Quick Tips - Preparing to Apply for a Job Opening

Tip #1 - Make sure to thoroughly review the job announcement for important details about the position, minimum qualifications, conditions of employment, the examination process (as applicable), and the subsequent steps of the recruitment and selection process.

The job announcement can be found by visiting Job Opportunities and selecting the applicable job title.

The “Minimum Qualifications” on the job announcement are the experience and training requirements for the job classification. When applying for a Washoe County job opening, it is important that the information you include on your online application clearly demonstrates you meet the minimum qualifications. If your application does not demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications, your application will be disqualified, and you will not move forward in the recruitment and selection process.
It is up to you, as the applicant, how many previous jobs to list on the application. Please include as much information needed to clearly demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications of the position. It is also important to remember that your application materials are provided to the hiring panel at the time of interview.
You can also review the class specification for the position to get more detailed information on the duties of the position and the knowledge, skills and abilities which are required for the position. Class specifications can be found by visiting Job Specifications and Salaries.
Some job announcements will include an “Ideal Candidate” criteria section. If you possess the skills/qualifications listed under the Ideal Candidate criteria section, we recommend highlighting these skills in your application materials and the interview. Think of ideal candidate criteria as a cheat sheet from the hiring department outlining the skills/qualifications they are seeking from a top candidate for the position.
Please also review the “License or Certificate” section of the job announcement for information on the licenses/certificates which may be required at the time application, upon hire (appointment), or within a specific time frame upon hire.

Tip #2 - Prior to beginning your online application, read the “What Happens Next” section of the job announcement. This section outlines the steps which take place after your application is submitted. In addition, the What Happens Next section will give you important information about the examination process to include a tentative exam date for an in-person exam OR a tentative timeframe to receive an exam link for remote testing. There are instances where the Department of Human Resources will waive an exam and qualified candidates are placed on an unranked list.

Tip #3 - Before you submit your online application, remember to attach required documents such as copies of required licenses/certificates, etc.

Attach any documents which you want to include within your application file such as a resume, cover letter, letter of recommendation, etc. Please note certain recruitments may require this information be included with your online application.
Eligible veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces shall receive one (1) bonus point upon passing Open Competitive examinations only, provided they attach proof of Honorable Discharge (DD-214 with Classification of Discharge) to the online application at time of submission.

Helpful Hints:

Have all information ready before beginning the application. Examples of these items may be previous employment information, attachments, etc.
You can save your application and complete it at a later time up until the deadline. Once you submit your application you will be able to view it. However, you will be unable to make any changes.
Go through each section one at a time and verify each field is filled out with the information being requested.
You will receive a confirmation email AFTER submitting your application from governmentjobs.com. If this has not occurred, please contact Human Resources at (775) 328-2081.

~~WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU APPLY~~

Your application will be reviewed by Human Resources, and you will receive an email notification regarding the status of your application.
If your application was accepted, you will move forward to the next phase of the selection process. This may entail being invited to take part in the examination process. Email notifications from Human Resources regarding the recruitment to include the examination process will be sent via email to the email address you provided on your application. Please thoroughly read the “What Happens Next” section of the job announcement for information regarding the examination process.
The Washoe County Personnel Handbook section 5.160 outlines instances which allow the Department of Human Resources to waive the examination process. When an examination is waived, all qualified candidates are placed on an unranked list to be interviewed by the hiring department.
Certain recruitments fall outside of the merit system and will entail a separate and unique process. The details of the process will be outlined on the job announcement.
If it is determined that you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the position, you have one (1) business day after you have been notified to contact Human Resources and to file an appeal and request a review of your qualifications. Appeals are limited to clarification on the information which was already listed on your application materials. We are unable to accept new information pertaining to your education, training, and work experience when evaluating an appeal.
Once the examination is scored, you will receive an email notification with the results. Please be advised that a hiring department will receive candidate names for an interview in rank order. If you are not contacted for an interview, this means that the hiring department did not request enough candidate names to get to your rank on the list. If you passed the exam, your name will remain on the eligible list for future vacancies.

For more information, please visit Recruitment and Selection Process.

For a full listing of our job openings and to submit an online application, please visit Job Opportunities.