Case Study:
United States Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) partnered with Monster Government Solutions to automate, streamline and expedite its hiring process. Faced with the challenge of doing more with less, the USGS deployed its Online Automated Recruitment System. OARS is powered by QuickHire, a software system developed by Monster Government Solutions and designed for efficient and effective government hiring. Based on the success of OARS, USGS then added QuickClassification in order to automatically create and approve position descriptions, and increase the speed and accuracy of job announcements.

Through the Performance Continuum™ and the QuickHire hiring management system, Monster Government Solutions helped the U.S. Geological Survey Plan for greater efficiency, Assess and Hire high-quality candidates, and Perform at a measurable level of excellence.

Challenge: Greater Hiring Efficiency

In 1999, USGS, a bureau of the Department of the Interior, found itself having to comply with more regulations, while simultaneously working with a reduction of about one-third of its staff.

Inefficient hiring methods and the fact that the agency was not receiving enough applicants for many of its positions were also critical issues facing the agency. The time it was taking to get a list of candidates to the hiring manager for selection was often 30 to 60 days. This not only impaired USGS’s human resources staff from providing good, responsive customer service, but almost ensured that many qualified candidates would no longer be available for the position to which they had applied. Unable to hire quickly and efficiently, USGS was losing the competition for candidates and knew it needed a system that would streamline processes and improve efficiency. New problems were created when nationwide hiring slowed in the commercial sector due to economic conditions. USGS suddenly had too many applicants for its currently available positions, as well as too much paperwork.

Response: QuickHire from Monster Government Solutions

USGS chose the Monster Government Solutions’ QuickHire product to power its Online Automated Recruitment System for automating the federal hiring process. Now, staffing specialists in the agency’s personnel offices around the country were able to enter job announcements into a centralized database and develop rating and ranking criteria by simply selecting questions from an extensive question library, organized according to job series. Equally important, applicants were able to register and apply online to job announcements. OARS immediately rated, ranked and scored their answers to the weighted questions within the announcement, taking into account extensive federal rules and regulations related to veterans preference, displaced employees, people with disabilities and other special hiring authorities. This function was especially important in helping USGS to meet a departmental directive to monitor and quantify its Race and National Origin (RNO) response.

In order to address a significant increase of applicants, USGS utilized QuickHire to manage a flood of paperwork that could have been overwhelming. Specific questions weeded out unqualified candidates and assisted HR specialists in targeting only skilled applicants.

The efficiency of the system allowed for the better use of staff time and the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve by focusing on job classification efforts and workforce planning without having to hire additional staff.

Additionally, QuickClassification, a Web-based system for building federal positions, enabled USGS to easily create new position descriptions and update old ones. The process saved countless hours of effort and integrates with the QuickHire automated hiring system.

USGS also used QuickHire for workforce planning. By analyzing data collected from employees in the form of skill assessment surveys, the system helped to identify skill gaps and plan for future initiatives necessary for the agency’s continued success. This process was critical due to the evolution of the mapping and GPS professions, and the new skills required.

Results: Hiring Success, Streamlined Processes

USGS staffing specialists can complete a job certificate, typically within one week. Hiring managers can make a job offer as early as a week-and-a-half after an announcement closes. In addition, customer service has improved by providing a quick and easy way for candidates to apply for a vacancy and receive prompt feedback.

By working hand-in-hand with Monster Government Solutions to develop specifications, test and rollout the USGS Online Automated Recruitment System, a return on investment (ROI) was achieved within six months — with an up to 500 percent increase in the number of applicants per vacancy, and an RNO response increase from 15 percent to more than 96 percent.

Get to Know Monster Government Solutions Today

Monster Government Solutions offers government-proven expertise in all areas of human capital management to tackle the issues you have today and the ones that will arrive in the future. Our comprehensive Performance Continuum helps you Plan, Attract, Assess, Hire and ultimately Perform at new levels of mission effectiveness. Let Monster Government Solutions develop a systematic, integrated approach to your unique challenges.