Human Resources

Once the job posting has closed, your submitted application will be reviewed to determine whether or not the minimum qualifications for the job classification have been met. When the determination is made: applications are processed for Education & Experience Review; candidates are notified of eligibility to participate in the Exam Process for the selection; or candidates are notified that they do not meet the minimum qualifications for the job. 

The City of Duluth uses several different exam types to determine your total exam score, such as:

• Education & Experience Review
• Written Exam
• Oral Exam
• Performance Exam
• Seniority Points (mainly used for promotional job selections)
• Typing Test (pass/fail only)

Any combination of these can be used to determine the total exam score. Applicants who pass all exams in the job selection process will have their names placed on an eligible list for the job classification. All candidates whose names on placed on an eligible list will receive notification of their score.

Legislative Code: Chapter - 13 Civil Service

Oral Exam vs. Interview

Oral Exam
If you participate in an Oral Exam as part of the job selection process, it will probably feel much like an interview--however, it is a scored exam that contributes to your total score on an eligible list. Oral Exams are conducted by a panel of subject matter experts and consist of a series of structured questions; all applicants are asked the same questions in the same order. Your answers to the questions are scored by the panel based on set criteria. When you participate in an Oral Exam, assume that the panel has not seen your application or any submitted application materials. Be sure to answer the questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. Do not leave anything up to inference. If you receive a passing score on your Oral Exam, your score will make up part of your total score on the eligible list.

Interview
When a vacancy occurs and an active eligible list for the job classification exists, names of individuals from the eligible list are "certified" (in rank order) as eligible for appointment. In most cases, certification means that you'll be invited to participate in an interview for the position.

Open Job Selection: When certifying from an open eligible list, the names of the seven persons highest on said list are certified; however, when more than one vacancy is to be filled, an additional two names are certified for each additional vacancy.

Promotional or Internal-Only Job Selection: When certifying names from a promotional or internal eligible list, the names of the three persons highest on the promotional or internal eligible list are certified; however, when more than one vacancy is to be filled, the number of names certified is twice the number of such vacancies.

Internal and Open Job Selection: If the job selection was posted as Internal and Open, internal applicants have preference in hiring. When certifying names in this situation, the names of the three persons highest on the internal eligible list are certified; however, when more than one vacancy is to be filled, the number of names certified is twice the number of such vacancies. If the internal eligible list has fewer than three names, additional names may be supplemented and certified from the open eligible list. 

If a tie exists within the certified names on an eligible list, the names of all persons in the tied rank are certified.