How can my agency use talent pools?

Talent pools offer agencies an easy way to access shared hiring certificates that fall under the Competitive Service Act (CSA). Under the CSA, an agency may share a competitive certificate issued under delegated examining procedures with one or more agencies for a position that is in the same occupational series, grade level (or equivalent), full performance level, and duty location.

Each talent pool includes the following details:

• Job announcement number
• Series
• Grade
• Promotion potential
• Location

Each talent pool has a list of candidates that are qualified and approved for hiring based on the above details. You can use the talent pool if your agency is hiring for a position that has the same series, grade, promotion potential and location.

If you want to hire a candidate listed on a talent pool, you must complete the hire using your talent acquisition system. Read these FAQS about hiring from a shared certificate.