City of Seattle Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – I was selected from a pool of 300+. My first test was a skills test in Excel and Word which was taken with a group of other applicants. Some people walked out of the test when they realized they didn't know how to do the first question! I used Excel help and completed it. After apparently acing the test, I got a group interview with about four people. Each took turns asking questions. I had a printed copy of the questions for me to follow along with. I asked for their names again afterwards for thank you cards as they all had odd names that they had rattled off quickly. The interview went very well--they were a congenial bunch. Then I was called back for a one on one with my to-be direct supervisor who was the director of the division. It was much more casual, no printed rote questions, but instead obviously very specific questions having to do with the position. Much more a personality test too. Supervisor a very casual person, so it was a laid back interview, probably different experience from what others may have. Then I received a call saying it was between me and one other and they wanted to speak with an additional reference. They ended up talking to my direct supervisor at my current job and I was offered the job a day later. Overall things moved quickly due to the fact that the department I interviewed for has it together in the HR game, unlike some departments. However, irritating things were that they when it came to scheduling interviews, they had very specific times that occurred very quickly (talking a few days notice) and if you couldn't make it, too bad for you, they couldn't work with you--also a problem because there were three different things, the skills test and two interviews. It was hard to make it work on such short notice with my position I held at the time. Now that I help them schedule interviews, it is still the same! I realize now that it is a screening tool (they have a ton of applicants, for higher level positions they are more lenient) but it still makes me feel badly because I know how stressful it is for these lower level positions to try to get out of work to make an interview, especially when the city is often a huge step up in pay and they are eager to interview.

Negotiation Details – No negotiations. The city has a pay step program that is public information. You are hired at a rate indicated on the job positing and receive raises after 6 months, then a year after that. Total of four or five steps and then no more increases, except when there are yearly cost of living increases. My first year I received a 4.5 percent COLA, this year may be nonexistant or a pittance (2 percent, maybe).