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General Hiring Process

We are the provider of premier public safety services for Oregon each and every day.

Our workforce is comprised of more than 1,300 sworn and professional staff in the areas of patrol, criminal investigation, forensic services, medical examiner, state fire marshal, gaming regulation, fish and wildlife regulation, public safety communications, and information management with a biennial budget of approximately $426 million total funds.

Come to Oregon - you'll never want to leave! From the coast to the high desert, from the Willamette Valley wine country to the glaciers of Mt. Hood, Oregon offers seasonal beauty, awe-inspiring vistas, cultural opportunities and an abundance of recreational activity. Learn more about living in Oregon

  • ​Read the job announcement and the electronic application carefully and answer all questions. Pay special attention to the essay-style supplemental questions. We use these questions to decide whom to invite to interview.
  • Fill-in all required fields on the electronic application.
  • We recommend you include all your education and experience in your application, even if you think it is not directly related to the position for which you are applying.
  • There is no need to submit cover letters, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other documents unless we specifically request them. We will not consider any documents we do not request.
  • Make sure your application clearly shows how you meet the position’s minimum and special qualifications and the preferred attributes listed in the announcement.
  • Carefully review your application to make sure you filled it out completely.
  • We recommend that you save a paper or PDF copy of your application materials before submitting your application.
  • We cannot accept any application materials submitted after the application deadline.
  • Read more on how to make your application stand out and get noticed.​

​After the application deadline, recruiters review application materials and assess candidates for the following general qualifications:

  • Applicable work experience;
  • Knowledge, skills and abilities related to the positions preferred attributes;
  • Related education or training;
  • Stability and quality of prior work history; and
  • Organization and quality of application materials.
Please note that your responses will also be evaluated for English usage, grammar, spelling and punctuation. 

Following the review process, recruiters submit a revised list of qualified candidates to the hiring manager. The hiring manager invites the highest scoring applicants for interviews.

Look around our website. Do your homework and know a little something about our purpose and mission. It can make a big impression.  Review the job posting and position description again. You got the interview because your application or resume showed you are a potential good fit for the job. Familiarize yourself with the job description and qualifications and how your skills match the needs of the job.

Think of some examples. We often use behavioral interviewing because past performance is a good predictor of future performance. You'll need to come up with some good examples that show you have the qualifications listed in the job posting, particularly the soft skills.

Practice, practice, practice. To develop any skill, including interviewing, requires practice. A quick internet search will give you plenty of practice questions. Ask a friend to help you.

All final applicants, including internal applicants, are subject to a thorough reference and background checks. The following additional background research or verification may be necessary:

  • A state and national fingerprint-based security/criminal background check
  • Motor vehicle driving records.
We recruit for positions when vacancies occur. To learn about positions as they become available, complete a Job Interest Card subscription​.

This subscription allows you to select the job categories you are interested in and receive a notification when a vacancy announcement becomes available. This is the best way to stay informed. You manage your subscription and have options to discontinue the service anytime or renew after 12 months.

We only accept application materials for posted positions. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or applications.​

Oregon State Police recruiters attend events at career fairs and recruiting events to help connect with individuals seeking a future in public safety. 

Whether you are looking to start a career as an Oregon State Police Trooper or a career supporting public safety - whatever your trade or skill, OSP is always looking for talented and dedicated individuals. OSP has a variety of career opportunities.  

Upcoming events where you can connect with a recruiter: 

Feb. 20-21, 2024 - Presentations/Meet and Greet
Feb. 26, 2024 - Entry Level Testing
Career Fair - University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr., Hattiesburg, MS 

Feb. 22-23, 2024
Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl Career Fair
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom
900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70130

Feb. 28, 2024
12:00 p.m. 
Law & Justice Career Fair
Oregon State University-CH2M Hill Alumni Center
725 SW 26th St., Corvallis, OR

Feb. 28, 2024
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Spring Career Fair
UL Lafayette Student Union Ballroom
620 McKinley St., Lafayette, LA

​OSP uses the State of Oregon online application system WorkDay. For Oregon State Police jobs open WorkdayJobs​ and sorty by  "Oregon Deparement of Police" using the Company dropdown. 

We also use an automated HR Software called WorkDay to manage and schedule the hiring process. You may receive notifications from one or both systems related to your job application. 

These systems allow you to keep track and manage your application information and process. 

You will be asked to create an online account. If you have technical questions about these systems or need help resetting your password or deleting your account, visit their support pages.

​Contact

​Oregon State Police
Human Resources
3565 Trelstad Ave SE
Salem, OR 97317
​​​Phone: 503-934-0232
OSPHR@osp.oregon.gov​

Hours
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday