The City of Spokane uses competitive testing to hire for Civil Service positions. This method helps ensure applicants are qualified based on their knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the job. Through testing, we open opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of personal connections or political affiliations, ensuring positions are earned based on individual merit.
Tests are administered in either online or in-person format. The position you apply for will determine what format the test is administered in.
After you apply for a civil service classified position, an analyst will screen your application to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications. If you do meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to take a skills test. The invitation will come from info@governmentjobs.com and will contain information about your upcoming test, such as whether it will be in-person or online, the evaluation method, and the testing window.
If you don’t meet the minimum qualifications, you will still receive an email notification from us.
***Make sure to keep an eye on your spam or junk folders within your email.
Each Civil Service exam is tailored to the specific position being filled. Civil Service analysts work with subject matter experts to determine the most effective evaluation method for assessing whether candidates have the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the job. Some of these evaluation methods include, but are not limited to:
When you go to apply to a position with the City of Spokane, the evaluation method will be listed in the job posting.
The test format will be listed on the job posting under the “Examination Details” section. Additional test details will also be sent to you via email when you are invited to take the test.
Most open-entry tests are administered online. Online tests can be taken in the comfort of your own home on a personal computer. If you don't have access to the internet or a computer, you can visit a local library or contact the Civil Service department, and we can schedule a time to use a computer in our test room. You may use any website browser to take the test, but Safari will require special settings to ensure the test presents properly. View those settings instructions online.
When your scheduled test time arrives, select the unique test link that was provided to you in the email from info@governmentjobs.com.
Some tests will have a set amount of time to answer questions. There is an on-screen timer that begins when the first question appears on the screen. Be mindful of the time limit and make sure you submit your answers before the time expires.
While not as common, some positions require in-person testing. In-person tests may use any evaluation method. This includes an online test that is proctored in person.
Unless otherwise notified by Civil Service, in-person tests will be administered at the Civil Service Office in City Hall – 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd Spokane, WA 99201.
Please arrive 15 minutes earlier than the test time stated on your exam notification. You will check in with security on the 1st floor, and they will send you up to the testing room on the 4th floor. Administration of the exam will begin as soon as the test room doors are closed. Late arrivals will not be admitted. Once the exam introduction is complete, no one will be allowed to enter the test room.
All candidates are required to present a photo I.D. upon check-in. Your photo ID will undergo verification to ensure the name matches our records and that you are the individual depicted in the photo. Please note that entry to the test will not be permitted without a valid ID.
Dress comfortably. The exam room may be too hot or too cold for you, so it may be helpful to wear layers.
All required testing materials will be provided. You may bring a bottle of water or other lidded beverage to the exam. All personal belongings, such as bags, jackets, and study materials, must be placed under your seat during the test. Civil Service is not responsible for personal belongings left in the exam room.
A Civil Service Analyst will score all the exams once they are completed. Candidates who score at or above the pass point for this test will be placed on an eligible list in order from the highest to the lowest score. The top fifteen names on the eligible list are then provided to hiring managers. Hiring managers must consider candidates in their ranked order when filling a vacant position. Eligible lists are valid for one year or until exhausted.
Expect an email with your eligible list rank around two weeks from the time you took the test. Multiple-choice exams are machine-scored and then verified by a Civil Service employee. Online exams are scored either by our online testing program or by a Civil Service analyst, depending on the type of exam.
Applicant eligibility ranking does change over time. You may contact the Civil Service department to request your current rank on active eligible lists. Eligible lists are valid for one year or until exhausted. This means you may be contacted up to one year after testing for an interview.
Please contact Civil Service if you have any questions about testing or the hiring process.
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