 job offers from 33 agencies and components from this one hiring action, helping to recruit talent in an efficient and effective manner. Lines of Effort: 4.2.1 Lead the development and implementation of skills-based hiring practices. The FCWWG will coordinate efforts to assist departments and agencies in expanding the use of skills-based assessments to hire individuals for the federal cyber workforce.121 As a supplement to résumé reviews, skills-based candidate assessments such as job knowledge tests and job-related simulations could greatly improve hiring efficacy for critical cyber skills. The FCWWG will support an OPM initiative to enable departments and agencies to refocus position announcements on cyber skills. To maximize the effectiveness of a skills-based approach, position descriptions will be developed using work roles, such as those found in the NICE Framework. This initiative will draw on ongoing efforts by the NICE Program Office to identify needed skills, including professional skills such as teamwork and communication, as well as tools for assessing proficiency. 4.2.2 Grow programs that provide scholarships for federal service. Departments and agencies will explore the steps needed, including work with Congress, to expand the number of people matriculating through proven programs such as CyberCorps Scholarship For Service and CySP that provide scholarships in return for federal service. While the federal government benefits from skills-based hiring, it also requires a cyber research and development workforce with advanced degrees. Currently, the ability of CyberCorps Scholarship For Service to meet this need is limited, as the program is authorized to provide only two years of funding. The Administration will work with Congress to enable scholarship recipients pursuing doctoral programs to be eligible for five years of funding. The FCWWG will explore opportunities to grow the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative. This public– private partnership enables selected students to gain valuable work experience during a two-year placement in the federal government and the opportunity to receive student loan assistance if hired during that period by a private sector partner.122 4.2.3 Scale paid internship and Registered Apprenticeship opportunities.123 The FCWWG will coordinate work by departments and agencies to expand the use of paid internships to attract talent to the federal cyber workforce, encouraging the use of OPM’s internship portal to support these efforts.124 The FCWWG will also provide assistance with investments in programs designed to attract recent graduates. The FCWWG, in coordination with the Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, will facilitate the sharing of best practices using registered apprenticeships for cyber positions. 37 NATIONAL CYBER WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION STRATEGY