Job Search Posting Guidelines for QUEST

Length of announcement: Your QUEST posting must be open for at least one calendar week. You may leave the posting open longer if desired.

Re-announcement/announcing additional vacancies: An individual posting may be used for additional vacancies that occur after the posting in the same job title and location without re-announcing, as long as the job offer is made within ninety days of the closing date of the original announcement. (Updated per GC 1579)

Notes: The Special Notes in each of your clerical postings under QUEST need to include several pieces of information for applicants.

1. Identify the posting as a QUEST vacancy. Remind candidates NOT to apply to Civil Service. Remind them that only those who respond to the posting will be considered. You may wish to use color to attract attention to parts of your message. Suggested wording:

"QUEST Direct Hire posting -- do NOT apply to the Department of Civil Service. Only applicants who send their SF10 applications to (agency name) by the Closing Date of this posting will be considered for this vacancy."

2. Scores are required in advance. Remember that the Typing Skills Exam is now optional. Suggested wording:

no typing -- "Applicants must have Civil Service scores for 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment and 7001-COAST Office Skills before responding to this posting."

typing -- "Applicants must have Civil Service scores for 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment, 7001-COAST Office Skills and 7002-COAST Typing Skills before responding to this posting."

3. You will have to set the minimum percentile score(s) acceptable for this vacancy, and state them in the Note. See the Hiring Guidelines, Steps 3 and 4. Suggested wording:

no typing: "Preference will be given to applicants with a minimum percentile score of 50% on 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment and 7001-COAST Office Skills."

typing: "Applicants with a percentile score of 50% or higher for 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment and 7001-COAST Office Skills will be preferred, and a score of 30 words per minute or more on the 7002-COAST Typing Skills exam will also be preferred."

4. You will have to set the Preferred Qualifications for your vacancy before you post it, and the Preferred Qualifications for the vacancy must be stated in the Special Notes for your posting. Remember that if you choose to set Preferred Qualifications that are different from those in the Job Specification, you could be asked to defend them. Suggested wording:

"Applicants with at least two years of clerical experience will be preferred."

"Two or more years of clerical experience are desired."

"Preference will be given to applicants with at least two years of clerical experience."

5. You may also include any other preferences that you have for experience or skills, and any other information pertinent to the position, such as special entry pay, shift work required, travel required, usual duties, and so forth.

Some sample Notes:

1. for a non-typing job, Pref Quals two years of experience, minimum score 50%:

Applicants must have Civil Service scores for 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment and 7001-COAST Office Skills before responding to this posting. Applicants with a minimum percentile score of 50% on 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment and 7001-COAST Office Skills will be preferred.

Preference will be given to applicants with at least two years of clerical experience. This position provides clerical support for a large office."

2. for a typing job, Pref Quals one year of experience, minimum score 40%, needs to type 45 wpm:

Applicants must have Civil Service scores for 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment, 7001-COAST Office Skills and 7002-COAST Typing Skills before responding to this posting. Applicants with a minimum percentile score of 40% on 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment and 7001-COAST Office Skills will be preferred. A Typing Skills score of at least 45 words per minute is desired.

Preference will be given to applicants with at least two years of clerical experience, as well as to applicants familiar with Excel."

3. for a typing job, Pref Quals three years of experience, one at journeyman; minimum score 30%, no min. wpm:

Applicants must have Civil Service scores for 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment, 7001-COAST Office Skills and 7002-COAST Typing Skills before responding to this posting. Applicants with a minimum percentile score of 30% on 7000-COAST Behavior Assessment and 7001-COAST Office Skills will be preferred. There is no minimum required typing speed.

Preference will be given to applicants with at least three years of clerical experience, two of which should have been at the journeyman level."