How to apply for a state job

 All current CPUC job opportunity bulletins are found HERE

An eligible list consists of applicants who have passed all parts of the examination and can be considered for employment, based on their score. Generally the top three ranks (highest scores) are considered immediately employable and will be contacted first.

Eligible List:  A list of persons who have been examined in an open competitive examination and are eligible for certification for a specific class. (Gov. Code 18532) 

Eligibility:  Term used to describe a passing score received on an examination. In order to apply for employment with the State of California, list eligibility must be established for the classification. List eligibility can be up to four years, but is typically one year in length. When list eligibility expires, an applicant must reapply to re-establish eligibility by retaking the examination.

When you receive your notice of exam results, it will indicate your total score and the rank on the list this score represents. If you are in Rank 1, 2, or 3, you can immediately begin looking for job openings/vacancies. However, even if you are in lower ranks, you could become reachable as hires are made, and employment preferences for individual positions are not selected by persons in higher ranks.

If you receive an employment contact letter from the CPUC HR department, that means your name was certified on the eligible list and you are probably reachable for consideration for that position. Again, due to employment preferences, you may be contacted as reachable for one position and not be reachable for another position.

When the CPUC uses an employment list to fill an open position, employment contact letters are sent to the individuals on the eligible list to determine if they are interested in a position.

Some important information you should know about employment contacts are:

Employment contact (Inquiry) letter:   Any communication, including, but not limited to, by way of letter, telephone, email, or other electronic means, used to contact candidates to determine their interest in a job vacancy. Most commonly seen as a letter sent to individuals on a Cert Lists to ascertain their interest in a specific position. Also referred to as a "Contact" or "Contact Letter" (2 CCR § 80.1)

• If you receive a contact letter, you must respond by the date indicated on the letter to be considered for the position. If you do not respond by the date indicated, the department does not have to consider you for the position. 

Application (std. 678):  The official state application form for examinations and employment.  It is available in hard copy form, or electronic through a MyCalCareer Account.  It contains a person's personal information, basic employment questions, education, work history, demographic and Employment Equal Opportunity (EEO) data.

The application you submit for an job opportunity bulletin is a reflection of your ability to read, understand and follow directions, as well as your ability to present complete and accurate information. Carefully fill out your application and answer all questions.

You may include a resume with your application to describe in detail your education and experience; however, be sure to include the following information directly on the application form, in the event the resume gets separated from the application: the job title of each job you held, the employer you worked for, the dates you worked in each job (to and from dates), whether the job was full-time or part-time, and the number of hours worked each week.

CalHR provides a job application package checklist which can be found on CalCareers in the Additional Documents section of the job posting.

The checklist lists the required documents that you must submit when applying for a job on CalCareers. Please note that every job application package may request different required documents (i.e. resume, cover letter, Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), transcripts or copy of diploma, or an Employment Application Form (STD 678). Each job opportunity listed on CalCareers will have set requirements for the job application package. This will differ depending on the position and classification. To be considered for the position you are applying for, you must include all the required documents listed on the job application package checklist.

What is normally required in a job application package?

Typically, an Employment Application Form (STD 678) and resume will be the most common requirements for an application package. However, some other documents may be required, such as a SOQ, cover letter, a typing Certificate, or a copy of your degree.

What is always required in a job application package?

1. STD 678

What are additional common components of a job application package?

1. Resume
2. Cover letter
3. SOQ if applicable
4. Supplemental documentation (certificates, degrees, official transcripts, licenses, etc.), usually listed as “other” on the checklist, if applicable.

Please remember that in order to have your application considered, you must include all the required documents listed in the job advertisement in your application package. READ the advertisement carefully and in its entirety. All this information will be listed on CalCareers under the job posting. You will click on the job posting and scroll down to application instructions. You will then look under Required Application Package Documents to view what should be included in the job application package. You can also reference the job application package checklist.

Resources

CalCareers Tutorial videos for Job Seekers 

If you require Reasonable Accommodation to take a written test or interview, please check the appropriate box on the online application form.

You will interview with hiring managers and subject matter experts in the area in which there is an opening.  The panel typically consists of 2 – 3 people.

Once you have completed the interview, you will receive notice about whether you have or have not been selected for the particular opening.  If you have been selected, a representative from Human Resources will call you to extend a formal offer and process necessary paperwork, before finally establishing an official start date.  If you have not been selected, you will be notified by the Division and encouraged to apply for other positions that are open at the Commission.

Yes, but you can simply submit the same data to multiple Job opportunity and/or exam bulletins without re-entering any of your data. You should continue to update information on your application(s) in order to your changing work experience/education.

ASSESSMENT:  Once you find the job you want, we need to learn more about you. We will evaluate your education, experience, abilities, and knowledge through an assessment. The assessment process can take many forms, including an interview or exam, depending on the job.

Read the job’s bulletin to see the qualifications needed. It will also explain what the job is like, notes the salary range, and gives you an overview of the assessment process.

If you are interested and qualified, begin the assessment. If you pass, then you are eligible to start applying

Sign up now to create your personalized account. Your account will help you manage the entire process from start to finish. From your account you can begin the assessment process, and sometimes receive instant results. You can create and manage your applications, and can submit them to departments when you are ready to apply for a job. You can also set up alerts to notify you when new jobs are posted.

Click the “Create account” link now to get started on the CalCareer website.

You only need to fill out one job application, and you can use the same form to apply for multiple positions.  Or you can create two or three applications, tailoring them to different jobs.  You can also upload other attachments, if needed, such as resumes, transcripts and writing samples.

Often, a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required to apply for a civil service position. A SOQ is a mechanism for obtaining an applicant’s qualifications and experience in job-related areas. A SOQ consists of a series of questions or require you to address desirable qualifications. A SOQ may be scored as part of the application screening process and may serve as a writing sample and written interview for the recruitment.

If you are asked to provide a SOQ, this is your opportunity to showcase the skills, experience, and knowledge you have that is needed to be successful in the position. It will also set you apart and tell the employer why you are the best candidate for the job.

Check out the tips below on how to write an effective SOQ.

Planning

1. Read the entire job advertisement.
2. Review and consider each question or desirable qualification that is listed in the job posting.
3. Refrain from regurgitating what is on your resume.
4. Allow yourself enough time to complete the required document(s) to eliminate room for errors.
5. Do not sell yourself short on your experience.

Writing

1. Clearly define your experience and how it aligns to the duty statement.
2. There is not one perfect way to write a SOQ, but the best advice is to make it unique to you.
3. Remember that grammar, clarity of expression, and legibility are considered in the evaluation process.
4. If a question doesn’t pertain to you, write in the most closely related answer possible to showcase your transferable skills.
5. Be specific when answering questions regarding your experience (where, when, what, how, and why).
6. Provide specific examples that demonstrate your qualifications.
7. If the question has multiple parts (A, B, and C), answer each part separately.
8. Address each question/desirable qualification described in the recruitment individually.

Reviewing

1. Ensure you address all questions/desirable qualifications.
2. Ensure you follow all SOQ instructions regarding font, font size and number of pages.