Introduce to students that federal hiring standards are the guidelines and criteria that U.S. federal agencies must follow when recruiting and selecting candidates for jobs. These standards are intended to ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance with laws related to equal employment opportunity and merit-based hiring. Key components of these standards include how jobs are announced, eligibility requirements, and a transparent selection process across federal agencies.

Next, provide students with a resource of your choosing or time to familiarize themselves with some of the qualifications for a federal job. Note that qualifications and eligibility may differ and this may be a point of conversation you may want to broach. A resource to support this discussion may be the Eligibility and Qualifications sections found on USA Jobs. 

Once students have familiarity with federal hiring standards, divide students into different interest groups and ask them to review the standards from the standpoint of the group. Note that several groups have already established positions to reference around the standards. Interest groups:

• NAACP
• National Organization for Women (NOW)
• American Association of People with Disabilities
• AFL-CIO
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Students should begin by researching their group’s position on affirmative action and writing a proposal for federal hiring standards. Proposals should contain the following elements:

• Description of interest group
• Interest group’s goals and position on affirmative action
• 3 hiring standards or policy suggestions

In the second half of the activity, have students from different interests groups meet together to review their position and proposal. Students should then work together to negotiate a plan that works for all stakeholders. They should come up with a final policy to which all interest groups agree.