Application
STATE OF ARIZONA
Applying for
Government Jobs
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i
Table of Contents
Federal Jobs .............................................................................1
Resume Essentials ...................................................................2
State of Arizona Jobs............................................................3, 6
Sample Resume ................................................................... 4-5
County and City Jobs................................................................7
Most Common Government Jobs..............................................8
Arizona Job Service Offices ......................................................9
Government Job Hotlines........................................................10
__________________________________________________
This report, Applying for Government
Jobs, is one of four reports designed to assist
job seekers. The Arizona Job Seekers Guide
and the two Major Employers Guides (one
for Phoenix and the other for the balance of
state) are the other three related
publications.
One copy of each publication is available
at no cost by contacting:
Economic Analysis Section
Research Administration
Arizona Department of Economic Security
P.O. Box 6123
Phoenix, AZ 85005-6123
Phone: (602) 542-3871 or (800) 321-0381
Outside Arizona Phone: (800) 827-4966
Internet: www.de.state.az.us/links/
economic/webpage/
Reproduction of this publication for
commercial use is prohibited by Section 39-
121, Arizona Revised Statutes. Permission
to reprint portions of this report for non-profit
use may be granted upon written
request. Write to DES, Research
Administration, in care of Brent Fine,
Research Administration Publications
Editor, at the above address.
Date Published: June 2002
ii
1
APPLYING FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JOBS
The federal government is the largest employer in the United States and a major employer in
Arizona. Federal employees in Arizona numbered 48,000 in the year 2000, accounting for 2.2
percent of the state's 2.2 million workers.
The headquarters of most federal agencies are located in Washington, D.C.; however, field
offices are scattered throughout the United States and foreign countries. In Arizona, most federal
jobs are located in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Fort Huachuca. Departments of the Army and
Air Force, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Veteran's Administration are among the largest
federal employers of civilians in the state.
THE JOB SEARCH AND APPLICATION PROCESS
The computer technology that has impacted most areas of our lives has dramatically affected the
job search process. In recent years, the procedure for pursuing employment with the federal
government has undergone sweeping changes that are designed to make the process more
responsive to consumers. Gaining employment with the federal government is basically a three-step
process:
1) Use federal nationwide information systems
2) Obtain the vacancy announcement
3) Follow the application instructions
Using the Internet for Your Job Search
There are two excellent websites for finding jobs with the federal government. The official
website of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is www.usajobs.opm.gov. A non-government
website which ably deals with the subject is www.federaljobszone.com.
Using the Telephone to Find Federal Government Employment
With a touchtone telephone, call the Career America Connection in Macon, Georgia, at 912-757-
3000. This automated service of the OPM allows job searches by state, region, and occupational
category and is available at all times. After leaving your name, address, and job interests, you
will receive the appropriate job applications in the mail. Request Federal Employment Info Line
fact sheet EI-42 "Federal Employment Information Sources" for a complete listing of local
telephone numbers to this nationwide network.
For alternative formats, people with disabilities may call the above numbers and select "Federal
Employment Topics" and then "People with Disabilities." If you have a hearing disability, use a
modem to call TDD 912-744-2299.
For information related to veteran's preference in hiring, call OPM at 912-757-3000 and select
"Federal Employment Topics" and then "Veterans." Using a modem you can also call the
electronic bulletin board at 912-757-3100.
After using one of the above procedures to review the list of job openings, decide which jobs you
are interested in and follow the instructions given. Although the federal government does not
require a standard application form for most jobs, it does need certain information to evaluate
your qualifications and determine if you meet certain legal requirements for federal employment.
If your resume or application does not provide all the information requested in the job vacancy
announcement, you may lose consideration for the job. Help speed the selection process by
2
keeping your resume or application brief and by sending only the requested material. Type or
print clearly in dark ink.
RESUME ESSENTIALS
JOB INFORMATION
Announcement number, title and grade of
the job for which you are applying
PERSONAL INFORMATION
• Full name, mailing address, and day and
evening telephone numbers
• Social Security Number
• Country of citizenship (Most federal
jobs require U.S. citizenship.)
• Veteran's preference
If you were previously employed by the
federal government, also include:
• Reinstatement eligibility (If requested,
attach form SF-50, which is proof of
your status.)
• Highest federal civilian grade held
EDUCATION
• High School
Name, city, and state
Date of diploma or GED
• College and Universities
Name, city, and state
Majors
Type and year of any degrees
received (If no degree, show total
credits earned.)
