Command Track: Contracts, Money, Hiring and Planning · Module 3 of 4 · about 15 min
Hiring right and legally
Structured interviews, where every candidate gets the same job-related questions and is scored against the same rating scale, predict job performance better than casual conversations. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management publishes guidance on how to build them.
Federal law bans employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information. The EEOC enforces these laws. Ask about the ability to do the job, not about protected traits.
Every U.S. employer must complete Form I-9 to verify identity and work authorization for each new hire. The employee fills in their section by the first day of work, and the employer must examine documents within three business days of the start date.
Space and defense work can bring export controls. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), administered by the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, restrict sharing certain defense and space technology with foreign persons. ITAR affects who can see technical data, so it has to be handled with legal guidance, never by guessing.
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Module quiz
5 questions, 4 correct to pass. You'll see what you missed and why, and you can retake it.