OPM Handbook Suggests Tool for Getting, Keeping IT Professionals

s the National Security Agency has found, competing with the private sector for information technology talent is not easy. But federal managers may not be as completely overmatched as they might think.

To help government executives recruit and retain a solid IT workforce, the Office of Personnel Management has crafted a handbook that lists strategies for "designing IT recruitment and retention strategies and in resolving current staffing problems."

Prepared for the top-level Chief Information Officers Council, the OPM guide, "Recruiting and Retaining Information Technology Professionals," doesn't contain any silver bullets. But by collecting the various tools available in a single document, OPM hopes to remind government executives they do have some leverage in the IT world. The guide was distributed by the CIO Council to agency personnel chiefs.

For example, the guide says that OPM can establish higher rates of pay "for an occupation or group of occupations" based on a finding that federal recruitment or retention efforts would likely become "significantly handicapped without those higher rates."

Agencies also have the authority to grant employees lump-sum cash awards, or accelerate their pay by granting quality step increases. A variety of work-life accommodations-alternative work schedules, telecommuting, dependent-care assistance-can also sweeten the offer, OPM says.

However, OPM insists that "conscientious and direct involvement by IT managers" is the most important single factor in attracting and recruiting IT professionals. "Managers need to identify where targeted recruiting efforts are likely to be fruitful," the guide states. "Managers need to be specific in describing the work that is to be done and the competencies that need to be used. Managers need to be creative in 'selling' prospective employees on the nature and importance of their agencies' projects. And managers need to be accomplished in coaching and leading IT employees."