Additional Merit Hiring Plan Guidance on Using the Four Short Essay Questions

The Office of Personnel Management issued this additional guidance regarding its "Merit Hiring Plan" to agencies. The guidance states that job applicants are not technically required to respond to the four essay questions that are required to be included in most job postings. However, the memo also directs agencies to advise applicants that their responses will be reviewed by hiring managers and political appointees. The memo does not further describe what role applicants' responses (or non-responses) will play in the hiring process. The Merit Hiring Plan has been challenged in court.