Frequently Asked Questions - Jobs at Employment Security
Click on question links to be routed to answers below
Applicant materials:
Q: The application I downloaded from the Employment Security Web site won't let me save my changes.Q: Your application form won't let me input my entire e-mail address.
Q: I have a completed State of Washington employment application. Will you accept that?
Q: Who should I address my letter of interest to?
Q: I would like to add an address to my letter of interest. What is the address for Human Resources?
E-mail:
Q: The e-mail link to HRRecruiting does not work.Q: I received an error message when I sent you an e-mail. How do I know you received my email?
Q: I did not receive an auto-reply when I sent an e-mail. How do I know you got it?
Submission deadlines:
Q: I just heard about a job that closes today at 5 p.m. Can I have an extra day to submit my materials?Interviews, certification and hiring process:
Q: How long does the hiring process take?Q: What does "certified" mean?
Q: Who can I follow up with about my application?
Other:
Q: I have applied for several jobs with ESD, but I do not remember which ones. Can you tell me?Q: My question isn't answered in the FAQ - who can I contact for more help?
Applicant materials:
Q: The application I dowloaded from the Employment Security web site won't let me save my changes.
A: Make sure you Save instead of Open the blank document after you download it. Using the blank copy saved on your hard drive, fill out the necessary fields and save the completed document before attaching it to an e-mail to hrrecruiting@esd.wa.gov with the recruitment announcement number in the subject line.
Q: Your application form won't let me to input my entire e-mail address.
A: The field available for your e-mail address does not appear to leave space for longer e-mail addresses; however, if you input your information completely we can retrieve it.
A: No. Each application package must be e-mailed individually to the recruiting team. If you are applying for several similar positions, you must also include the correct recruitment announcement number on each application you send. Failure to do so may result in your application materials not being considered.
A: You may send your DD-214, disability letter and/or college transcripts in any electronic format. You may also fax them to 360-902-9239. Please note: the only materials acceptable by fax are those mentioned above. Applications, letters of interest and resumes will not be accepted by fax.
Q; I have a completed State of Washington employment application. Will you accept that?
A: Yes, but please make sure the job title and recruitment announcement number reflect the currently open position you would like to be considered for.
A: No. ESD conducts its own recruitments and does not use the services provided on www.careers.wa.gov.
Q: Who should I address my letter of interest to?
A: There are several team members who may screen your application package, so it is best to address your letter of interest To Whom it May Concern. Recipients of our jobs listserv will be able to see which recruiters have sent announcements. If you know the name of the recruiter, it is also appropriate to address your letter to them.
A: Our mailing address is:
Human Resource Services Division - Employment Security Department
PO Box 9046
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
Please note: applicant materials sent via post will not be considered. Submissions are only accepted electronically.
No. We do not maintain a bank of applications or resumes. If you would like to be considered for a new position, you must apply for it.
A: Non-represented and/or non-classified positions do not require job applications. When preparing your application materials, please send only those materials we explicitly request under "How to Apply" in the original job announcement.
A: You can, but the recruitment team will not consider it when screening your application. We can only consider those materials we explicitly request under "How to Apply" on the original job announcement.
A: You can, but the recruitment team will not consider it when screening your application. We can only consider those materials we explicitly request under "How to Apply" on the original job announcement.
E-mail:Q: The e-mail link to HRRecruiting does not work.
A: This link will only work if you have assigned an e-mail account to a mail client like Microsoft Outlook. If have not set up a program like Outlook to retrieve your e-mails from the Internet, clicking on the e-mail link from our jobs page will not send an e-mail. Open your e-mail service via the Internet, compose a new message and attach all requested documents to the e-mail before sending it to hrrecruiting@esd.wa.gov with the recruitment announcement number in the subject line.
Q: I received an error message when I sent you an e-mail. How do I know you received my email?
A: The easiest way to make sure we've received your e-mail is to check your inbox for an auto-reply. Are you an AOL user? At this time AOL's mail server is rejecting our auto-reply e-mail. Instead of our auto-reply, AOL users receive an error message that appears to be caused by an incorrect e-mail address. If you scroll to the bottom of the error message, you should see the text of our auto-reply. If you do not see the original text, we did not receive your e-mail. Are you a Hotmail user? Hotmail sometimes sorts our auto-reply into users' bulk or junk mail folders. Make sure you check all e-mail folders for our auto-reply. Did you send attachments with your e-mail? If your e-mail did not contain any file attachments, our system will not auto-reply to your message.
Q: I did not receive an auto-reply when I sent an e-mail. How do I know you got it?
