Understanding the Job Posting

You found a County job that sounds interesting—now what?

Before you click Apply, take a few minutes to read the entire job posting. A posting tells you much more than the job title and salary. It explains what the position does, the qualifications you'll need, any special requirements of the job, and other details that can help you decide whether the opportunity is right for you.

County job postings can contain language you may not see in other job searches. Knowing what to look for—and what some of those terms mean—can help you apply with confidence.

Start With the Big Picture

The job title is only the beginning. As you read the posting, think about a few basic questions:

• What does this position actually do?
• Do my education and experience meet the minimum qualifications?
• Are there different ways to qualify?
• Are there licenses, certifications, schedules, or other requirements I need to consider?
• Does the position sound like a good fit for my skills, interests, and goals?

You don't need to match every sentence in the job description. Focus first on understanding the work and determining whether you meet the requirements to be considered.

What Will I Actually Be Doing?

Look beyond the job title and review the duties and responsibilities of the position. Similar job titles can mean very different things from one organization—or even one County department—to another.

The duties section gives you a better picture of the type of work performed and the responsibilities associated with the position. Ask yourself which duties you've performed before, which skills would transfer from your experience, and which areas would be new to you.

You aren't necessarily expected to have performed every duty listed. Job descriptions are designed to describe the position as a whole, and exact assignments may vary.

Quick Tip: The duties section is also a great interview-preparation tool. If you're invited to interview, come back to the posting and think of examples from your experience that relate to the work described.

Minimum Qualifications: Your First Check

The minimum qualifications describe the education, experience, or combination of qualifications required to be considered for the position.

Read this section carefully before applying.

Some positions may require a certain amount or type of work experience. Others may require a degree, specific coursework, professional license, certification, or a combination of education and experience.

And don't stop reading after the first qualification you see. There may be more than one way to qualify.

A posting might allow candidates to qualify through one combination of education and experience or through a different combination. Some positions may also allow certain experience to substitute for education, or vice versa.

Read the entire qualifications section and determine whether one of the available paths describes your background.

Required vs. Preferred: What's the Difference?

This is an important distinction.

A required or minimum qualification is something you must have to qualify for the position. If the position requires a particular amount of experience, degree, license, certification, or other qualification, your application needs to demonstrate that you meet that requirement.

A preferred qualification is different. It describes experience, education, skills, or other attributes that would be beneficial in the position but are not necessarily required to apply.

So if you meet the minimum qualifications but don't have every preferred qualification, don't automatically count yourself out.

You may still be a competitive candidate.

What Does "Equivalent To" Mean?

You may see phrases such as "equivalent to," "closely related field," "increasingly responsible experience," or language allowing one type of experience or education to substitute for another.

These terms provide some flexibility, but they don't mean that any education or experience will qualify.

For example, if a position requires experience performing a particular type of work, experience in an unrelated field may not meet the requirement simply because you've worked for the same number of years.

Similarly, a requirement for a degree in a particular field or a closely related field means the field of study should have a meaningful relationship to the work or knowledge required by the position.

If a posting provides a substitution—such as additional experience in place of some education—read the language carefully to understand what type and amount of experience can be substituted.

Not sure whether your education or experience qualifies? Contact Personnel. We'd much rather help you understand the requirement than have you decide not to apply because you're unsure.

Pay Attention to Special Requirements

Some of the most important information in a posting may appear outside the minimum qualifications.

Depending on the position, there may be requirements related to:

• Driver's licenses or professional certifications
• Background investigations or other pre-employment requirements
• Work schedules, weekends, holidays, or on-call assignments
• Physical requirements or working conditions
• Credentials that must be obtained or maintained
• Other requirements specific to the position

Read these sections carefully and consider whether you can meet the requirements of the job.

Also pay attention to the wording. "Must possess" and "must obtain within six months of appointment" mean two different things. One may be required when you apply or are hired, while the other allows time to obtain the credential after appointment.

Requesting Veterans' Preference?

If you are requesting Veterans' Preference, be sure to review the instructions included in the job posting. To request Veterans' Preference with Inyo County, you must attach a copy of your DD214 to your application when you apply.

Don't assume that identifying yourself as a veteran elsewhere in your application is enough. If you're requesting the preference, make sure the required documentation is attached before submitting your application.

Quick Tip: Before you click Submit, check your attachments and confirm that your DD214 has been successfully attached if you are requesting Veterans' Preference.

Look at the Salary—and the Whole Opportunity

The salary range shown on a job posting represents the full salary range for the position, from the beginning through the higher levels of the classification. It should not be interpreted as the expected starting salary for a new employee.

Most new employees begin toward the lower end of the posted salary range. Placement above the beginning of the range may be considered in some circumstances based on factors such as qualifications, experience, and County policies and approval requirements.

When considering a County position, look beyond the top of the posted range and consider the whole opportunity—including the job duties, schedule, employment status, location, benefits, retirement, and opportunities to learn and grow.

Read the Entire Posting Before You Apply

It can be tempting to skim the title, salary, and first few paragraphs and head straight to the application. Taking a few extra minutes to read the full posting can save you time and help you submit a stronger application.

Look closely at the qualifications and special requirements, but also read the duties and other information provided. Together, they give you the best picture of what the job involves and what the County is looking for.

Then use what you've learned when completing your application.

If the posting requires three years of a particular type of experience, for example, make sure your application clearly identifies where you gained that experience, what you did, and how long you did it.

Don't make us search for the connection between your experience and the qualifications—show us.

For more tips on completing your application, visit Put Your Best Application Forward.

Don't Forget the Application Deadline

If you've found a position you want to apply for, pay attention to the closing date and submit your application before the recruitment closes.

Give yourself enough time to complete the application carefully. Waiting until the last minute can make it easier to leave out important information, rush through supplemental questions, or encounter a technical problem when you're trying to submit.

If you're interested, don't wait until the deadline to start your application.

What About Supplemental Questions?

Some recruitments include supplemental questions as part of the application.

Read each question carefully and answer what is actually being asked. Supplemental questions may help us learn more about your education, experience, licenses, availability, or other qualifications related to the position.

Your responses should be accurate and consistent with the information provided elsewhere in your application.

And remember: "See résumé" isn't an answer.

If we're asking the question, give us the information we need to evaluate your response.

Not Open Right Now? Stay Interested

Sometimes you'll find a County position that sounds perfect—but we're not currently recruiting for it.

That doesn't mean you have to keep checking the Careers page every week.

The County's Class Specifications page allows you to explore many of our job classifications, including positions that may not currently have an opening. If you find one you're interested in, you can submit a Job Interest Card to receive an email notification when applications are being accepted for that classification.

It's a great way to keep an eye on future opportunities without having to continually search for them.

Still Not Sure? Ask Us

Job descriptions can't anticipate every question, and sometimes it's difficult to know whether your particular combination of education and experience meets a requirement.

Personnel is here as a resource.

If you're interested in a position but aren't sure how to interpret a qualification, what a requirement means, or whether your experience may be applicable, contact us.

When you do, tell us your name and the position you're asking about so we can help you more quickly.

Before You Click Apply

Take one final look at the posting and ask yourself:

Do I understand the job, and can I show through my application how I meet the minimum qualifications?

Before submitting, make sure you've reviewed the qualifications and special requirements, completed the application thoroughly, answered any supplemental questions, and included any required attachments—including your DD214 if you're requesting Veterans' Preference.

If you've done that, you're ready for the next step.

Read carefully. Apply thoughtfully. And don't count yourself out just because your background doesn't look exactly like someone else's.

Your experience may be exactly what we're looking for.