• Send copy of your college transcript
only if the job vacancy announcement
requests it.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Give the following information concerning
your previous jobs:
• Job title (include series and grade if
federal)
• Duties and accomplishments
• Employer's name and address
• Supervisor's name and phone number
• Starting and ending dates (month and
year)
• Hours per week
• Salary
Also indicate whether your current
supervisor may be contacted.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
• Job-related training courses (title and
year)
• Job-related skills, such as typing speed
and proficiency with other languages,
computer software/hardware, tools, and
machinery
• Job-related certificates/licenses (current
only)
• Job-related honors, awards, and special
accomplishments
3
APPLYING FOR ARIZONA STATE GOVERNMENT JOBS
State government employs nearly one of every four government workers in Arizona. Although
state employees are found throughout Arizona, the largest share work in Phoenix where the state
capital is located. The Tucson metropolitan area (Pima County) ranks second in number of state
employees, and is followed by Pinal County — home of the state prison in Florence and the
center for developmentally disabled in Coolidge.
The State Personnel Division recruits potential employees and refers qualified applicants to
about 75 different state agencies throughout Arizona. However, the Departments of Corrections
and Public Safety, the state universities, and a few other agencies do not hire through the State
Personnel Division and should be contacted directly.
The application process revolves around new computer technology that stores and reviews
information provided by the jobseeker on a resume. Using document-imaging technology, your
resume is kept active for six months. Because the computer scans for pertinent information and
key words, a single resume can identify numerous opportunities for employment. Such
efficiency and power requires, however, that the resume be carefully written and formatted. To
maximize your chances of successfully finding employment using this technology, carefully
adhere to the following instructions.
Preparing a Computer-Readable Resume for Arizona State Government Jobs
When preparing a resume for the computer to read, you want it to be "scannable." The format of
such a resume is clean so the scanner can get a clear image. A scannable resume has standard
fonts and crisp, dark type such as a laser printer or a typewriter with a new ribbon would
produce. And the content of a scannable resume has plenty of facts for the computer to extract.
The more skills and facts you provide, the more opportunities you'll have for your skills to match
available positions. This maximizes your ability to get "hits" (matches of your skills with the
required job skills).
Preparing a scannable resume is easy. As with the traditional-style resume, focus on format and
content.
Format
To maximize the computer's ability to scan or read your resume, provide a clean, clear resume in
a standard format. The computer has difficulty reading poor quality copy with an unusual
layout, such as a newspaper layout, large font sizes, lines/graphics, light type, or paper that is too
dark. (See the sample resume on the following two pages.)
• Use white or light-colored 8 1/2" x 11" paper, printed on one side only.
• Place your name at the top of the page on its own line. (Your name can also be the first text
that appears on subsequent pages.)
• Use a standard address format below your name and place each phone number you list on a
separate line.
• Avoid vertical and horizontal lines, graphics, and boxes.
• Don't condense spaces between letters.
(continued on page 6)
4
Sandra M. Beach
1150 Rio Salado Lane
Phoenix, Arizona 34567
000-123-1234
KEYWORDS
Administrative Secretary. Certified Professional Secretary. Word Processing. Lotus 1-2-3
Paradox. Customer Service. Public Contact. Word Perfect. Microsoft Word. Harvard
Graphics. Communication, Interpersonal and Organizational Skills. Supervisor. Veteran.
OBJECTIVE
(Use when targeting a specific job in state service and when targeting types of employment, such
as when applying for part-time employment.)
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
1991 to 1995
1989 to 1991
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Administrative Secretary
Kennedy Flight Systems, Seattle, Washington
Administrative secretary responsible for coordinating office activities for
the company vice president. Contact customers; schedule appointments,
meetings, conference calls; and make travel arrangements. Use
considerable judgment and discretion to write and edit letters, compile
annual reports, and prepare tables and graphs for statistical reports. Hire,
train, and supervise three other clerical staff. Conceptualized and assisted
in the development of a new purchasing and billing system that saved the
company an estimated $94,000 the first year of operation.
Computer Operator
United States Army Reserve — Active Duty
After training, was assigned to Engineering Unit. Did data input and
reports. Operated personal computers, terminals, and peripheral equipment.
