​​​​​​​​​​​​Cropped Phoenix skyline

​Share this page​

How to Apply for Jobs at the City of P​hoenix

Step 1 - What Jobs Are Open?

Check to see which positions are currentl​y open by reviewing our Current Job Opportunities.

You may Subscribe to Weekly Job Openings​ to receive an updated list of recruitments to you on a weekly basis.

Step 2 - Find a Position of Interest That You Are Qualified For

From the list of jobs on our Curr​ent Job Opportunities, find a position that 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 and submit your resume / cover letter.

Keep in mind that the City of Phoenix receives a high volume of 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! Prior to 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 telephone number, you will need change your information online.​​


Application Tips

The following tips will help you make the best use of our on-line system: ​

  • Jobs are sorted by the date posted with the most recent job at the top of the list. You can click on the headings (Job Title, Job ID or Date) to sort them by that criteria.
  • To avoid losing data do not use the "Back" or "Refresh" button on your browser. Instead use the links or buttons within the application to move between pages.
  • Applicants with Apple computers should use the Firefox browser as Safari is not supported.
  • New applicants may view job postings without registering. Click "Register Now" in the top right Login section. You may create a profile which includes basic information like your name, address, and phone number.
  • 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); however, only one document can be uploaded when you apply for a particular job.
  • If you are interested in applying for more than one job on the current list, check the boxes to the left of the titles before hitting the Apply button. It will save you time by combining questions into a single list.
  • 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.
  • The on-line application will "time out" after twenty minutes of inactivity so save frequently. Click "Save as Draft" if you are going to step away briefly or work in a different program so you do not lose your work.
  • Be sure to hit the "SUBMIT" button to complete the application process. You must submit your application prior to the deadline. "Save as Draft" will not submit your application and it will remain incomplete.​

For further assistance contact the HR Connection Center between 7:30am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday at (602) 495-5700. ​

Guidelines for Creating a Cover Letter and Resume

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.

Page Content

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

  1. Identify the specific job and how you learned about it.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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.

  • Objective Statement: Provide a brief statement including the specific job title.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Interviewing Tips

​Employment interviews can vary greatly by employer. The City of Phoenix most often uses interview panels instead of conducting one-on-one interviews. A panel usually consists of supervisors, subject matter experts, human resources professionals, and other stakeholders.

If you are selected for an interview, the hiring department will most often contact you directly. Therefore, when invited to an interview, you will want to write down the following information:

  • Name and Phone Number of the person contacting you
  • Title of the job for which you are being considered
  • Time and place to appear for the interview

If you need a reasonable accommodation at the interview, request it at the time you are invited to the interview.

Candidates may be asked to bring references and recent performance appraisals to the interview. Candidates also may be asked to complete an exercise or activity in which a job-related skill is demonstrated (for example: a written exercise, proofreading, software proficiency, tool or equipment identification, a presentation, physical strength or ability, timed performance, assembly drill, etc.).

During the interview:

  • Be prepared to discuss your education, training, and/or work experience, and how they relate to the job for which you are interviewing. Don't forget to mention professional certifications, licenses, organizations, etc., if applicable.
  • Listen carefully to the questions, and give balanced responses, i.e., not too little, not too much. 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, yet complete responses in a logical and organized manner. When possible, give examples to support your responses. Avoid giving personal information that is irrelevant to the selection process.
  • Speak clearly and loud enough to be heard. Be sure to address all panel members and make eye contact with each of them. Be aware of your body language. Be confident and enthusiastic!
  • Remember, you are trying to convince the panel that you are the best person for the job, so sell yourself accordingly.
  • Manage your time. Know what time your interview begins and what time it is scheduled to end, and know the number of questions to be asked and how much time you can afford to spend on each.

At the end of the interview, if you have questions and time permits, feel free to ask. You also are welcome to give a closing statement if time permits. Some candidates like to give closing statements because it gives them the opportunity to provide additional information, reiterate why they believe they should be selected, and convey excitement and enthusiasm for the job. Be sure to keep your closing statement brief, and don't forget to specifically tell the panel that you want the job.

Finally, if you are unable to attend the interview, contact the hiring department as far in advance of the interview as possible. Failure to do so may be viewed as unprofessional and cause hiring supervisors to limit their consideration of you for other positions.



Application Frequently Asked Questions