Human Resources FAQs

New job postings typically open Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Job postings typically close at 11:59 pm. Monday through Friday. Review the Recruitment Dates section for the planned closing date. Dates are subject to change without notice based on business needs.

This will vary based on department, hiring manager, how many hiring managers are working together, time of year, and workloads. HR encourages hiring managers to make contact with candidates as soon as possible or within 1-2 weeks of the job closing. If you don’t hear back right away, don’t be discouraged!

Cover letters are encouraged, and, in most cases, resumes are required. Review the "How to Apply" section for any specific requirements.

Benefits of a cover letter:

• Opportunity to share information about yourself.
• State why you are interested in the opportunity.
• Clarify how your skills and experience relate to the position.

Important - the system only allows one document to be uploaded. Combine your cover letter and resume into one document before completing your application.

Phoenix Public Library has online cover letter, resume, and interview preparation resources. The Ocotillo Library has a Workforce Center and hosts various work-related events.

Arizona@Work provides various resources and assistance with preparing cover letters and resumes.

Live outside of Phoenix or Arizona? Check out your local library!

General employees do not need to reside in Phoenix. The following employees shall reside within the boundaries of the City of Phoenix within twenty-four (24) months of appointment or promotion.

1. The City Manager and such other professional staff of the Mayor, the City Council, and the City Manager's Office as the City Manager shall designate.
2. All Deputy City Managers, Department Heads, Assistant Department Heads, and other such classes as are officially included in the Executive category.

Questions regarding employee residency requirements should be directed to the City of Phoenix Human Resources Department, Administration Division, at 602-495-5700.

Driving positions may require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. For any individual being considered for a driving position, the following items preclude hiring, promotion, transfer, placement, etc.:

• Eight points or more in the previous 36 months.
• A conviction for driving under the influence within the previous 36 months.
• A license that has been suspended, canceled, disqualified, refused, or revoked as the direct result of a moving violation within the previous 36 months.
• A current suspension, cancellation, expiration, refusal, revocation, or restriction that affects the individual’s authorization to drive.
• Other factors such as zero-point violations or a pending DUI (driving under the influence) charges are considered in determining if the individual’s driving record is acceptable.
  

An individual with a disability who takes an entrance examination for employment shall be given a preference of five points upon obtaining a passing grade on the examination process. For the purpose of this section, an individual with a disability shall mean anyone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of their major life activities or has a record of such impairment or is regarded by themselves or others as having such impairment.

In accordance with Arizona Revised Statute, Title 38, Section 491 and Section 492, any individual who has served more than six (6) months or more of active duty in the armed forces of the United States of America under Title 10 (Federal active duty) and has been discharged under honorable conditions will be given five (5) points preference after they obtained passing scores on all phases of the testing process.

The term "active duty" means full-time duty in the active service of a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.

Additionally, a person whose discharge is based on a service-connected disability will be given veteran's preference regardless of his / her length of service and a surviving spouse of an eligible veteran shall be given five preference points if any one of the following conditions exists: any veteran who dies of a service-connected disability; any veteran who has a total permanent disability resulting from a service-connected injury or any veteran who died while such a disability was in existence; any member of the armed forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application, is listed by the Secretary of Defense of the United States in any of the following categories for not less than 90 days (missing in action, captured in the line of duty by hostile force, or forcibly detained or interned while in the line of duty by a foreign government or power).The term "armed forces" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard. Applicants are not required to submit proof of discharge (DD 214) in order to receive the five preference points, however, the spouse or surviving spouse must present official documentation attesting that any one or more of the above conditions exists, i.e. a letter from the V.A., DD 214, etc.

This does not apply to exams associated with promotional recruitments (these are recruitments restricted to current City of Phoenix employees).

Save as Draft - This button allows you to:

• Save your application as a draft at any time
• Return to your application at a later date.
• Helps to avoid losing any information - save often.

Submit - This button should only be clicked when your application is complete and ready for review and consideration for the position.

• Important: If you do not click Submit, your application will remain in draft status and will not be considered for the opportunity.
  

You can return to draft applications by clicking "My Job Applications" on the Careers page. Scroll through your list of applications to find the necessary Draft application. Click the > button to return to your application.

Reminder - Submit your application before the posted deadline, as draft and/or late applications are not accepted.

Experience can be used to make up for lack of education on a one-for-one ratio. For example: one year of related paraprofessional or professional level experience equals one year of college-level education.

Additionally, college-level education can be used to make up for lack of experience on a one-to-one ratio. For example: one year of college-level education in a related field equals one year of experience. When a graduate degree or professional certification is not required, a master's degree in a related field equals one year, or a professional certification in a related profession equals one year of experience.

Free computer resources are available at:

Phoenix Public Library is a system of 16 branch libraries and Burton Barr Central library, each with various computer resources.

