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Human Resources - Applying for Jobs & Hiring Process

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1. How do I apply for a job?

Access the Employment Opportunities Page to apply for a job.

2. Is there a way to practice filling out and submitting an application online if I’m not ready to submit a real application?

By filling out the Application on File, you are able to maintain a master document that can be copied and modified when applying for different positions. Submitting this practice application will not enter you into any recruitment, but allows you to have an updated application template at hand for immediate use when there is a position for which you would like to apply.

3. What happens after I submit my application?

The Human Resources Department will screen your submitted application materials to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. It is your responsibility to identify in your application materials how you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job announcement. If it is determined that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to participate in a competitive examination process. The type of exam will be defined on the job announcement. Examinations may include the following:

• Formal assessment center exam
• Oral exam
• Physical agility exam
• Training and experience rating
• Written exam
• Combination of these

Please contact the Human Resources Department at least five working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation. Once the exams have been scored, you will be notified of your exam results and an Eligible List will be created. The Eligible List will include the names of all candidates successfully passing the required examinations in rank order. There may be a number of individuals in each rank. When a position becomes available in a department, the Human Resources Department provides the hiring department with a Certified Eligible List of all individuals in the top five ranks. As individuals are hired from the Eligible List, candidates in lower ranks may become eligible to be referred to a department if the upper ranks are cleared.

The hiring department will select people to interview from the Certified Eligible List based on a review of the specific position available, the needs of the department, and the job-related knowledge, skills and abilities of each individual, as determined by list placement and the information provided on the application materials submitted. The hiring department will contact you if you are selected for an interview. If you are contacted for an interview, please notify the department, prior to the interview, if you require accommodation in the hiring interview process.

4. How do I qualify for Veteran’s Preference?

View the veteran's preference page for information on qualifying.

5. I’ve been offered a job with Placer County. What happens next?

For permanent positions and many extra help/temporary positions, before the date of hire, your employment is contingent upon passing a medical examination. This may include drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation, signing a constitutional oath, and submitting proof of U.S. Citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. Depending on the position, you may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background check, be bonded, and/or be fingerprinted. If you are currently employed it is recommended that you not quit your current job until you have successfully cleared the medical examination.

6. I currently work for another public agency. Is there a way I can transfer to Placer County?

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for departmental hiring interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List (PAEL) and certified as eligible for appointment to a substantially similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information regarding the PAEL program, and to download required forms, please visit the employees of other public agencies page.

7. My contact information has changed. How do I let you know?

You may update contact information for all of your online applications by clicking on the button Update My Contact Info. Enter your User ID and Password and then modify your contact information. This new contact information will be updated for all of your applications.

8. Can I change the departments I want my name to go to?

Yes, you may update, in writing, the departments to which you would like your name certified (provided such designation was a part of the recruitment).

9. What am I required to report when asked about any prior convictions?

Conviction for a crime is not necessarily a bar to employment. Each case is considered separately based on job requirements. You may omit:

• Minor traffic violations
• Any offense committed prior to your 18th birthday which was finally adjudicated in a Juvenile Court of under a youth offender law
• Any incident sealed under Welfare and Institutions Code 781 or Penal Code 1203.45
• Any offenses committed under Health and Safety Codes 11357(b) or (c); 11360(c); 11364, 11365 or 11550 as related to marijuana prior to January 1, 1976 or any other convictions mentioned in Labor Code § 432.8

10. Does Placer County use any Temporary Employment Agencies?

In addition to Extra Help staff, the County occasionally may utilize the services of a Temporary Staffing Services agency on an as-needed basis to provide intermittent and limited term clerical support to various departments.  Currently the County has a contract with SearchPros Staffing, who is responsible for recruiting, testing, and selecting qualified applicants for possible placement.  SearchPros staff are not considered county employees and may not work in excess of 960 hours per fiscal year (including any hours worked as an Extra Help employee for the County).  Additional information regarding placement as a SearchPros Temp may be obtained by contacting SearchPros directly at (916) 721-6000.

11. I currently contribute to PERS. How will a move to Placer County affect my contributions/retirement?

Please call the Human Resources Department at 530-889-4060 and ask to speak to a Benefits representative.

12. Will I have to go through a background check?

Some positions will require a background check be completed and passed as a condition of employment. This requirement will be stated in the job announcement and discussed with you when you meet with the hiring department.

13. When do I need a document cover sheet?

You will need to use a document cover sheet (PDF) when you wish to submit additional materials, whether with your application or at a later date. Only one type of document may be submitted with each document cover sheet.

14. What if I’m interested in a job you’re not currently recruiting for?

If you would like to be notified when we are accepting applications for a position not currently listed on our Employment Opportunities page, please submit an interest card. An email will be sent to you when the recruitment opens for a classification for which you have submitted an interest card.

15. How do I find job specifications for the different positions?

Visit the classifications and salary page.

16. How do I find out how much a job pays?

Salary information can be accessed by visiting the classifications and salary page.

17. Can I apply for multiple jobs by submitting just one application?

No. A separate application must be submitted for each position for which you wish to be considered. You may, though, use your application on file as a master document to copy and modify for a new application.

18. Can experience be substituted for education in the area of minimum qualifications?

Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department.

19. I’m having a problem getting this to work on my computer. Who can assist me?

You may receive assistance while completing you application by emailing the Human Resources Department or by calling 530-886-4607.

20. Can I submit a copy of my degree from a foreign college or university?

Applicants receiving their degree outside the must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

21. Can I get extra pay for being bi-lingual?

If your position is designated as one which requires language proficiency skills as a regular part of your job, you may be eligible for additional pay. Additional information will be provided at time of hire, or if you are a current employee, may be obtained via your supervisor and/or department Human Resources representative.