Civil service exam p1 - Military Transition - Military Times EDGE

Service members transitioning to civilian jobs enjoy a tremendous advantage during lean economic times thanks to hiring preferences in the public sector. But to gain entry into jobs ranging from postal service or parks and recreation employee to firefighter or highway patrolman, everyone must pass some version of a civil service exam.

Test basics

A civil service exam is generally any exam given to potential public employees for a specific job classification or skill. The results are then used to place applicants on an eligibility list in score order. Civil service exams often are tailored to the profession for which they test, so there’s no one cookie-cutter exam. Even at the occupational level, tests differ. The test for firefighters in Atlanta will be different from the test for firefighters in Dallas. And depending on the field, an exam could consist of written tests, interviews, essay tests, performance tests or a combination thereof.

Several basic subjects can be found on most tests, including mathematics, customer service (if applicable), decision making, management and supervision, and grammar and vocabulary. Scott DeYoung, examining chief in the City of Los Angeles’ Personnel Department, said job bulletins in his city always list the job’s duties, minimum requirements and the areas tested in. Many entry-level jobs test for basic aptitude skills, such as reading, writing and arithmetic. “Typically, we’re testing for things that people should have learned over the years,” DeYoung said. “If it’s an interview, we’re looking for experience, oral communication skills and interpersonal skills.”

The process

To get approved to take an exam to begin with, service members should examine open positions when they’re still two to three months away from separating, said Glenn Encarnacion, an Army psychological operations veteran now working as deputy director of exam management and recruiting in the city of San Diego’s personnel division.

Jobs often are posted on government Web sites. Ask about timelines for filling any vacancies, and prepare to make yourself available to complete an application. Initial applications merely screen for minimum requirements — education, experience and training. Criminal or medical history is screened for after a job offer.

Once an application has been approved, testing varies widely by location and profession. Exams for 911 dispatchers or high-turnover positions are often given monthly. Testing for in-demand jobs such as firefighters or police officers may be administered once a year. And jobs demanding specific skills, such as crime-lab scientists, are recruited for continually.

How to study

Preparing for a civil service exam may be difficult, but it’s not impossible. The Public Service Employees Network offers sample tests and study guides for many different job fields at www.pse-net.com, along with resources on applying, writing a cover letter and how to dress for an interview. ARCO publishes numerous guides to passing the exam.

Encarnacion recommends thinking about the concepts likely to be on each exam.

The tests are designed to “draw out a person’s aptitude and potential to do well in their field,” he said. He advises taking advantage of any sort of online resources offered by the department you’re applying to, as well as job shadowing or ride-along opportunities to help get your foot in the door. The experience and know-how acquired while job-shadowing will prove useful in job-specific tests and interviews.

“The one thing the tests all have in common for people preparing for them is they need to know what the job is about — what kind of skills are needed to be successful at it — so that they can think about how to bring that to the table,” DeYoung said.

Perseverance

Solid planning, relevant knowledge, work experience — and one additional quality — will help you land the government job you’re looking for.

“You can be the smartest and the strongest,” Encarnacion said, “but the thing that matters most is determination. That’s why I’m attracted to hiring ex-military. Those who can persevere through the waiting and the bureaucracy will be successful.”