Frequently Asked Questions

• I want a career with the City of Springfield. How do I get my foot in the door?

• The first step on the road to a City of Springfield career is to apply and test for a City job. Every week the Human Resources Department opens new recruitments for different jobs which may have different recruitment time-frames. Employment applications for these jobs are available during recruitment periods only.

• The job I want isn't posted can I still apply?

• No, the City only accepts applications for positions that are open for recruitment.

• How will I know if a job is open for recruitment?

• To find out which jobs are open for recruitment use this website or call the City’s 24-hour job line at 417.864.1606. The job line lists all jobs currently being recruited and is updated late each Friday afternoon (after 5:00 pm). Because the job line is accessible seven days a week, we encourage you to call on weekends to find out the jobs that are open for recruitment the following week.

  You may also view our open positions at the Human Resources Office on the 3rd floor of the Busch Municipal Building located at 840 Boonville Ave.

• How do I apply for a job?

• Applications are available only during the posted recruitment period. For each of the application methods described below an individual is able to apply for multiple open positions.

  eApplication:
  To electronically submit an application, access City Jobs page and click on Apply Online. Then select the title of the positions that you are interested in. Currently, you are able to apply for three open recruitments per electronic application.

  Download application:
  To download an employment application and, if applicable, related documents, on the "City Jobs" page, click onJob Application. Currently, you are able to apply for as many open recruitments as you are interested in.

  NOTE: If you are having trouble downloading an application, call the Human Resources Office at 417.864.1607. Currently, the downloadable application is in PDF format.

  In Person:
  Pick up applications at the City of Springfield Human Resources Office, 840 Boonville Avenue. Office hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (except City holidays).

  By Mail:
  Call 417.864.1607 to request an application by mail. All applications must be received in the Human Resources office by the closing deadline listed on the Vacancy Announcement or posted by 5:00 on the closing date.

  Applicants should pay close attention to open and close dates of each job. Completed application materials must be received in the Human Resources Department by 5:00 p.m. on the published closing date.

  If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in the application and/or testing process, please contact the Human Resources Department.

  It is a good idea to keep a copy of the Vacancy Announcement and application materials you submit, to assist you in preparing for any test and/or interview that may be required. Please be aware, however, that all application materials become property of the City of Springfield and no copies can be made or returned to the applicant.

• Can I submit a resume?

• Applicants may submit a resume for consideration of an employment vacancy (except for the positions of Police Officer and Firefighter), however, a signed application will be required if an interview and/or testing is offered. Applications and resumes are only accepted for positions that the City is currently recruiting for.

  If applicants choose to submit a resume, please follow the these guidelines:

  Targeted Position:
  Write the name of the job for which you are applying.

  Title:
  Must be listed for each position held in the last 10 years.

  SSN:
  Must include your social security number. Please include your SSN on your application materials. Why? See FAQ titled "Why do you want my SSN on my resume?

  Dates:
  Must be in MONTH/YEAR - MONTH/YEAR format. (01/98 – 05/2006) Include the dates for each title listed. Year/Year (2002-2004) format is unacceptable and may result in the applicant not receiving full consideration for employment.

  Duties:
  Must be specific. Recruiters are not able to assume the duties assigned to a position. Please describe the primary duties that were performed for each title/position listed on a resume.

  Employer:
  Must be listed. Please list the name and location of your employer for each title/position listed.

  Education:
  Must indicate if degree was received or the number of hours earned and the institution attended.

• Why do you want my social security number on my resume?

• Currently, the City of Springfield uses your social security number for applicant tracking purposes. Your Social Security number will be used to create a unique application record and allow Human Resources staff to track the application materials as they move through the recruitment process.

  Privacy Statement

  Protecting your privacy and your personal information is an important aspect of the way the City of Springfield creates, organizes, and implements its activities on-line and off-line.

  The City of Springfield will only collect personal information from you with your prior knowledge and consent. You can access the City's website home page and browse the City's site without disclosing personal information.

  The personal information provided by you via the on-line employment application will only be used internally by the City of Springfield and its affiliates.

  You do not have to submit the employment application on-line unless you choose to do so. You have the choice of downloading and printing the application and mailing it directly to the City of Springfield's Human Resources Department. If you choose to submit your application on-line, you will be required to provide personal information, such as contact information (e.g., name, address, telephone/fax numbers, e-mail address, and your social security number).

  The City of Springfield will only use personal information provided by you for the purposes for which it was collected. The City of Springfield will not disclose your personal information to a third party. The City ensures that your personal information will not be disclosed to any other institutions and authorities except if required by law or other regulation.

