Department Selection - Interviews, Testing, and Reference & Background Checks
For assistance preparing for and conducting the department selection pre-employment screening process, please contact your assigned R&C Analyst for support.
Interviews
Typically, department interviews are scheduled to be held five business days following referral of candidates from an eligible employment list. Upon receipt of an eligible list, departments must discuss employment with each available candidate on the list. The only time this is not required is for candidates referred from a transfer or extra-help eligible list.
Department interviews are typically conducted in multiple rounds, consisting of one or more of the following types of interview styles:
- Panel
- Peer
- Work Sample Assessments
- One on One
- Initial phone interview (must comply with the Civil Service Rules)
Contact your department’s Human Resources Recruitment and Classification Analyst regarding any question related to the department interview process, the Civil Service Rules, and best practices.
Bilingual Testing
Bilingual testing must occur prior to candidates being issued the conditional job offer letter. Please visit our Testing webpage for additional information, including the Bilingual Proficiency Process, Schedule, and Request Form.
Reference Checks & Background Checks
Reference and background checks are necessary and important best practices in the hiring process.
Checking references can be conducted at any stage of the department selection process but must be completed before a conditional job offer is made. For further information, please refer to the Guidelines for Requesting and Providing Employment References located on SharePoint.
Per County Administrative Policy regarding Pre-Employment Pre-Placement Screening, as a condition of employment, finalists for positions are required to successfully pass the pre-employment screening requirements established for the position. The requirements are based on the assigned duties and responsibilities of the position. For further information, please refer to the following documents:
- Job Classification Screening Schedule (SharePoint)
- Job Demands Analysis (JDA)
- Guidelines for Requesting and Providing Employment References (SharePoint)
- Guidelines for Conducting Background Checks (SharePoint)
The County’s Background Check Services are currently contracted with TruView, LLC. Contact your department’s Human Resources Recruitment & Classification Analyst regarding any question related to the TruView Portal including requests for online access.
Retention Schedule
Background and reference check documentation and authorization forms must be retained by departments in accordance with the County’s Common Accounting and Administrative Records Retention Schedule. The (CAAR) schedule is located on the County Intranet under Information Systems Department, Records Management, Records & Information Management, Records Retention, Records Retention Schedules.