Arizona@Work operates offices throughout the state to provide locally tailored recruitment, training, and retention solutions for employers, alongside comprehensive workforce readiness services to help job seekers enhance their employability and secure employment opportunities.

Live outside of Phoenix or Arizona? Check out your local library!

Contact the Human Resources Connection Center

• Phone: (602) 495-5700
• Email: HRC@phoenix.gov
• Office hours are 7:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, closed on all observed city holidays.

Click the "Forgot User Name" link and enter your email address. If you have an account with that email, your user name will be emailed to you.

OR

Click the "Forgot Password" option, enter your user name and a new password will be emailed to you.

Contact the Human Resources Connection Center

• Phone: (602) 495-5700
• Email: HRC@phoenix.gov
• Office hours are 7:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, closed on all observed city holidays.

You will be asked to provide information to establish your identity. Once complete, you can use the system to request the User Name and/or Password accordingly.

This happens when more than one account is set up with the same email address.

Send an email to ESSTAFF@phoenix.gov for assistance. Please include the following information in your request:

• Subject line: Unique Email Error - Your Last Name
• Any email address you've used to create an application profile with the City of Phoenix.
• Your phone number(s).
• The position you are trying to apply for, including the closing date.

Try closing your web browser and then opening it again. After you re-open the browser, you may need to delete your temporary internet files and cookies. To do this, on your browser's toolbar click Tools, then Internet Options or Settings (depending on browser). In the Temporary Internet Files or Cookies and Permissions section, click Delete Cookies and Temporary Files.

Alternatively, you can press the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys at the same time. This will bring up a menu enabling you to select content to delete.

Sometimes, restarting your computer may be necessary.

After you have completed these tasks, you should be able to access the application.

If you are still having problems, contact your systems administrator or Internet service provider. Your system may have a firewall installed that is preventing you from viewing our page.

A few situations that may cause this error:

• The file name may have invalid characters such as double periods (i.e., Resume..doc), or
• The file name may be too long, i.e., City of Phoenix-Budget Analyst III - Cover Letter and Resume -10-31-2024.doc. Try reducing the file name to LastNameResume.doc or LastNameResume102024.pdf, or
• The file size may be too big (exceeds 10MB). Try reducing the file size by removing graphics and images or reducing the page length. A different file type may also work, i.e., .pdf instead of .docx, or
• The Upload button was clicked before first selecting a file.

Profile information such as your name, address, and contacts may be updated by logging into Careers and selecting "My Account Information".

Work experience, education, etc. cannot be changed once you submit your application. However, if the job announcement is still open, you may email HRC@phoenix.gov to request that your application be reset or withdrawn. Please ensure your request includes the job title, job opening ID, and your phone number in case a team member needs to reach out with any questions.

Afterwards, you can reapply and provide your most current information at that time.

The system will accept Word (.doc or .docx), Text (.txt), or PDF (.pdf).

The file size cannot exceed 10MB.

If your skills and experience do not meet the minimum requirements for the position, you will receive an on-screen notification during the application process.

If your skills and experience meet the minimum requirements, you will receive a system-generated email after you successfully submit your application. Not seeing the email? Check your junk or spam folder.

You can view your submitted applications by logging in and clicking "My Job Applications" on the Careers page.

You can view job announcement details by logging into the Careers page, then complete the following:

• Click on "My Job Applications"
• Click on the ">" button on the right side of the applicable application
• Click on the "Jobs Applied For" heading (if this header is missing, the job posting is not available)
• Click on the hyperlinked job title (if there is not a hyperlink, the job posting is not available)

The timing and duration of selection processes vary for each position. The hiring department will contact applicants selected for an interview via phone or email.

Hiring managers create a list of qualifications essential to perform the job functions which are listed in the minimum and preferred qualifications sections in a job posting. The specific job that you apply to may also have “screening” questions which ask you about your specific qualifications. These questions along with candidate resumes are used to determine which candidates are brought forward to an interview.

Yes!

• Log into the Career page and select "View All Jobs".
• Select or type your criteria and then click on "Save Search."
• Name your saved search.
• To receive e-mail notifications specific to your search criteria, check the box that states, "E-mail me when new jobs meet my criteria".
• Then, enter your e-mail address in the next field.
• Click "Save" after completing the desired fields.
  

Hiring managers use this interviewing method when there are a high number of candidates for consideration. Invitations to participate will include a link to complete the virtual interview, the number of questions you'll be asked, and how long you have to respond.

If you need technical support, submit a request to Spark Hire.

When a hiring manager elects to conduct a virtual interview, there is not an alternative option.

If you need access to a computer, review these free resources.

City of Phoenix employment and income verification is completed through Experian Verify.

Experian Verify Customer Support
E-mail: verify.support@experian.com
Phone: (404) 382-5400
Web: experianverify.com

Have questions about Experian? Review their Frequently Asked Questions.