STATE
OF LOUISIANA
DEPARTMENT
OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE
BATON
ROUGE, LOUISIANA
General Circular
No. 001604
To: Heads
of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors
Subject: QUEST Expansion
Issue Date: April 12, 2005
On July 5, 2005,
the Department of State Civil Service will expand the QUEST model for agency
hiring to include, in addition to COAST jobs, all jobs covered by PET, LEAPS,
and LEAPS Supervisor tests.
However, unlike
the COAST, the PET will have an absolute cut-off score as opposed to a
recommended hiring score. Both LEAPS
and LEAPS Supervisor tests will have recommended hiring scores. Also, unlike the COAST, the PET, LEAPS, and
LEAPS Supervisor will all have absolute minimum qualifications as opposed to
preferred qualifications.
For vacancies
covered under these tests:
* Agencies
will use Job Search postings instead of requesting certificates or certifiable
score lists from Civil Service.
* Agencies
will screen applications received.
* Test scores
will be shown as percentiles – how applicant compares to overall pool.
Prior
to implementing these changes, Civil Service will conduct the following events:
April/May - QUEST review/training for HR and hiring managers
upon agency request during the month of April and May
April/June
- 2 MQ Interpretation
courses offered each month
Early
June - Communication
with candidates regarding changes
Early June - Conversion of PET, LEAPS and LEAPS Supervisor scores
to percentile format
Late
June - Last certificate
issued
July 5, 2005 - PET,
LEAPS and LEAPS Supervisor jobs begin operating under QUEST
In May, the
QUEST web page on the HRinfo website will be revised to include procedures to
follow when filling vacancies for these additional tests under QUEST. Information will be provided on this web
page for hiring supervisors as well as for Human Resources professionals.
All candidates
who will be impacted by the QUEST expansion will be notified of the new process
in June. NO RETESTING will be needed
for candidates with unexpired grades.
If you have any
questions regarding the upcoming QUEST expansion, please contact Jamie Lewis in
the Staffing Division at (225) 342-8536 or jamie.lewis@la.gov.
Sincerely,
s/Anne
Soileau
Acting Director