Step 1 - What Jobs Are Open?
Check to see which positions are currently open by reviewing our
Current Job Opportunities.
You may
Subscribe to Weekly Job Openings to receive an updated list of recruitments on a weekly basis.
Step 2 - Find a Position of Interest That You Are Qualified For
From the list of jobs on our
Current Job Opportunities, find a position you are interested in and qualified for. Review the job announcements and pay special attention to the MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS and HOW TO APPLY sections. These two areas will tell you exactly what qualifications are required and what the evaluation process consists of.
Step 3 - Apply Online
After finding the position you are interested in and qualified for from our
Current Job Opportunities, complete and submit an online application including your combined cover letter and resume (.doc, .doxs, .txt, or .pdf).
The City of Phoenix receives many highly competitive applicants each month. Depending on the position, the number of applicants on an eligible-for-hire list can vary from 10 to 1500!
Before reviewing resumes, department hiring supervisors create a list of qualifications to identify top candidates. This provides the hiring supervisor with a manageable number of applicants to interview. Although many departments have the same positions, each may use them differently and require different qualifications from the candidates selected for interviews.
IMPORTANT: If you move or change your email address or telephone number, you need to update your information online.
The following tips will help you make the best use of our on-line system:
- Jobs are sorted by the date posted, the newest first. Click the headings (Job Title, Job ID or Date) to sort by those criteria.
- Use links or buttons within the application to avoid losing data. Do not use the "Back" or "Refresh" button on your browser..
- New applicants may view job postings without registering. Click "Register Now" in the top right Login section.
- Creating a profile will require basic information like your name, address, phone number, and a unique email address.
- Only one document can be uploaded into your application. Combine your cover letter and resume into a single document before starting the application process.
- We accept Word (.doc or .docx), Text (.txt), or PDF (.pdf).
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- If you upload a Word document and wish to view it online, you may need to hold your "Ctrl" key down before clicking on the link, depending on your browser and security settings.
- Save frequently - The online application will "time out" after twenty minutes of inactivity. Click "Save as Draft" if you step away briefly or work in a different program to avoid losing your work.
- Click the "SUBMIT" button to complete the application process. You must submit your application before the deadline.
- "Save as Draft" will not submit your application, and it will remain incomplete.
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For further assistance contact the HR Connection Center between 7:30am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday at
(602) 495-5700.
We recommend you combine your cover letter and resume into a single document before you start the job application process for the City of Phoenix.
We accept Word (.doc or .docx), Text (.txt), or PDF (.pdf) documents.
Cover letters and resumes can only be uploaded as a single document when applying for a particular job.
The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself and describe how your specific skills, abilities, and experience match the organization's needs. We recommend you focus on communicating your skills and achievements by connecting the requirements listed in the job announcement to your own background. Your cover letter should be concise, confident, and create an interest in learning more about you.
Cover Letter Main Components
- Identify the specific job and how you learned about it.
- Match your skills, experience, training, and education with the job requirements described in the job announcement. Include any knowledge you have about the City or department.
- Emphasize your enthusiasm and interest in the job.
Cover Letter Guidelines
- Use standard business letter format.
- Proofread carefully (better yet, get a trusted person to proofread it for you).
- Sell yourself. Be formal, polite, honest and confident.
- Do your homework on the organization and department.
- As a general guideline, a cover letter should be one to two pages, depending on your experience and level of the position.
- Address the cover letter to "(name of the position) Selection Committee."
The cover letter is usually your first opportunity to make a first impression. Make it an excellent impression. Need help getting started on your cover letter? Reference this Cover Letter Template.
Your Resume
To ensure that all of your experience and education are given full consideration during the selection process, we recommend the following guidelines for your resume.
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Objective Statement: Provide a brief statement including the specific job title.
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Education: Identify your educational background by listing your degree, field of study, and school. If you have not yet completed your degree, the education you have completed can be considered if you include the number of credit hours earned and your projected graduation date.
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Experience: Prepare your resume in a chronological format identifying the dates of your work experience in a month/year format, beginning with your present or most recent position. Describe your employment history, for at least the past five years. Be sure to include all employment history relevant to the position you are applying for, even if it is more than five years ago. Include job titles, names of the organizations you worked for, duties, and number of employees you supervised (if applicable). Include relevant information requested in the job announcement, this ensures that you will receive full consideration for your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience. List the last salary (estimates are acceptable) for each position.
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Additional Skills and Training: Include all relevant part-time or volunteer experience, and training.
Resume Guidelines
- Qualifications will be evaluated based on the information you provide in your cover letter or resume. The amount of experience you have and the way you describe it will determine whether you advance to the next step of the recruitment process.
- Please do not include personal information such as age, marital status, number of children, religion, health, etc., in your cover letter or resume.
- As a general guideline, resumes should be between one and three pages, depending on your experience and the level of the position.
Interviews with the City of Phoenix can be different than interviews with other employers. Perhaps the biggest difference is the use of panel interviews instead of one-on-one interviews. Interviews may include demonstrations, simulations, and other assessments to measure a candidate’s aptitude to complete the essential functions of a job.
A panel usually includes three to five supervisors, subject matter experts, human resources professionals, and members of the community whose backgrounds qualify them to serve as panelists.