  The City of Springfield has implemented technology and security policies, rules, and measures to protect the personal information that the City has under its control from: unauthorized access, improper use, alteration, unlawful or accidental destruction and accidental loss. The City of Springfield will remove personal information from its system where it is no longer required (except where archiving is required).

• Can HR pull my previous application and apply it to another job I want to be considered for?

• No, HR is not able to make copies of any previous application materials (resumes, transcripts, DD-214, certifications, etc) and apply them to a new position that applicants are interested in. Applicants must submit new application materials each time they apply for a position.

• Can I get a copy of my previously submitted application materials?

• No. All application materials become property of the City of Springfield and no copies can be made or returned to the applicant.

• I received an Affirmative Action letter in the mail, what does that mean and do I have to fill it out?

• The City of Springfield is fully committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity and affirmative action in all aspects of employment. Applicants for the City of Springfield are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age or veteran status.

  The City of Springfield is required by federal statutes and executive order to collect and maintain specific data regarding all applicants for positions with our organization. The information requested is voluntary and is strictly confidential. It will not be used to evaluate your qualifications for employment and does not affect your application status in any way. This information will be used solely for affirmative action reporting purposes and is maintained separately from all other applicant information.

  Individuals who have applied for a position with the City of Springfield may receive a letter and an Affirmative Action Data form to complete at their earliest convenience. This form is completely voluntary.

  The information provided by applicants is used to prepare the City of Springfield’s Affirmative Action plan that is compiled on a regular basis.

• Must I live within City boundaries to apply/work for the city?

• Applicants do not have to live within City boundaries to apply. Only Department Directors are required to live within City limits, unless otherwise approved.

• How do I find out about the job duties, requirements and type of exam for the job that I am interested in?

• Each job for which we are recruiting has a Vacancy Announcement. The Vacancy Announcement is an excellent source of information that lists the salary, duties of the job, the minimum requirements of the position, the type of exam to be given (if applicable), special requirements, and the date by which applications must be submitted.

  A job’s education and experience requirements are stated on the Vacancy Announcement. Read the requirements carefully. The job may require certain education and/or experience, a license and/or certification, and knowledge and/or ability in specific areas. The information is helpful in determining if you meet the minimum requirements of the job.

• How does the Human Resources department determine if I qualify for this job?

• Generally, a recruiter will review the application materials for primarily two reasons:

  1) to determine if a candidate's education and experience makes him/her eligible to take a written exam and/or interview, or

  2) to evaluate a candidate's education and experience and determine if he/she is qualified to do the job. In either case, it is very important that you complete the application materials thoroughly.

  Your qualifications will be evaluated based on the information you provide in your application materials. Therefore, be sure to include paid and voluntary work experience. Also include other information that is relevant to the job, such as licenses, professional affiliations, classes you have taken, training you have received, and all other special qualifications. If you need more space to adequately describe your experience, please attach additional sheets to you application materials.

  Be aware that qualifications above the minimum requirements may be necessary to qualify you to proceed in the next phase of the recruitment process. Higher screening criteria may include: additional years of required experience, specific licenses or certifications, and additional educational requirements. The following are some examples of qualifications that are frequently screened for:

  Recency:
  Relevant experience must be recent (typically within the last 5 years) in order to be considered qualified experience.

  Stability:
  Individuals must demonstrate a pattern of stability in their employment (typically no more than 3 different employers in the last 5 years.)

• When will I receive a response from my application?

• Currently, only those applicants who were determined to be qualified will receive a response from the City. Applicants are determined qualified if they meet the screening criteria set by the recruiter and subject matter experts for the open position.

  Because the City of Springfield usually receives a large number of applications for each recruitment, the screening process can take up to two weeks after the closing deadline posted on the Vacancy Announcement. Please be patient. We want to give each application the consideration it deserves.

• Why didn’t I get an interview or scheduled for an exam if I met the requirements on the posting?

• Due to the volume of applications received for open recruitments, it is often necessary for the recruiter to screen beyond the minimum requirements of the posting. Recruiters may screen for additional years of required experience, specific licenses or certifications, and additional educational requirements as well as recency of experience and stability of employment.

• What kind of exam will I have to take?

• The type of exam that you will be given is stated on the Vacancy Announcement. Exams are developed based on the actual job duties. Depending on the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job, the exam may consist of written tests, demonstration tests, simulation exercises, oral presentations, oral examination interviews, and or assessment centers.

• How do I prepare for the exam? What do I study?

• All City of Springfield tests are job related and designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the essential functions of the job. Read the job duties and general description of the test on the Vacancy Announcement, and then study the material that you feel directly or indirectly relates to the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. For example, if two of the requirements for a job are performing mathematical calculations and interpreting regulations, some of the exam questions will probably cover math and reading comprehension.

