What is the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)? WRP is managed by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the US Department of Defense’s Office of Diversity Management & Equal Opportunity (ODMEO), as well as other agencies and sub-agencies participate in the program. WRP Connects highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities with federal and private sector employers. Since 1995, over 6000 students and recent graduates have received either temporary or permanent employment opportunities through the program

How does WRP work for students and employers? Each year, WRP recruiters from federal agencies conduct personal interviews with interested candidates on college and university campuses. All majors are represented and candidates range from college freshmen to graduate and law students. Once the interviews are complete, the information is compiled in a searchable database. If you are a student seeking employment or a private sector employer, you may access the WRP on your own through the National Employer Technical Assistance Center. This database is available to federal Human Resources Specialists, Equal Employment Specialists, and other hiring officials in federal agencies, who need to register to be able to use the database.

What do students need to do to prepare for their WRP interview? There are several steps you can take to prepare:

1. Review all the materials and requirements of WRP and take time to review the supplemental materials available at ODEP.
2. Go to your campus Career Center to prepare your resume and cover letter and to practice interviewing.
3. Find out what Schedule A is and how to obtain documentation or your Schedule A letter. Starting in the fall of 2013, all candidates must be Schedule A eligible to participate in the program. Use the sample Schedule A letter and the Schedule A Checklist as guides in your preparation.  Note: In February of this year, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) simplified the Schedule A process and removed the requirement that people need to get a “certificate of job readiness” to obtain Schedule A appointments.
4. Speak with your campus Disability Support Services or Career Services about potential workplace accommodations. Practice talking about the accommodations you may require and remember that your classroom accommodations may not translate into the workplace. Note: You do not have to disclose your disability at any point in the application/interview process, but you will be asked to discuss any workplace accommodations you may require.
5. There are short videos available through the Department of Labor, which are intended to help in navigating the job search process.