Learn More About Our Hiring Process
The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
Getting a job with the City of Oakland can seem very different from getting a job with a private business. There are usually five steps to the job application process.
1. Submit an Application
To be considered for a position, you must submit an application through the City's online application system. Your application should clearly demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications listed on the job announcement, which may include specific education, work experience, certifications, or licenses. You may be asked to provide official documents such as college transcripts or licenses. All required information must be provided by the dates indicated on the announcement — documents submitted after the deadline(s) will not be considered.
Part-time and volunteer work may be pro-rated toward meeting experience requirements. One year of full-time work is typically considered 1,960 hours (overtime is not included in this calculation).
Tip: Keep copies of all documents you submit. Submitted documents become part of the permanent recruitment record and will not be returned.
2. Application Review
Once the recruitment filing period closes, Human Resources staff will review all applications to determine if candidates clearly demonstrated that they possess the required minimum qualifications for the position. It is important to carefully complete your application. Applications that are incomplete, improperly filled out, or that fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications may be disqualified.
In some cases, you may be required to submit verification of your education or experience, such as employer letters or transcripts. For current City employees, only documented duties within your classification(s) will be considered toward meeting qualifications. Duties performed outside of your classification will only be considered if they were officially documented in writing at the time of the assignment.
Note: Falsifying your education, training, or work experience may result in disqualification from the recruitment process and future job opportunities with the City of Oakland.
3. Assessment
Qualified candidates are invited to participate in an assessment process, which may include multiple-choice assessments, writing essay style tests, performance exams, or structured interviews. The specific type of assessment depends on the job and will be outlined on the announcement.
4. Eligible List
Candidates who successfully achieve the required minimum passing score are placed on an eligible list, ranked according to their final scores. Hiring departments use the resulting eligible list to fill vacancies. Oakland Residents, City Employees, and Veterans that successfully achieve passing score(s) throughout the recruitment process may receive additional points towards the final score.
5. Departmental Selection and Background Process
Hiring departments will interview candidates from the eligible list and make their selection. Some positions may require additional steps such as background checks, reference checks, or medical examinations before a job offer is made.
Contact Human Resources Management Department