Responsible for minor maintenance. Served in Desert Storm, promoted and
was responsible for field office operations. Monitored work flow, security,
and accuracy of data input. Supervised and trained eight subordinate staff.
continued
Experienced senior-level secretary for mid-sized company. Skilled professional with supervisory
experience, knowledgeable about office operations, word processing, spreadsheets, and desktop
publishing. A team player with excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated
abilities in public relations and customer contact.
Page 2 of 2
Sandra M. Beach
1987 to 1989 Office Secretary
Ron T. Mein, C.P.A.,
Tempe, Arizona
Secretary for an office of five people. Answered letters using word
processing, completed forms, compiled reports, and scheduled
appointments. Responded to customer inquiries and complaints, and
referred them for assistance. Billed customers and purchased office
supplies. Operated various office machines. Organized and maintained
office files.
1984 to 1987 Office Worker
Desert Plants Mart, Cave Creek, Arizona
Assisted office secretary part-time while in high school and while
attending business college. Greeted customers, took orders, completed
invoices, scheduled deliveries, and typed letters.
Appleton Business College
Phoenix, Arizona
Diploma, Secretarial and Office Management, 1987
United States Army
Ft. Benjamin, Harrison, Indiana
Certificate, Computer Operator, 1989
Additional Training Sessions in Paradox and Harvard Graphics
Olympia Community College
Seattle, Washington
Certificates, Business Software Applications, 1993
(Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Word, Wordperfect)
Institute for Certified Secretaries
Certified Professional Secretary, 1994
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
5
6
(continued from page 3)
• You may use bold face and/or capital letters for section headings as long as the letters don't
touch each other.
• Use standard typefaces between 10 and 14 points in size. Standard typefaces include Arial,
CG Times, Garamond, Tahoma, Times New Roman, and Univers.
• Avoid fancy treatments such as italics, underlines, shadows, and reverses (white letters on
black background).
• Avoid two-column formats or resumes that look like newspapers or newsletters.
• Send or deliver a laser-printed original if possible. A typewritten original, a dot-matrix in
letter quality, or a high quality photocopy is acceptable.
Content
The computer extracts information from your resume. You can use your current resume if it
conforms to the format described above. However, once you understand what the computer
searches for, you may wish to include more key words to increase your opportunities for
matching requirements or getting "hits".
Personnel staff access the resume database in many ways, searching for applicants with specific
backgrounds. For example, they will search for key words, usually nouns, such as writer, BA,
marketing administration, counselor, RN, Spanish (language fluency). So be sure to describe
your education and experience in concrete terms rather than vague descriptions.
• Use enough key words to define your skills, experience, education, and professional
affiliations.
• Describe your experience specifically. For example, "managed a team of software
engineers" is better than "responsible for managing, training".
• Use more than one page if necessary. The computer can easily handle multiple-page
resumes, and it allows you to provide more information than you would for a human reader.
• You may use jargon and acronyms specific to your industry and occupation, but remember to
spell out acronyms for human readers.
• Increase your list of key words by including specifics. For example, list the names of the
software you use, like WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Lotus 1-2-3, FoxPro.
• Use typical resume headings such as: Objective, Experience, Employment, Work History,
Positions Held, Appointments, Skills, Summary, Summary of Accomplishments, Strengths,
Education, Professional Affiliations, Publications, Papers, Licenses, Certifications,
Examinations, Honors, Personal, Additional, Miscellaneous, References.
After Your Resume is Completed
When you are satisfied that your resume is correct in format and strong in content, mail it or take
it to one of the Job Service offices listed on the inside back cover.
Some jobseekers may want two versions of their resume, one with a scannable format for the
computer to read (send this one) and one with a creative layout, enhanced typography, and
summarized information to take to the interview for people to read.
7
APPLYING FOR COUNTY AND CITY JOBS
Employment in Arizona’s local governments totaled 231,000 in the year 2000 and represented 63
percent of all government employment in Arizona. Each city, county, and regional government,
as well as each local school district, is responsible for its own hiring. In Maricopa county alone,
there are over a dozen city governments and nearly 70 separate school districts. Application
procedures for these institutions vary.
Job announcements are generally posted at local agency personnel offices. Arizona state Job
Service offices also have information about many of these positions, and many are advertised in
local newspapers.
To pursue employment with a local school district, community college district, or university,
contact them directly. The Arizona Department of Education (at 1535 West Jefferson, Phoenix,
Arizona 85007) can provide information about teacher certification, but not job openings.