Types of Interviews:
- First-round interviews include multiple candidates and may be conducted virtually or in person. Virtual interviews may be conducted via Webex or Microsoft Teams, or via SparkHire, an online video interview platform.
- All candidates are asked a series of work-related behavioral and situational-based questions. Candidates may ask the panel to repeat the questions as needed.
- When there will be a second-round interview, the panel makes recommendations to the hiring supervisor as to which candidates should advance to the second interview.
- If a second-round interview is required, this would be with the direct hiring supervisor and other members of the team or stakeholder groups. During the second interview, the panel may ask direct follow-up questions about your related experience and how you would apply that to the position if selected.
Need interviewing resources? Visit the ARIZONA@WORK website for interview workshops and other options.
Invited to Interview:
If you are invited to participate in an interview, the hiring department will contact you directly. Some helpful items to take note of when invited to an interview:
- Name of the person who contacted you.
- Title of the position for which you are being considered.
- Time and place to appear for the interview.
- How long the interview is scheduled to last.
- Telephone number to call if you are delayed or need to cancel.
- Anything you have been asked to bring such as:
- References
- Recent performance reviews
- Completed assignment such as written exercises, typing, proofreading, software proficiency, tool/equipment identification, mock presentation, physical strength or ability, timed performance, assembly drill, etc.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for the interview, request it with as much notice as possible to ensure the need can be met.
In the event you cannot attend the interview, contact the hiring department as far in advance of the interview as possible.
Preparation Tips
The more prepared you are for the interview, the more confident you will be during the interview.
- Review your copies of the submitted application materials, the job announcement, and the job description.
- Research the department to gain a general understanding of its mission, functions, services, etc. Information on most departments is available on the City of Phoenix Departments page.
- Consider questions you may be asked and develop responses with different examples. Research generic, situational, and behavioral-based interview questions from websites, books, and other sources, and develop responses to these.
- Practice your responses and general interviewing skills with family, friends, and/or colleagues.
Need interviewing resources? Visit the ARIZONA@WORK website for interview workshops and other options.
Respond Using the S.T.A.R. Method
The City of Phoenix interview processes have various components based on the job. During all interviews, candidates are encouraged to answer questions completely, clearly, and concisely using the S.T.A.R. method.
- Situation
- Task
- Action
- Result
Answering an interview question in this format lends to more complete answers. For example, if you were asked, "Tell us about a time that you had conflict with a coworker."
- An example of a complete answer would be:
- Situation: I had a coworker who was not completing their work on time and it impacted my ability to meet an external deadline.
- Task: I asked the coworker if they were having barriers to completing the work.
- Action: They informed me that they had a computer issue. We were able to print the documents from my computer to meet the deadline. I asked the coworker to come to me in advance if they have problems in the future.
- Result: We met the deadline, and I improved the communication between myself and a peer.
- Example of an incomplete answer would be:
- I had a conflict with a coworker not turning stuff in on time. But I met the deadline eventually.
As you can see, the S.T.A.R. method walks the panel through the actions and results to provide a more complete answer. It also demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively and take initiative.
Day of an Interview
- Dress for success! Wear attire consistent with the work and environment of the position, even if that means you need to change clothes prior to the interview.
- Allow plenty of time to get to the interview. Consider the distance from your starting point to the interview site, potential traffic, parking availability, building access requirements (i.e., security checkpoints), and the time needed to walk from your vehicle to the interview site.
- Arrive at the interview site according to the instructions you may have been given or at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
- Don’t forget to take whatever may have been requested (e.g., references, performance evaluations, etc.).
Immediately before the interview, re-read any material the hiring department may have provided you or that you prepared for yourself during your research and your application materials (job announcement and job description). Then try to relax.
When you are escorted into the interview room, go in with the knowledge that:
- You belong at the interview and were invited because your education, training, and/or experience appear to match the position well.
The panel wants everyone to interview well and will make a fair, objective recommendation to the hiring department.
During the Interview
Be prepared to discuss your education, training, and/or work experience and how they relate to the position you are interviewing for. Don’t forget to mention professional certifications, licenses, organizations, etc., when applicable to the role.
Listen carefully to the questions and give balanced responses with clear and concise information; remember to use the S.T.A.R. method.
- If need be, take a moment to think before responding.
- If a question has multiple parts, be sure to address all parts.
- Ask to have the question repeated if necessary.
- For all questions, give concise, well-organized, and mindful responses.
- When possible, give work-related examples to support your responses.
- Avoid giving personal or irrelevant information (e.g., age, national origin, marital/parental status, religion, hobbies, etc.).
Speak clearly and loud enough to be heard. Be sure to address all panel members and make eye contact with each of them.
- Your body language is a form of communication. Be confident and enthusiastic!
This is your opportunity to convey to the panel that you are the best-qualified candidate for the position. Be sure to exemplify your skills and experience accordingly.
Manage your time. Know when your interview starts and ends, the number of questions you’ll be asked, and how much time you can allocate to each question.
At the end of the interview, use any remaining time to ask questions you have about the position. You are also welcome to provide a closing statement if time permits. A closing statement is your opportunity to provide additional information, reiterate why you believe you should be selected, and convey excitement and enthusiasm for the position. Be sure to keep your closing statement brief, think ‘elevator speech’, and express your passion for the position.
