Hiring Process
Check the Career Opportunities page for current job openings. Carefully review the job details, qualifications, and supplemental application questions before you apply.
If you don’t see a job that you’re interested in at this time, sign up for a Job Interest Card. That way you’ll get an email notice each time we open jobs in your area of interest.
Submitting your application
- Click on the job title in which you’re interested.
- Click the “Apply” button on the top right of the job posting.
- If this is your first time applying with us, you’ll need to create an account on governmentjobs.com and create a username and password.
- Once you create your account, you can build your application, which you can save and use to apply for more than one job opening.
- The online application system times out after 30 minutes. We recommend you periodically save your application while completing it.
- You must certify your application and click the “submit” button at the end of the application in order to submit it to THA for consideration.
- Please note that most jobs have a priority deadline date. This means we give first consideration to applications received by that date for the job posting.
THA is dedicated to building an inclusive, informed workforce with opportunities for all. In alignment with that goal, THA has adopted an anonymous application process that prevents hiring managers from seeing personal identifiers, including names, addresses, and other similar information. This eliminates the possibility of unintentional or implicit bias during the initial screening of applications. For that reason, you will not have the ability to attach any documents to your application, including a cover letter or resume.
On occasion, a hiring manager may request a resume, cover letter, or writing sample as part of the application review or interview process. You’ll get an email notice if you need to submit these documents after you apply.
Since you can’t attach any documents to your application, it’s very important that you submit a complete, detailed, and updated job application. When you apply for a position, you must thoroughly complete the education and work experience sections of your application and provide a thorough response to every Supplemental Question listed on the job posting. Failure to do so may result in elimination from further consideration.
For technical problems with the online application system, call NEOGOV Applicant Support at 1-855-524-5627.
How We Review Applications/Next Steps
- After you submit an application, the HR recruiter will review it.
- The recruiter compares the job requirements of the job with the info you provide in the application.
- If you meet the qualifications for the position and submitted a complete, detailed, and updated job application with a thorough response to each Supplemental Question on the job posting, the recruiter forwards your application to a hiring manager for additional review.
- The Hiring Manager reviews applications, keeping in mind the following:
- Position qualifications.
- Combination of experience and education listed in the application.
- Responses to Supplemental Questions.
- Goals for the position, the department, and the agency.
- Number of candidates the panel can interview based on time constraints and other factors.
- We primarily communicate by email during the recruitment process. You should place emails from tacomahousing.org and governmentjobs.com on your safe senders list to ensure you get notices in a timely manner. You may also want to check your junk email folders.
- Whether selected to move forward in the recruitment process or not, we make every effort to notify each applicant by email of their application status.
Interview Process
We typically interview using the following methods:
- In-person or virtually on Microsoft Teams.
- Panel of at least 4 staff representing different areas of the agency; includes the position’s hiring manager.
- 30- or 60-minute long interviews, depending on the position.
- We provide the interview questions to candidates 20-30 minutes before meeting with the panel.
- Interview questions are a combination of behavioral- and scenario-based questions.
- Candidates have an opportunity at the end of the interview to ask the panel questions.
- Depending on the position, candidates may participate in a 2-part interview process with 2 different THA interview panels.
If you’re selected for an interview, here are some tips to prepare:
- Learn about THA and the department of the position to which you applied. You can find a lot on THA’s main website.
- Review the job posting to learn more about the job responsibilities.
- Practice your responses to interview questions out loud. You could also record yourself so you can watch and learn how you can improve your answers.
- Prepare a list of interview questions you think the panel may ask. You can find many examples online.
- Create a list of your top skills and recall past experiences when you used those skills that you can use during your interview.
- Come prepared with questions you may want to ask the panel to learn more about the job responsibilities. You can find several tips on asking good questions in an interview online.
- For virtual interviews:
- The recruiter will email you an Outlook calendar appointment with additional details to login to the interview.
- The recruiter or hiring manager will email you 20–30 minutes before your interview start time.
- Download Microsoft Teams for free, join the interview 5 minutes early, remove distractions from your physical location, dress like you would for an in-person interview, and prepare and rehearse just like you would for an in-person interview.
Candidate Selection
- If you’re not selected, the recruiter will update you by email as soon as possible.
- If you’re selected as the finalist for apposition, the recruiter will call you with a job offer and next steps for required pre-employment checks. Once you verbally accept the position, the recruiter will send you an offer letter with all those details, for you to sign electronically.
- All offers are contingent on successfully pre-employment checks, which include employment and education verification, criminal background check, professional references, and possibly driving records checks.
- Once you successfully complete the pre-employment checks, the recruiter will discuss 1st day preparation and onboarding activities. Congratulations! We’re glad to have you join the THA team.
E-Verify
Tacoma Housing Authority participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm that new hires are authorized to work in the United States.