Applying With Civil Service

When applying to take a civil service test, you should realize that the testing process takes time. In some cases it may take a few weeks. In other cases it may take a few months. The Civil Service Department does not do the hiring for the City of New Orleans. We establish the eligibility lists from which other city agencies do the hiring. The only hiring we do is for positions in our own department.

The positions for which our department is testing are publically posted on our job board. The job announcement gives the job title, the monthly salary, a description of the work, the minimum education and/or experience requirements needed to apply to take the test, and the types(s) of testing used in screening applicants. If there is a final filing date for applying, this will be noted too.

If you think you qualify to take a test, fill out the application form. Remember: You may only apply for one job per application. Also put the official job title on the application. And remember: only apply for tests which are posted. In addition to an application, it may also be necessary to fill out a personal history form, and a voter’s registration certificate to determine residency. You may also need to submit your education or licensing documents if they are specified on the job announcement. Your application will then be reviewed to determine your eligibility to take the test for the position.

• Application for Examination Form
• Personal History Form

PROMOTIONAL AND ORIGINAL ENTRANCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

We separate civil service positons into Promotional and Original Entrance Opportunity announcements.

Promotional Opportunity announcements are open only to those working in a classified City of New Orleans Civil Service position. Usually applicants need permanent status in these positions. However, in some cases, only probationary status is required. Regardless, to apply for a promotional position, you must be working in a lower job classification than the one for which you are applying. If you are working in a higher job classification and are interested in applying for a promotional position in a lower classification, check with the appointing authority about a voluntary demotion.

Original Entrance Opportunities announcements are open to everyone. Unless residency is waived on the announcement, you must be a current resident of Orleans Parish. Sometimes examinations are both original entrance and promotional. If this is the case the announcements are posted under original entrance and promotional.

If you inquire about a test for which we are not testing, you may fill out an interest card. The interest card will be mailed to you when we post the test announcement. When you receive an interest letter, you should then come to the Application Desk to fill out an application if you meet the minimum qualification requirements. The interest card is not an application form.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Regardless of whether you apply for an original entrance or promotional examination, you must meet the minimum qualification requirements for testing as stated on the announcement. Some job counselors mistakenly tell people to apply for a position whether or not they qualify. This is wrong. Once Civil Service establishes minimum qualification requirements, we cannot arbitrarily change these requirements. Therefore, if you apply for a position knowing that you do not qualify, you waste time, and delay testing for those who do. If education is substituted for experience, or experience substituted for education, this will be stated on the announcement. If it is not stated on the announcement, then these substitutions cannot be made.

The minimum qualification requirements are stated on the announcement. Read them carefully. If you have any questions about them, ask the person at the application desk or check with the analyst who is screening the applicants for testing for that particular position.

If there is an education requirement, we have to see original diplomas. We do not keep diplomas, but make copies of the originals or take the necessary information on an official documents receipt form. In some cases it may be necessary to see an official transcript instead of a diploma. If this is the case, we will need to see the transcript with the raised seal on it. Usually official transcripts become a permanent part of your record. If we have to see licenses, we have to see originals too. When submitting a license, make sure it is current, and has not expired. We do not keep licenses. We do not accept photocopies of diplomas or licenses unless they are accompanied by the original.

When filling out the personal history form, be specific. This is especially true when filling out previous work experience. In some cases it may be necessary for us to verify previous employment. If this is the case, we may have to see a letter from previous employer(s) and/or a W-2 (Income Tax) form(s).

CIVIL SERVICE TESTING METHODS

Generally speaking, Civil Service has three methods of testing: 1) written tests, 2) oral tests, and 3) ratings of training and experience. Civil Service can use one method of screening or a combination of two or more. Certain job classifications may include other screening methods such as psychological or medical exams, agility tests, or performance tests. The methods to be used will be stated on the examination announcements.

For written or oral tests, applicants generally notified by mail. Therefore, it is important to write your address clearly so we can notify you. It is also important for you to notify our office should you change your address. In some special cases, you may be given test date at the application desk. For more detailed discussion of taking written and oral tests, please read our individual circulars on written and oral tests.

Perhaps the least understood method of testing is the rating of training experience because applicants are not called in to take a sit down test. Scores are based on an applicant’s job experience and/or education.

TEST RESULTS

Applicants are notified by mail of their test results. Usually you have one month to review your test results. For most tests, we do not give the answers to questions because we use the test more than once. We can usually tell you where your strong and weak areas are in a test.

Usually you will receive a grade in the mail. You will receive either a score or a band number. If you receive a band number, all applicants within the same band are considered equal. If the examination is open on a continuous basis (whether it is scored or banded), an applicant’s place on the eligibility list could rise or fall every time an examination is given or when someone is hired from the list. If you passed, but passed with a low score and want to attempt to raise your score, you will have to wait the prescribed waiting time as stated on the official announcement before taking the examination again.

Some examinations are not graded and qualifications are used to determine an applicant’s eligibility. If this is the case, names are placed on a non-competitive eligibility list.

In hiring for a competitive position, an agency can select from the top three interested and available people on the eligibility list. If some scores are tied, more than three persons may be shown as “considered”. For each additional vacancy, one more name from the eligibility list will be sent to the hiring agency. To find out where you are on the eligibility list during this phase of hiring, contact our certification office at (504) 685-3515. This office, within the Civil Service Department, releases eligibility list names to the city departments doing the hiring.