  For examinations that have study materials, a list of the materials will be on the Vacancy Announcement.

• What happens after I take an exam?

• You will be notified of the results. The City is looking for the highest qualified applicants. Pass/fail determinations and final score may be based on the distribution of scores resulting from the evaluation/exam. The cutoff point may also be influenced by the number and quality of applicants, amount of turnover, number of vacancies expected and total number of positions authorized.

  If you are notified that you were not successful in passing the exam or that you are not among the highest qualified candidates, don't be discouraged. The City of Springfield selection processes are very competitive. You are encouraged to apply again the next time the job opens for recruitment.

  If you pass the evaluation/exam you will be invited for an oral interview.

• Is there anything that I can do to prepare for an interview?
• 1. Be prepared by finding out as much as you can about the position.
  2. View and review the job description.
  3. Be prepared to talk about your past experience, education, skills and abilities as they relate to the position. Past experiences can include customer service, high public contact, and other related experience applicable to the position you are interested in. Don’t forget related educational experiences!
  4. Be sure to fully explain your skills and abilities even if the interviewer is familiar with your background and resume. Don’t assume that an interviewer will just know that you are the best candidate.
  5. If you do not hear or understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat it.
  6. Practice before the interview. Anticipate questions you may be asked and practice answering them out loud prior to the interview.
  7. Dress appropriately - always be well groomed.
  8. Be prompt - plan to arrive early for the interview to allow time to find parking, to locate the appropriate office, and to complete any necessary paperwork.
  9. Remember to maintain good posture and body language.
  10. Finally, just try to relax.
• How do you score the interviews and what do the scores mean?

• The City uses a very structured interview process. All candidates will be asked the same questions. The questions are developed from the job description for each position. Candidates are scored against several dimensions that describe the knowledge, skills and abilities that are required for the position.

  Scores are converted to a 100 pt. Scale. To be placed on an eligibility list an individual must achieve a score of 71 or higher.

• I've applied, tested and interviewed, what happens now?

• If you have successfully passed the testing and the interview process, your name is placed on an eligibility list. Eligibility lists contain the names of the individuals that a supervisor may hire for his/her open vacancy. Supervisors will be given the names and phone number of the top candidates on the eligibility list. Individuals may be asked to come in for a second interview, departmental tour, etc.

  If you have not successfully passed the interview, you will be notified by mail that you were unsuccessful in the interview process. You are encouraged to apply for any open recruitment that you still have an interest in.

• When does the eligibility list expire?

• The life span of City of Springfield eligible lists varies from six months to eighteen months, depending on the job. You may contact the Human Resources office to find out when a list will expire.

  If you have a change of address, telephone number, or name, please contact the Human Resources department to have the change(s) made to the eligible list.

• Do you require drug testing, background checks, credit checks, etc.?

• The City of Springfield conducts pre-employment drug testing on all applicants that are made contingent job offers. In most circumstances, applicants must report to the testing site within 24 hours of being made a contingent job offer. All job offers are contingent upon successfully passing the later phase of our pre-employment screening process which may include; a mandatory pre-employment drug test, a criminal background check, credit check, and references.

  The City of Springfield will conduct a criminal background check on each prospective employee. All local, state and federal records will be researched for conviction information. Applicants must disclose any conviction information on their application materials. Traffic violations are considered convictions as a result; applicants must disclose any traffic violations (speeding tickets, running a stop light, etc) on their application materials. If an applicant does not remember the specific dates, they may obtain a copy of their driving record from the department of motor vehicles where the violation occurred.

  Credit checks will be ran on all prospective employees that will be in cash-handling positions and may be run on public safety positions such as Police Officer. Credit checks will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• Do you give veteran’s preference?

• Merit Rule 5.10 Veteran's Preference is summarized below:

  Applicants who present evidence showing honorable service in the armed forces of the United States or placement on the reserve list who have met the minimum requirements imposed for each test and who have received at least the passing grade required for eligibility, shall have added to their earned gradings an additional five (5) points on the basis of 100. All such persons except Police and Fire Department applicants, who are suffering service connected disability of at least 10% compensable disability rating, based on the findings of the United States Veterans Administration, shall have added to their earned gradings 10 points on the basis of 100.

  Applicable documentation will need to be provided to the Human Resources office, which may include DD-214 and a certificate from the Veteran’s Administration.

• What type of benefits do you offer?

• Please read the PAT/CTL Benefits page, Firefighter Benefits page or Police benefits page.