[upbeat music]

How to get a state job.

(Narrator)
Before you begin your job search, think about what you want in terms of salary, work location and type of position. It's a good idea to focus on jobs that fit your needs. Understand the minimum qualifications for a job and how to show that you meet them. If you do not show that you meet minimum requirements, you may not move on to the next round of recruitment. 
This can mean including your education or proving that you have specific experience in research,

analysis, or inspections. Make sure someone not familiar with your industry or type of work can see how you qualify. Next, review the requested skills in the "what we are looking for" section of the job announcement. You will be evaluated on these skills. You don't have to have every single requested skill listed and you can always refer to transferable skills. For example, if you have worked in food service or retail, you likely have customer service skills that are valuable to any state position. Try to think about what skills and past experiences you will rely on to learn the job and highlight that in your application materials. The most important part of your application is what you enter into Workday in the "my experience" section. Your job duties should be detailed, much more in depth than in your resume and cover letter. Tell us the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your past experience and relate it to your job application. For example, if you list Excel skills on your resume, tell us what you used the program for; who your target audience was; and how often you used it.
Try to focus on tasks that may be similar to the duties in the job announcement. The announcement may even include a detailed position description for you to reference. It is your responsibility to demonstrate your skills. If there's something that you do not understand, be sure to reach out to the recruiter for clarification or to ask questions.

Make sure you attach all required documents. Your resume, cover letter, and transcripts if needed. Then be sure to regularly check your Workday account and associated email for more tasks 
and communication about the recruitment. Be prepared for behavior-based interview questions.

Our interview panels try to learn about your past experience to determine your success in the position you are seeking. To answer interview questions, research the STAR method,

which is an acronym for Situation Task Action and Result. Practice sharing your success stories.

Be sure to relate your answers back to the position to help the panel imagine how you would perform in the role. It may take you many attempts, lots of applications, and several interviews before you find the job that suits you. Best keep track of your efforts and seek help if you are not seeing the results you want. It is our duty to be good stewards of public resources and hire the best candidate for the job. Sometimes, the competition can be tough so be sure to reach out to Employee Services for feedback, guidance, and career counseling.

Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
503-378-3200 
dcbs.recruiting@dcbs.oregon.gov
oregon.gov/dcbs/careers