Best Qualified (BQ) List

Best Qualified Lists (or BQ Lists) are a tool commonly used in government employment to compare an applicant's experience or education against job requirements.  The lists are used to objectively determine if the applicant is minimally qualified for a job and to determine which applicant(s) is the best qualified.  Each applicant is rated against the same objective criteria and the applicant(s) with the highest score(s) are offered an interview. 

Together with the application materials received and saved in a folder for each vacant position, it fulfills the requirement for an Eligibility List (Refer to Section 2.7.4 of NKY Health's Guide to Personnel Policies.)

The criteria and scoring key is listed across the top of the BQ list. 

In general:

• Columns in Red (C through I) contain the minimum qualifications/requirements criteria.  Applicants who score a 0 in any of these columns will not be offered an interview.

• The Column in Purple (J) contains a rating for any disciplinary actions the applicant may have received.  (NKY Health must consider the reasons for a disciplinary action instead of disqualifying a candidate who has been disciplined.)

• The next columns (Columns K through O) contain optional job-related criteria.

• A date may be added in the "applied by" column and a high negative score to filter those who apply after certain deadlines. 

• The second-to-last column (Column P) will contain notes explaining scores. 

• The last column (Column Q) will contain notes about why any candidates who were offered an interview did not interview. 

Criteria on the BQ template must be objective (e.g."resume contains three typos" instead of "resume is sloppy") and job-related (as opposed to “referred by so-and-so.”)

• All applicants in the folder must be rated.

• Applicants must be rated based on review of submitted documentation and documentable history with NKY Health ONLY. 

• No applicant may be disqualified at any point of the selection process for a reason that is protected but not  job related, including pregnancy and smoking status. 

• Use one list for the same position across all locations.

• Use the same list until it expires.

• Lists expire 90 days after the latter of:

  • An employee is hired.

  • The date the last candidate is interviewed. 

  • The date the last candidate is rated.

1. Download the list template.

2. Name it "XXX BQ List - m/d/yyyy" (where "XXX" is the code for the position posted and m/d/yyyy is the most recent date you update it)

3. Open the file.

4. Replace "Classification Title" with the title of the position (e.g. "Case Manager" or "Clinic RN")

5. Replace "Program" with the program only if the position is program-specific (e.g. Health Educator HIV/AIDS Housing; otherwise, delete the word "Program.")

6. Replace "Fname Lname, Title" with the name and title of the person(s) completing the list.

7. Replace "m/d/yyyy" with the date you are sending the list to Human Resources.

8. List the name of each applicant in Column A.

9. Assign numerical ratings in the intersecting cells for each applicant.

10. Add notes about the reasons in the intersecting cell of Column O for each applicant.

11. Change the color of the font of the names of the top scorers who will be offered an interview. (Note:  All applicants who score at or above the minimum you select to interview must be offered an interview.)

12. Email the file to Human Resources.

13. As interviews are offered, add notes about the reasons the top scorers in a different font are not interviewed. (e.g. Left VM on 5/1/2023 and sent email on 5/3/2023 but no response.)

14. Email a new file with an updated date to hr@nkyhealth.org each time more interviews are offered.

15. Email the final file with an updated date to hr@nkyhealth.org after the posting ends and all applicants are in the list.

TIP:  You may use the applied by column (Column N) to "cut off" if you want to stop considering individuals who apply after a certain date as long at the date is uniform and consistent for all.

Each position posted describes the minimum qualifications for applying.  Sometimes education/experience can substitute for qualifications listed.  As the supervisor of the position, it's up to you to make this determination within the Equivalency Guidelines NKY Health uses and to document this determination in your BQ List.

Training on using the template to prepare the Best Qualified List was conducted on 3/25/2015.  Click Here to Access the Training.

5/1/2023 

• Added Revision Log.

• Removed references to CareerBuilder in preparation to change to a different posting and applicant tracking tool.

• Changed language to move to a standard TEMPLATE BQ List for all classifications instead of a different TEMPLATE BQ List for each individual classification. 

• Replaced "Tips" with "Guidelines" and "Instructions."

4/12/2024

• Replaced "see" with "refer to"

• Replaced Human Resources with an email