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Successful Interviews: Best Practices & Tips from Interviewees (Part 3 of Interview Success Series)
No one understands the interview experience quite like someone who’s been through it. While advice from interviewers can help you understand expectations, hearing from fellow interviewees can show you what the process actually feels like, and what makes a difference before, during, and after an interview. In this third and final installment of the Interview…
Successful Interviews: Best Practices & Tips from Interviewers (Part 2 of Interview Success Series)
Most candidates walk into an interview ready to share their experiences, skills, and enthusiasm. Yet many still wonder which parts of their preparation will actually resonate once the conversation gets going. To help bridge that gap, we turned to the people on the other side of the table. In this installment of our Interview Success…
Interviewing with Intention: How Preparation, Clarity, and Practice Lead to Success
Preparing for an interview often feels daunting, especially when it comes to choosing examples that are relevant, focused, and genuinely reflect who you are. While targeted answers are one piece of the puzzle, a successful interview isn’t just about memorizing and reciting the “right” answers; it’s a chance to clearly communicate your experience, skills, and values in a way that connects directly to what the…
Reimagining Federal Hiring: Key Changes in the 2025 Merit Hiring Plan
The federal hiring landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the release of the 2025 Merit Hiring Plan issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in response to Executive Order 14170: Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service. Most of the Plan’s strategies are not new to the federal…
Perceptions of ML in Selection
User Perceptions of Machine Learning in Selection Testing the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) within a controlled research study differs greatly from real world applications, as the latter potentially have serious consequences, legal considerations, and ethical implications concerning personnel decisions. Increased interest in AI and machine learning (ML) within the field of I/O psychology comes…
Our Year in Blogs – 2024
Introduction As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025, let’s take a moment to reflect on FMP’s year in blogs! Our blogs, which are 100% employee-led, reflect our workforce’s technical knowledge, professional interests, and diverse perspectives. Here are some highlights from last year. 38 New Blogs 3 Top 3 Topics Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility Learning & Development Selection…
Recent Trends in Government: Skills-Based Hiring
The recent introduction of the Allowing Contractors to Choose Employees for Select Skills (ACCESS) Act (H.R.7887) has continued the movement incorporating skills-based hiring into the federal government. In September of 2023, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced a completed list of common federal skills supporting this broader hiring initiative1. Skills-based hiring has received significant…
Selecting for the Stars: Improving Accessibility in our Selection System
The interview process can be incredibly difficult and overwhelming. This is especially true for neurodivergent individuals and individuals with disabilities who may face additional barriers and challenges in the conventional interview format. According to some estimates, 30-40% of neurodivergent adults are unemployed or underemployed9. Neurodivergent candidates may struggle with understanding social cues, interpreting nonverbal communication,…
FMP’s Four Questions Podcast with Marni Falcone
To prepare for Society of Industrial Organizational Psychology’s (SIOP) annual conference, Lisa Prather chatted with Marni Falcone, FMP’s resident competency expert and assessment & selection guru. Check out FMP’s Four Questions Podcast to hear more about assessment & selection and get a sneak peek into Marni’s upcoming SIOP panel! Lisa Prather is a Strategic Communications, Marketing,…
Use of Assessment Centers: Exploring the Differences Between the US and UK
In our final blog of the month, we wrap up our examination of all things selection and assessment by looking at how these practices differ outside of our national borders. One of our newer consultants, Alexandra Flagg, returned to her grad school experiences in the UK to explore these differences for us. Imagine this scenario:…