Employment Opportunities

The City of Newark Human Resources Department's goal is to attract, develop and retain a diverse, well-qualified and professional workforce. Other local government positions can be found on the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Newark Unified School District websites.

The City of Newark accepts only applications for positions that we are currently recruiting. If the City of Newark does not have a position open that you are interested in applying, you may complete an interest card by calling the Human Resources Department directly at 510-578-4267, or by sending an e-mail to us at: hr@newark.org with your name, address, and position of interest.

From I-880 South - Take the Thornton Avenue exit (after Mowry), turn left (west) onto Thornton Avenue at the stoplight, turn left at Newark Boulevard (approximately 1 mile). The City Administration Building is on the right at 37101 Newark Boulevard, the HR Department is on the fourth floor.

From I-880 North - Take the Thornton Avenue exit (after Decoto Road/Dumbarton Bridge), turn right (west) onto Thornton Avenue, turn left at Newark Boulevard (approximately 1 mile). The City Administration Building is on the right at 37101 Newark Boulevard, the HR Department is on the fourth floor.

The following information is presented to help you understand each of these phases in the recruitment and selection process. The information contained herein is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

1. Applications/Job Announcements:

Applications and job announcements can be downloaded from our website, mailed or faxed to you upon request.

2. Employment Application:

When applying, please be sure to fill out the City application legibly and completely, including all relevant work experience. You may make additional copies of the application as necessary. You may submit cover letters, resumes, or other supporting documents if desired. All completed City applications submitted prior to the final filing deadline are reviewed by the HR Department.

3. Application Review:

The HR Department first reviews all applications to ensure that applicants meet the minimum qualifications for the position, as indicated on the job announcement. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications for a position cannot be considered for that position. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for the position are considered qualified for the position. Our subject matter experts then review the job relevant qualifications (e.g., education and experience) of all the qualified applicants to identify those who are best-qualified for the position. Only the best-qualified applicants are invited to continue in the selection process.

4. Notification:

You will be notified of your application status within several weeks after the final filing deadline for the position. Please contact the HR Department if you do not receive notification of the status of your application within several weeks. Based on the application review discussed above, your application will be placed into one of three categories:

Invited to Continue - Based on your education, experience, and other job-related qualifications, you have been identified by the subject matter experts as one of the best qualified applicants for the position. You will be invited to continue on to the next phase of the selection process. This may include being invited to any combination of the examination methods discussed below.

Reserve List - Although you meet the minimum qualifications for the position, you were not among those applicants selected by our subject matter experts as best-qualified. Your application will be retained on a reserve list. If an appointment is not made from the initial group of applicants selected to continue, you may be invited to participate in a later round of examinations.

Disqualified - We are unable to consider you for the position because the information you provided on the application failed to meet the minimum qualifications for the position or your application arrived late or incomplete. The minimum qualifications for each position are clearly indicated on the job announcement under "qualifications".

Please note that meeting the minimum qualifications for a position does not guarantee invitation to the examination process. Only those applicants judged best qualified are invited to continue in the selection process.

5. Examinations:

Depending on the type of position for which you are applying, the selection process may include any combination of the following examinations: written examination, oral board interview, performance examination, or Assessment Center.

Please note that no make-up examinations will be offered. If you do not receive your notice and/or fail to appear for a scheduled examination you will be disqualified.

Written Examination - You should expect to spend between 1 - 3 hours in this examination. The exam will be based on skills related to the job and may consist of multiple choice, true/false, fill-in, or essay items. You should research the position by reviewing the job announcement to determine the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. The City does not offer practice tests. However, a variety of test booklets can be found at libraries or bookstores.

Oral Board Interview - This interview will be conducted by a panel of subject-matter experts, known as assessors. You can expect two or more assessors on the oral board. Interview questions are standardized, most often situational, and always job-related. In preparing for your oral board interview it will be helpful to remember the following:

Research the position by reviewing the job announcement to determine the knowledge, skills, and abilities that may be evaluated.

You may be asked to describe your education, work experience, and training, and explain how it has prepared you for the position.

You should expect to spend between 20 and 60 minutes in the oral board interview.

Performance Examination - A performance examination is designed to measure your ability and skill in performing job-related duties. Typical performance examinations are computer proficiency exams, demonstrations of physical agility (e.g., for public safety positions), and other work-related exercises. It is recommended that you dress appropriately for the ability or skill you will be asked to demonstrate.

Assessment Center - An assessment center is a series of performance-related exercises which simulate actual job tasks. You should expect to spend between one hour and a full day in an assessment center. To prepare, you should research the position as much as possible. Review the job announcement for the specific job duties, skills, and abilities required of the position. It is especially important to listen to directions carefully. This examination method is generally used for administrative and management positions.

6. Eligible List:

Candidates who are successful in the examination process are placed on an Eligible List, which is then certified by the HR Department to the hiring department for consideration. Unless otherwise noted, candidates must be successful in all phases of the examination process in order to be placed on the Eligible List for a position. The hiring department then selects candidates from the Eligible List to invite to a department interview. The Eligible List is normally effective for 6 months but can be extended for up to 2 years.

7. Department Interview:

The hiring department selects candidates from the Eligible List to invite to the department interview phase of the selection process. If invited to a department interview, you may expect to meet with the director of the hiring department, or his or her designee. The department director makes a recommendation to the City Manager based on the results of the department interview. If you are not recommended or not selected for appointment to a position, your name will be returned to the Eligible List for future consideration, should the need arise.

8. Appointment:

If recommended by the department director for appointment to a position, you may be asked to complete and submit a "Pre-offer Information Release Authorization" form, which allows the hiring department to verify the information you provided in your application and supporting documentation. Once the background information is verified, the department may contact you to make a conditional offer of employment. The conditional offer of employment is normally contingent on the successful completion of a City-paid pre-employment medical examination and, for certain positions such as public safety, may be contingent on drug testing, polygraph, or psychological testing as well. Once the specified conditions are satisfied the department director may make a final offer of employment. You should not resign from your current position until you receive a final offer of employment.