Employment with the City of Ames is based on the merit principle.
This means that hiring decisions are made through an objective
process of evaluating candidates' qualifications in order to select
those who best match the requirements of vacant positions. Most
positions with the City of Ames are under Civil Service as provided
by the Code of Iowa; however, the selection process is similar for
non-Civil Service categories.
The employment process begins with an announcement for a recruitment
for the job classification in which there is a vacant position.
These announcements are posted on City bulletin boards and are
advertised in the Daily Tribune and on the City's web page. Notices
are also mailed to organizations and agencies that are sources of
potential applicants. In the case of Civil Service positions, an
examination results in an eligibility list which has a duration of
one year. Vacancies in a job classification are filled from the
specific eligibility list for that classification so long as there
are names of eligible candidates remaining on that list during the
one-year period. State law restricts eligibility lists to a maximum
of forty (40) candidates. This restriction does not apply to job
classifications exempt from Civil Service.
Announcements contain a basic description of the job, minimum
qualifications, the application procedure, and information about the
examination. Please note that minimum qualification requirements
must be met by all applicants. Equivalent education, training or
experience may be considered if specified in the announcement.
Each applicant must complete a City employment application form and
submit it by the recruitment closing date together with any
additional required documentation. All application documents must be
submitted by the closing date in order for the application to be
considered. Applications sent by mail will be accepted if postmarked
by the closing date; applications sent by FAX or e-mail must be
transmitted before the closing date and time.
Applications become a part of the record of each recruitment and
examination. As such, they cannot be kept "on file" for future
consideration for other jobs. If you think you might be interested
in applying for future announced vacancies, we suggest that you take
an extra application form with you and complete it, leaving out the
title of the job applied for, the date, and your signature. Should
you wish to apply in the future, you may submit a photocopy of your
"master" application, so long as it is up to date and bears the date
and your signature.
It is important that application forms be filled out completely and
accurately in order to receive consideration. Following screening
for minimum qualifications, applications may be scored by assigning
numerical values to qualifying education, training and experience.
To receive maximum credit, it is necessary to include all of these
on your application.
Applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be eligible for the
examination, which may vary depending on the nature of the job and
the number of applicants. In addition to evaluation of training and
experience, an examination may include a written test, performance
test, structured interview, oral board, or a combination of these.
Successful completion of each step may be required in order to
participate in succeeding steps. After completion of the
examination, you will be notified of your score and whether you are
certified as eligible by the Civil Service Commission.
Although a scored interview may be included as part of the
examination process, candidates are not interviewed by the
department having the vacancy until the Civil Service Commission
sends the certified eligible list to that department. The final
hiring decision is made by the head of the department and approved
by the City Manager.
While our employment process is structured, you may be assured that
all applications receive careful consideration by the staff of the
Human Resources Department. We appreciate your interest in
employment with the City of Ames and will be happy to assist you
with your application and to answer any questions you may have.
The City of Ames is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Employer. We encourage applications from women, minorities, and
persons with disabilities.