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What about interviews?
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What does the background screening consist of?
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Where can I find information on creating a cover letter and / or resume?
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What does the minimum and maximum salary mean?
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What does the "an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education may be considered" mean?
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When will I receive notice of my eligibility?
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What does my written exam score mean?
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What does my resume evaluation score mean?
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After I apply, how long will I be considered for a position?
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What qualifies as veterans points?
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What qualifies as disability points?
What about interviews?
After the evaluation / testing process, the eligible-for-hire list is established. When a hiring department must fill a vacant position, the hiring supervisor or a delegate will review resumes and select applicants for interviews from the eligible-for-hire list. Selected applicants will be contacted by telephone, mail, or email.
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What does the background screening consist of?
The City of Phoenix is committed to protecting the community and individuals by taking affirmative steps to avoid hiring individuals who represent a risk to the City or community. The purpose of conducting background screening is to conduct a thorough search of an applicant's criminal history, employment records, professional and personal references, education, and motor vehicle records. Other screenings may be conducted based the level of responsibility, access and requirements of the position or Department.
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Where can I find information on creating a cover letter and / or resume?
Recommended guidelines for creating cover letters and resumes can be found on the City's website at
Cover Letter or
Resume Guide
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What does the minimum and maximum salary mean?
All job postings list the minimum and maximum salary for each job classification. City of Phoenix employees enjoy a merit increase pay system which consists of up to nine levels of pay increases called "steps." The majority of new hires will begin at the first pay "step" and thereafter will receive a one "step" increase annually when in good performance standing. The maximum salary is what the employee will be paid once they have reached the final pay "step" assigned to their classification.
While middle managers and executives have a minimum and maximum salary, these positions receive pay advances on the approval of the City Manager based upon periodic review of the individual employee's work performance.
Under some special circumstances, new employees can be hired at a higher step in the event that the labor market requirements or unusual qualifications of a candidate for employment make it necessary.
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What does the "an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education may be considered" mean?
Experience can be used to make up for lack of education on a one for one ration; i.e., 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 ration as well; i.e., 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.
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When will I receive notice of my eligibility?
Notices will be sent by email or hard copy within two weeks of the close of the recruitment or an exam administration.
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What does my written exam score mean?
For most written exams, the raw score, which is the calculation of the correct items on your answer sheet(s), is converted to a "standard score." The average raw score for everyone who took the test is forced to be a standard score of 70. All other scores are likewise converted to standard scores to better compare the many applicants for a position.
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What does my resume evaluation score mean?
For resume evaluations, a passing score of 80 is assigned to all applicants who meet the minimum requirements.
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After I apply, how long will I be considered for a position?
If you have met the minimum qualifications or pass the written exam for the position, your name will be placed on an "eligible-for-hire" list. Your name will remain on the list for a period of six to twelve months depending on the position for which you applied. The date your name expires from a specific list is indicated on the notice you will receive from the personnel analyst who evaluates your resume and cover letter.
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What qualifies as veterans points?
In accordance with Arizona Revised Statute, Title 38, Section 491, 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 he/she has 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.
- The term "armed forces" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard.
Additionally, a person whose discharge is based on a service connected disability will be given veteran's preference regardless or 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 form 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).
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).
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What qualifies as disability points?
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 which substantially limits one or more of his / her major life activities or has a record of such impairment or is regarded by him / herself or other as having such impairment.
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