process. Federal clients will be scheduled to upgrade by the end of 2004. QuickHire Xi solutions for state, local, and commercial clients will follow.

Looking Forward

QuickHire Xi builds on the reputation of Monster Government Solutions and QuickHire for providing innovative Human Capital Solutions to the public sector. It provides a strong foundation for the future growth of the product, the company, and its clients. In the future, expect additional features and more flexible solutions, tailored to meet the specific needs of each client, maintaining the same high-quality results. That is the promise of QuickHire Xi and of Monster Government Solutions.