The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs. WRP is the number one source to identify pre-screened college students and recent graduates with disabilities for opportunities within the federal government.

In 2011, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) highlighted the WRP as a model strategy in its guidance to federal agencies regarding the recruitment and hiring of people with disabilities in response to Executive Order 13548, Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities.

Generally speaking, when a hiring manager wants to hire an intern or recent graduate, they have two options for hiring authorities- Schedule A for people with disabilities or the Schedule D Pathways Program. In both cases, they can use the WRP database to identify qualified candidates for their applicant pools. Here is how!

Schedule A

If hiring managers want to use the Schedule A hiring authority to hire a person with a disability, they can recruit directly from the WRP database without having to publically post the position. The agency or hiring manager would:

  • Search the WRP database for qualified candidates and contact them directly with job opportunities.
  • Once an eligible candidate is identified, follow the Schedule A regulations (5 CFR 213.3102(u) and provision in 5 CRF part 302).

Schedule D

If hiring managers use the Schedule D hiring authority, they can still use the WRP database to recruit qualified candidates. The agency or hiring manger would:

  • Publically post the position and follow all Schedule D regulations (5 CFR 213.3402 and provision in 5 CRF part 302).
  • Search the WRP database as a means of targeted outreach and contact qualified candidates, encouraging them to apply via USAJOBS for the publically posted position.