A: Are you an AOL user? At this time AOL's mail server is rejecting our auto-reply e-mail. Instead of our auto-reply, AOL users receive an error message that appears to be caused by an incorrect e-mail address. If you scroll to the bottom of the error message, you should see the text of our auto-reply. If you do not see the original text, we did not receive your e-mail. Are you a Hotmail user? Hotmail sometimes sorts our auto-reply into users' bulk or junk mail folders. Make sure you check all e-mail folders for our auto-reply. Did you send attachments with your e-mail? If your e-mail did not contain any file attachments, our system will not auto-reply to your message.
A: Sorry, but we can only accept applicant materials that have been submitted electronically. If you do not have access to a computer with Word, visit your local WorkSource office, library or community college to find help with access to a computer.
Submission deadlines:A: No. To be fair and equitable to all applicants, we do not accept any materials after 5 p.m. on the closing date. E-mails sent at 5:01 p.m. are considered late.
A: No. To be fair and equitable to all applicants, we do not accept any materials after 5 p.m. on the closing date. E-mails sent at 5:01 p.m. are considered late.
A: No. When considering applicant submissions, we note the date and time stamp on the e-mail. If the e-mail was sent late, we will not consider those materials.
Interviews, certification and hiring process:
Q: How long does the hiring process take?
A: It depends on the position and the number of applicants. After the position closes, we begin screening applicants based on the required and desired qualifications as outlined in the original job posting. Between 10 and 14 days later, the recruitment team will finish compiling a list of candidates certified for further consideration. For represented positions, the Collective Bargaining Agreement limits how many candidates we can certify. Candidates may be qualified for a position, but not become certified if there is a large number of applicants who more closely meet our specific requirements. When we send the certification list to the hiring manager for further consideration, we e-mail applicants on the status of their applications. From that point forward, all communication regarding the hiring process will come from the hiring manager. It is not appropriate to follow up with the hiring managers and we will not provide you with their names or contact information.
Q: What does "certified" mean?
A: Applicants who are certified for further consideration are those who most closely meet the qualifications for the position. The Collective Bargaining Agreement limits the number of candidates we can certify for represented positions, so for particularly competitive recruitments the certification list will represent only those candidates who meet both the required and desired qualifications more closely than the rest of the pool. Because each candidate pool is different in size and quality, it is possible that applicants may be certified for a position but not for a similar one in another city or at another time.
A: No. The Human Resource Services Division provides statewide recruitment and screening services for the entire agency. Once we compile and send a certified list to the hiring manager, the rest of the hiring process takes place in the field under their supervision. We do not have information about who is being considered for interviews, nor do we have access to the hiring managers' interview schedules. The hiring process is carried out according to the business needs of the hiring manager, and we do not set timelines for interviews or job offers.
Q: Who can I follow up with about my application?
A: If you have not received an update about the status of your application and at least fourteen business days have passed since the recruitment closed, your may e-mail hrrecruiting@esd.wa.gov to follow up on the status of your application.
Q: I have been invited to an interview, but I do not remember the contact's e-mail address/phone number/name/title. Can you help?
A: Probably not. The Human Resource Services Division provides statewide recruitment and screening services for the entire agency. If you have been invited to an interview but need more information, we can only assist you if you know the name of the person who contacted you or the original recruitment announcement number for the position you are being considered for.
A: Sorry, but we do not have the ability to provide job coaching. Those types of services are provided by ESD's WorkSource offices, located statewide. Another important point to keep in mind is the volume of applications that we receive in response to recruitment announcements. While an applicant may be qualified for a job, there could also be more candidates who are more qualified. Make sure to carefully read the required and desired qualifications as outlined in the original job posting. In your application and in your letter of interest be very specific about how your experience and qualifications align with our requirements.
Other:
Q: I have applied for several jobs with ESD, but I do not remember which ones. Can you tell me?
A: No. We file application materials using the recruitment announcement number, and will be unable to find your materials unless you are able to provide us with the original number(s).
A: No. Our agency conducts position-specific recruitments, which means we do not maintain an archive of resumes. In order to be considered for one of our positions, you must submit a complete applicant package and reference a currently open position during the time the position is being advertised.
A: You can send an email to hrrecruiting@esd.wa.gov with the following information in the subject line: the recruitment announcement number for the position(s) you applied for, your first and last name, and the words "Updated Contact Info."
A: The most current and reliable information can be found on our jobs page. Find the position you would like to apply for on the ESD page and use the long alphanumeric code to reference the position on your application and in the subject line of your e-mail.
Q: My question isn't answered in the FAQ - who can I contact for more help?
A: Applicants requiring further assistance can call 360-902-9318. Please be patient as we are sometimes unable to respond to messages within 24 hours.
