merit hiring
Competence-driven job selection
Merit hiring is the practice of selecting employees based on qualifications, skills, and demonstrated ability rather than connections, demographics, or other factors.
The term appears neutral but often carries political freight—invoked to oppose affirmative action or diversity initiatives, with the implication that such programs compromise standards: The company returned to merit hiring after the lawsuit.
Critics note that "merit" itself can be defined in ways that favor certain backgrounds.
- meritocracyAdvancement through demonstrated ability
- level playing fieldEqual competitive conditions
- equal opportunityUnbiased chance for all
- qualificationsProof of competence
- competenceAdequate ability to function
credentials · resume · job posting · interview · selection · talent · track record · skills · skills gap · achievement · promotion · fairness · civil service · testing · performance · ability · excellence · shortlist
- workplace equityequal opportunity, pay equity, fair employment, fair treatment, workplace diversity
- Municipal Reformzoning reform, budget reform, pension reform, tax reform, city charter
- anti-corruptionanti-graft, whistleblower protection, whistleblowers, financial disclosure, conflict of interest
- public servicecivil servant, civil servants, government employee, public servants, public servant
merit hiringnepotism
Preferring kin in hiring
cronyism · favoritism · patronage · spoils system · political appointments
merit hiringhereditary privilege
Advantage conferred by birth
birthright · affirmative action · diversity hiring · preferential hiring · set-asides
merit, hire, merits, merited, meriting, meritorious, meritoriously, meretricious, hiring