This page contains information on the definition of terms for the hiring process.

Copies of Application Documents
Applicants are encouraged to keep copies of all documents submitted. Submitted documents become a permanent part of the exam records and will not be returned. The hiring department may require applicants to submit the same documents and/or additional documents at a later date.
Diversity Statement
The City and County of San Francisco is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related) or the conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS Related Conditions (ARC). Read all City & County of San Francisco Equal Employment Opportunity statements.
Employment Applications and Minimum Qualifications
To take an examination, you must meet the job ad's minimum qualifications, which usually consist of educational and previous job experience. Your application should show that you meet the minimum qualifications; however, you may also be asked to present an official college transcript, or a license. All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.
Papers filed with an application are not returned.
City employees receive credit for the duties of their classification unless their appointing officer officially assigns other duties in writing, at the time of the assignment, and in accordance with Civil Service Commission rules. It is the supervisor's and the employee's responsibility to ensure that work out of classification is appropriately and timely documented. Failure to do so may mean disqualification for the examination.
Part-time and volunteer experience may also be used to meet experience requirements. One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. Any overtime hours worked above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.
Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification, or may lead to lower scores.
Identification/Right to Work
All persons employed by the City and County of San Francisco are required to comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 by presenting documents to verify identity and authorization to work in the United States. Acceptable forms of identification as required by the Federal Immigration and Naturalization Service may be found in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website .
Seniority Credit in Promotional Examinations
Applicants for promotive only or combined promotive and entrance examinations shall meet the requirements of the examination announcement under which they apply. If otherwise qualified, employees with six (6) consecutive months (1040 hours) of verifiable experience in any job classification in any appointment type qualify as promotive applicants.
Verification of Experience and/or Education
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience, at any point in the application, examination, or departmental selection processes. Verification of work experience typically must be on the employer’s letterhead, and must include the applicant’s name, job title, description of job duties, dates of service, and signature of the employer. San Francisco City and County employees do not need to submit verification of their City employment but must submit verification of outside experience. San Francisco City and County employees will not receive credit for experience obtained outside of their classification unless recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Rule 110.9.1.
For information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, please visit How to Verify Education Requirements.
Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
Veteran's Preference
In order to be eligible for Veteran's Entitlement, an applicant must have served on active (non-reserve) duty and been released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. This service must have been:
  • At least 30 days of active duty in time of war or peace in a campaign or expedition for service in which a medal has been authorized by the government of the United States; or
  • During the period from September 16, 1940, through January 31, 1955; or
  • After January 31, 1955, at least 181 consecutive days of active duty.
  • Applicants must not have been discharged under dishonorable conditions, or as the result of a court martial.
Veteran's Entitlement provides additional credit of five percent (5%) of the qualifying score on an entrance eligible list.
Additional information about Veteran's Preference:
  • Widows/widowers or surviving domestic partners of deceased eligible veterans may also qualify for Veteran's Entitlement credit.
  • Veteran's Entitlement is limited to an application for entrance employment.
  • The applicant must notify the Department of Human Resources of his/her veteran status when he/she submits the initial job application, complete the Application for Veteran's Preference form and verify eligibility.
  • The applicant must attain a passing score on an entrance selection process to be entitled to the Veteran's Entitlement credit.
  • Applicants must not have already used Veteran's Entitlement in an entrance examination which resulted in the applicant's permanent appointment.
  • Once the probationary period is passed, Veteran's Entitlement points are to be removed from all other eligible lists on which there is standing.
  • Veterans with a permanent service connected disability that is of record in the US Veteran's Administration may apply for a disability credit of ten percent (10%) of the qualifying score.
  • Disabled veterans as defined above shall be afforded all rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, including any reasonable accommodation if appropriate.
  • Veteran's Preference Application