Be In The Know
Graduates' Guide to Getting Hired by the City of Virginia Beach
Graduating from college is a major accomplishment, as well as an exciting time for students to figure out next steps. Working in local government for the City of Virginia Beach is a great way to kick-start a meaningful career in a sunny, active beach town.
Serving the largest city in the state of Virginia, our organization offers college graduates a variety of job opportunities in departments as diverse as libraries, stormwater engineering, environmental planning, IT, nursing, social work, communication, recreation and the Virginia Aquariumājust to name a few.
In addition to competitive pay, excellent benefits, vacation days, and opportunities to work from home, thereās plenty of room to grow here. Last year more than 900 City of Virginia Beach employees were promoted in responsibility and salary.
Navigating the hiring process as a new graduate can feel challenging. This guide can give you an edge when youāre applying for one of our positions. Hereās what every applicant needs to know:
Meet the minimum experience required
Every position you apply for will list minimum job requirements, which are the basic qualifications a candidate must have to be considered for that role. Demonstrating these basic requirementsāespecially in education and years of experienceāare crucial for being invited to be interviewed. Be sure to clearly list all applicable qualifications on your resume and application.
With us, your degree = years of experience
The City of Virginia Beach highly values the education youāve received. Thatās why applicants are given credit for college degrees in the form of work experience.
In our application system, an associate degree earns you the equivalent of two yearsā work experience. A bachelorās earns you four years, and a masterās up to six. So congrats, grad! Youāre already that much closer to meeting the minimum work experience required for our positions.
Get relevant experience
The requirement for job-specific experience can feel like a catch-22. How can applicants get experience if they havenāt been hiredā¦and how can they get hired if they donāt have experience?
This is where it pays to be strategic and play the long game. If a specific career field interests you, it can be beneficial to get any relevant work experience in your field or a similar roleāeven if you feel overqualified.
That might mean starting in an entry-level position, doing temporary work, or working another job in Virginia Beach that will give you local knowledge. Eventually, your work experience and professional connections can open the door for the roles and responsibilities youāre seeking.\
Include your transferable skills
When you apply for one of our positions, be sure to tell us about the professional skills youāve gained through your coursework, internships and jobsāeven if you havenāt worked in the field youāre applying for. Thatās why itās helpful to list any transferable skills.
These are skills youāve learned through previous work experience, volunteering or education that are relevant to the job youāre applying for. For example, if youāre applying for a job at a recreation center that requires customer service experience, be sure to share if youāve provided customer service in any type of work environment, like a retail store or restaurant.
Talk to a recruiter
Whether you have questions about a specific job description or the interview process, speaking directly with a recruiter is a great way to get those questions answered. The City of Virginia Beach has two ways to do thatāvirtually and in person.
The Human Resources Department offers a virtual Q & A every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST. All you have to do is reserve a spot.
A great way to connect with a recruiter in person is to attend a job fair. City representatives often attend job fairs at colleges in the region, and occasionally the City will host its our own career fair. To learn where our team will be next, follow us on LinkedIn.
Make a great first impression
When interacting with our recruiters and hiring staff, come prepared for the conversation with thoughtful questions and stories from your background that highlight your ability to excel in the position you seek.
Whether in person or virtual, dress to impress and be a few minutes early for your meeting. This extra effort shines through and can help you stand out as someone the City wants in our workforce.
Learn more about us
The more you know about the City of Virginia Beach as a community and an organization, the better equipped youāll be throughout the hiring process. Take a few minutes to read about our mission and values, our history, and our government structure.
Follow us on social media, read our latest news, and sign up for our Be in the Know newsletter. If you live out of the area, come visit. The more you know, the more equipped youāll be to serve this community with excellence.
Ready to apply? Check out our current job openings at virginiabeach.gov/careers.
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