- Best Qualified: highly proficient with an overall comprehensive level of knowledge; skills, and abilities of the job based on a complete review of experience, education, and training, as described in an applicant's responses to vacancy announcement questions, narrative essays, and resume.

The category rating approach gives agencies the flexibility to assess and select from among applicants in the highest quality category without regard to the “rule of three.” The three categories of qualified candidates in Category Rating are Best qualified, Highly qualified, Qualified.

The rule of three requires qualified candidates to be listed in rank order and managers to se- lect from among the top three available candi- dates. But often a number of candidates have identical ratings, and some method must be used to decide which candidates will be placed on the referral register and in what order.

Traditional definitions state that a qualified applicant is one with the most relevant training, knowledge, skills, and abilities for a role. Our definition will go a bit deeper because there is more to being a qualified applicant than having the most workable skills.