APPLICANT PROCESSING TIME

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05T00644R000601720013-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2009
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: July 26, 1978
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2009/07/24 :CIA-RDP05T00644R000601720013-5
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i~1E:~:ORAi'~~[litl FOR: Director of Central. Intelligence
FROM : John F. Blake
Deputy Director for Administration
SUBJECT Applicant Processing Tines
RErERENCE . Memo for DDA fr DCI dtd 17 July 78,
same subject
1. Action Requested: None; for information only.
2. The reference expresses your continuing concern about the
time it takes t:o process an applicant for Agency employment. In
paragraph 2a you suggest that we "establish a greatly reduced norm
such as 60 days in which to respond to an applicant as to whether eve
wish to employ him." ~ti'e have checked our statistics far the Iasi
18 months and can report that it takes an average of 50 days from the
time a recruiter receives a completed application until an office
decides whether it wishes to hire the applicant.
3. 'I7~e time it takes for a decision rot to hire an applicant is
longer (91 days) . It is ebti~ious fro,:t this contrast in statistics that
the offices quickly recognize t'~e best candidates and put them in process
as rapidly as F~ossible. All applicant files are initially referred. to
one office of possible i;~terest. In addition, applications are
advertised in "~vew Applicant File Acquisitions" lists, which are
continuously circulated to some ~0 offices in the Agency (an example
is attached) . Very often, ro it serest is generated from either approach_
If the Office of Personnel still feels the applicant has good qualifica-
tions, the file will be refe rred to another Agency component for review.
This nay happen three or four ti:::es before all possibilities have been
elhatisted. Only then is an applicant "rejected" b}- the agency. The
process roes take tire, but ice believe it is both effective and fair.
In a surUrising nu-nber of cases, a second, third, or even fourth
corponent may e~-press interest in an applicant and ultimately put the
individual in process. In those cases where a reject letter is sent,
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Approved For Release 2009/07/24 :CIA-RDP05T00644R000601720013-5
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the Agency can honestly say to the applicant, his Congressman, or his
lawyer that ti~re have thorouC7 Iy reviewed the individual's qualifications
in light of Agency requirements and have been unable to come up ~~rith a
suitable employment opportunity.
4. IV'e axe also aware that we are dealing with a perception
problem in this area. Applicants think of processing time as beginning
when they first inquire about jobs with the Agency and endinj when they
enter on duty. Looked at from that viewpoint, the period is lengthy.
jv7rat applicants frequently forget is that they are the cause of much of
the delay. For example: The person who sends in an employment inquiry
receives a letter and an employment fact sheet from the Agency. If he
or she returns a resume that meets our requirements, the individual is
interviewed by a recruiter. If the interview is favorable, the candidate
is given an Agency application to fill out. Rarely is an application
returned in less than 21 days. Frequently it is not complete; we must
go back and ask for full addresses of references, more information about
drug. us age, and the like. This may take another two weeks. Getting
applicants into ~Vashington for appointments is also difficult and time-
consuming. Many, particularly students, are difficult to contact. After
repeated unsuccessful phone calls, we send out mailgrams asking them to
call us. Applicants also delay because of exams, term papers, inability
to get away from worn, etc. Finally, even when individuals are fully
cleared, there are often substantial time delays prior to EOD because
they need to sell their houses, wait until their children. finish school,
give adequate notice to their e~~:plo~.rers, and other such reasons.
5. Y"ou ~r1so suggested the possibility of using a retainer fee
arrange~r~ent with soi"~ applicants pending completion of the clearance
process. The concept is a goof one. ~`+e used it selectively some years
ago and are re-e