The Federal Government operates a merit-based hiring system. The key purpose of the system is to identify, attract, and hire the candidates who can best meet the needs of the organisation and support the public's interests. Not only is this good public policy, but making good selections can also lead to higher productivity, increased employee morale, improved teamwork, and reduced turnover -- all of which contribute to organisational performance. The purpose of this book is to inform reform efforts by summarising key findings of recent MSPB research on hiring issues; articulating the Board's perspective regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the Federal hiring system; and identifying and promoting hiring practices that support merit-based selection.