If seeking employment with city, county, or regional governments, contact the personnel
departments directly. Several hotlines are provided on the inside front cover of this publication.
Other hotlines and phone numbers for various government units are listed in the Blue Pages of
your telephone directory.
Estimated
1998 Arizona
Employment
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Postal mail carriers 5,110 11.5
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks 3,277 7.4
Registered nurses 1,471 3.3
Inspectors and compliance officers, except construction 1,285 2.9
Police patrol officers 1,159 2.6
Office clerks, general 1,124 2.5
Postal service clerks 1,104 2.5
STATE GOVERNMENT
Correctional officers 5,164 13.3
Social and human service assistants 1,627 4.2
Amusement and recreation attendants 1,612 4.1
Word processors and typists 1,578 4.1
Welfare eligibility workers and interviewers 1,575 4.0
Secretaries, except legal and medical 1,305 3.4
Inspectors and compliance officers, except construction 1,253 3.2
Office and administrative support supervisors and managers 1,063 2.7
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Police patrol officers 3,266 4.3
Fire fighters 2,973 3.9
Correctional officers 2,962 3.9
Social workers, except medical and psychiatric 2,680 3.6
Secretaries, except legal and medical 1,918 2.5
Police and detective supervisors 1,692 2.2
Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs 1,449 1.9
Recreation workers 1,424 1.9
Office and administrative support supervisors and managers 1,378 1.8
Office clerks, general 1,298 1.7
Construction and building inspectors 1,033 1.4
Percent of
Sector
GOVERNMENT OCCUPATIONS WITH THE MOST EMPLOYMENT
8
9
ARIZONA JOB SERVICE OFFICES
Phoenix Metro Area
438 W. Adams St.
Phoenix, 85003-1607
(602) 252-7771
4635 S. Central Ave.
Phoenix, 85040-2148
(602) 276-5587
9801 N. 7th St.
Phoenix, 85020-1701
(602) 861-0208
3406 N. 51st Ave.
Phoenix, 85031-3002
(623) 247-3304
Suite 101
6666 W. Peoria Ave.
Glendale, 85302-7015
(623) 486-9891
225 E. Main St., Ste. 110
Mesa, 85201-7409
(480) 962-7678
Tucson Metro Area
316 W. Ft. Lowell Rd.
Tucson, 85705-3816
(520) 293-1919
7750 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, 85710-3901
(520) 886-2145
195 W. Irvington Rd.
Tucson, 85714-3097
(520) 741-7188
Northern Arizona
Suite E
1645 E. Cottonwood St.
Cottonwood, 86326-4500
(928) 634-3337
397 Malpais Lane, Ste. 9
Flagstaff, 86001-6281
(928) 779-4557
122 E. Hwy. 260, Ste. 110
Payson, 85541-4925
(928) 474-4521
234 N. Grove Ave.
Prescott, 86301-2912
(928) 445-5100
40 S. 11th St.
Show Low, 85901-6001
(928) 537-2948
PO Box 1140
Tuba City, 86045-1140
(928) 283-5201
PO Box 1570
Window Rock, 85615
(928) 871-4131
319 E. 3rd St.
Winslow, 86047-3901
(928) 289-4644
Central Arizona
401 N. Marshall St.
Casa Grande, 85222-5244
(520) 426-3529
1155 N. Arizona Blvd.
Coolidge, 85228-3294
(520) 723-5351
605 S. 7th St.
Globe, 85501-0630
(928) 425-3101
Western Arizona
813 Hancock Rd.
Bullhead City, 86442-5083
(928) 763-4154
301 Pine St.
Kingman, 86401-5661
(928) 753-4333
1990 McCulloch, Ste. 104
Lake Havasu City,
86403-4647
(928) 680-6005
201 S. 3rd Ave.
Yuma, 85364-2294
(928) 783-1221
South, Southeast
209 Bisbee Rd.
Bisbee, 85603-1193
(520) 432-5703
1140 F Ave.
Douglas, 85607-1988
(520) 364-4446
480 N. Grand Ave.
Nogales, 85621-2736
(520) 287-4635
1938 W. Thatcher Blvd.
Safford, 85546-3318
(928) 428-2911
2981 E. Tacoma St.
Sierra Vista, 85635-1398
(520) 458-4005
256 S. Curtis Ave.
Willcox, 85643-2115
(520) 384-3583
10
GOVERNMENT HOTLINES AND WEB SITES
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