The County of San Diego provides a wide variety of services within its geographical boundary. Over thirty departments provide services which include law enforcement; temporary assistance to those in need; public health, mental health, children’s services, and long term care facilities; enforcement of environmental, planning and health codes; and maintenance of libraries, parks, airports and County roads. The County issues building permits, probates estates, regulates air pollution, and provides animal control services, and maintains public records such as birth, marriage and death certificates .….. and more.

The County has a merit-based civil service personnel system. This means that, in order to become a County employee, you must first participate in a competitive process to have your name placed on an employment list. The County has over 1,400 different job classifications, and there is a separate employment list for each classification.

The objective of this area is to provide you with information about the County’s hiring process through the Department of Human Resources (DHR), and to supplement information which is printed on the reverse side of all job announcements.    The answers to Frequently Asked Questions are provided, for your information.  There is additional information below that may assist you.

The County accepts applications for a job classification only during specified recruitment periods.

Recruitments may be open to the public or promotional, which means one must be a County employee to be eligible to apply.

Recruitment periods may be for ten calendar days, several weeks, or continuous (series recruitments).

Most recruitments are conducted to fill current vacancies. Other recruitments are held to establish an employment list for anticipated vacancies. Typically, the employment list remains in effect for one year.

Each job classification has its own unique requirements. Read the job announcement carefully. Make sure you meet the published requirements on the job announcement before applying.

If you do not meet the requirements, you will receive a notice in the mail explaining you are not eligible to compete in the recruitment. If you do not understand why your application was rejected, or wish to provide additional clarification, you must contact DHR within ten calendar days of the notice of ineligibility.

If you do meet the published requirements, complete the employment application, supplemental application form if one is attached, and any other requested materials, and submit them to DHR by 5:30 P.M. of the filing deadline.

On the employment application, if you do not check ANY type of position, work schedule or location, you will be limiting yourself to those conditions you select.

Make sure you complete your application neatly, legibly, and thoroughly, as it may affect the score you receive on the employment list. Be specific about your knowledge, experience and training, and answer all parts of the application. Always keep a copy of your completed application.

 The evaluation, or method of testing, is always described under the heading Evaluation on the job announcement. The evaluation is designed to assess applicants’ job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities.

The evaluation process may be any one or a combination of the following:

• Rating of information contained in the employment and supplemental application
• Written multiple choice test
• Written essay test
• Oral interview
• Performance test
• Work simulation test

The Department of Human Resources will notify you through U. S. mail of the date, time and place of the test.

To prepare for the written test, review and study the information to be covered. Adult education and community colleges offer workshops on how to take civil service tests, and information is provided at the public library.

DHR will notify you through U. S. Mail of your final score, approximately three to four weeks of the test date. Complex recruitments may take longer.

When a County department has a vacancy, DHR will provide that department with the names, in alphabetical order, of top ranking applicants on the employment list. The number of names provided depends on the number of vacancies to be filled. The applicants will also receive a notice stating that the department is considering them for employment.

The department will determine those candidates who are most qualified for its particular vacancy through any combination of the following: application review, interviews, performance test, reference check, background investigation, or other job-related assessment process.

If you are selected for the position, you will be scheduled for a pre-employment medical examination, which includes mandatory drug and alcohol screening, and a background investigation. Upon successful completion, your start date will be established with you.  Unless you are represented by the DA, PD or PM bargaining units, you will be required to utilize electronic direct deposit of your paychecks to the bank or financial institution of your choice.

After you are hired, you will serve a probationary period before you become a permanent County employee. The probationary period is specified for each job classification and may be six, twelve or eighteen months. During this time you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and skills, and your performance and work habits will be evaluated.

If You Are Not Selected

If you are not selected, your name will remain on the employment list until the specified expiration date that is printed on your notice of test results, and you may be considered for future hiring.

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