Civil Service Examination

If you meet the minimum qualifications for the job, you will be scheduled to take a Civil Service Exam, if the position is designated as Civil Service. Civil Service status is provided on each individual job announcement. You will be notified by email of the date, time and location for the exam.

The type of examination that you will be given will be job related. Depending on the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the job, the examination may consist of one or more of the following: evaluation of your training and experience for the job being considered, written tests, oral board interviews, and/or demonstration tests. You will be notified by email of the examination results.

Examination Results

If you pass the evaluation/examination, you will be eligible to be certified by the Civil Service Commission. If you are placed on the certified list you will be considered for each vacancy in that classification for the life of the list, in accordance with chapter 400 in the Iowa Code. Your name will be retained on this list for one year, until you have accepted employment with the City of West Des Moines, or ask to have your name removed from the list.

Once a list has been certified, the hiring authority can hire any applicant on the certified list they believe is most qualified. A representative from the department with the vacancy will review the application materials and select candidates for final interviews.