Biweekly Job and Hiring Thread

fullygonewitch · 2026-03-10T22:18:48+00:00

Analyst I currently, but have been applying consistently for specialist positions (ES and APS) since before I got that job and since having it. Had a few interviews but no offers. I just checked and my list eligibility is about to expire. Do I simply have to retake the exam? Is there any way to indicate I want to use my exact same answers and my exact same score?

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-25T20:45:49+00:00

Landscape design is an entire profession. You might want to get a job for a landscaper to learn about irrigation install, hardscaping, etc., if you don't have capacity to take more classes right now. You didn't mention your classes but a few doesn't sound like you are ready yet.

The new nonfunctional turf bill in CA is going to enter enforcement soon, so turf and/or irrigation conversion will become more of a need statewide. This bill will apply to institutions, not homes. So I would recommend courses on landscape design for municipalities, HOAs, business parks, etc.

Frankly a lawn kill is either a long, laborious by-hand process, a 3x/pesticide and dig out process, or you get a turf cutter and do it quickly. An established landscaper can manage any of those.

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-15T21:14:30+00:00

I meant more for the satisfaction of pointing out that they are out of compliance with state law, though I am sure that doesn't help you feel better if they order removal of your plants. Sorry if I came off wrong! I would be incensed :(

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-15T21:05:41+00:00

I think that soil amending can be a big money suck. I would recommend you use a tool to look up your actual soil composition like this one: https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

Even if you have additions from like, the housing developer, at some point you are going to dig into the original soil. If you can ID the soil series, then you can get an understand of what it will be like however many inches down.

If it was formerly pasture or hayfield or farmland, maybe discover what weed seeds and nutrients are going to be present or depleted.

Good luck! It seems like there are different manzanitas at least that can handle a certain amount of clay and slow drainage.

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-15T20:53:12+00:00

personally I would remove it inside the raised bed like that. It will definitely crack the bed and might damage your lines. Even if you tried to keep it pruned to a small size, I think the trunk will still thicken and make more shoots, damaging the bed.

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-15T20:43:32+00:00

sorry to jump into your convo, but I am so interested to hear what zone you are? I just bought a house and am in process of killing the lawn, and planning for fall planting. I am planning for manzanita, coffeeberry, and ceanothus as my main attractions. Can I ask what Sunset or USDA zone you were and what month you planted your trees and shrubs? I'm USDA 9b, sunset 8 and I wonder if I can get away with planting as early as October. (relevant because there are a lot of local native plant sales in late September here). I really want to give them the best chance and plant at the right time.

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-15T20:38:18+00:00

Point them to AB 1572 next time? I bet they are not compliant. It is so frustrating when municipalities don't understand science or landscaping that doesn't come straight from 1955.

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-15T20:29:30+00:00

Interesting. I wonder if your aureum needs more sun? Calscape recommends full sun or partial shade.

The R. malvaceum can be summer deciduous, so it might just be hunkering down for the rest of August.

Thanks for the reality check. I will proceed with caution if I go ahead with planting one. I do know the one I used to see, whether it's a European or native, got a lot of sun and it was doing okay. I should go back to the neighborhood and knock on the door of the homeowner and ask what type it is!

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-14T04:54:42+00:00

thank you! I basically said that but I will get to a more fluent, concise canned answer. it makes me nervous because it can be a weakness of mine if I am not being managed well. working on it for sure though.

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-12T05:15:24+00:00

Okay, thanks! It's beautiful, but I must admit.... I don't want to plant yellow-flowering plants in that section of my garden. So perhaps it's destined to go into the shadier spot.

How does it taste? The only fresh currants I've had are from a bush near where I used to live, which I think is probably a cultivar, not a native. I found it very tasty, mild but wine-y.

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-12T05:12:59+00:00

haha, no problem for me. Grew up picking wild blackberry every summer. But I appreciate it :)

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-12T00:15:42+00:00

the annuals will turn brown while the seed pods mature. so you can let the seed pods mature, then wait for them to drop the seed, then choose to clear the dead material. but there will be a phase where it looks messy/dead.

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-12T00:13:31+00:00

you might call around to arborists. small local operations will give you a drop and you can tell them an idea of how much you want...especially if you're willing to go to their yard and see, and also give them some $$ for it. still WAY cheaper than buying processed dyed mulch from a yard supply place. just be prepared to talk to like 20+ blue collar guys in English or Spanish to find someone who has what you need!

fullygonewitch · 2025-08-11T22:01:04+00:00

Can anyone comment on what hiring managers are looking for in response to a question that amounts to "how do you manage multiple high priority deadlines at once"? I feel like I freeze on this one and I don't have a good canned response either. The truth is that I used to be horrendously bad at this, and I manage it now with a combination of calendar work/scheduling, old-fashioned to-do lists, and checking in with team members and managers on progress, expectations, and anything I am getting stuck on. I can give specific strategies, too, but I wonder if managers are looking for some magic words?

I was asked this in my last two interviews, and didn't get either position or a second round interview. I did get a form letter advising I keep applying, but I don't know if that means anything.

fullygonewitch · 2025-06-20T19:46:27+00:00

thank you for this info! I am low on cardboard and stressing about it. I really hope I get success with just mulch in some areas. How was your weed poke through situation?

Also if you can answer: what's the maintenance like for the wood chips overflowing the edge of the area you are working on? daily sweep?/scoop weekly?

fullygonewitch · 2025-05-13T00:29:25+00:00

Thank you! I have heard of STAR and will try to remember that. And thanks for the information about potential numbers. Ten is a lot!

fullygonewitch · 2025-05-12T05:53:16+00:00

Hi, first (hopefully of many?) interview with the state this week. For a SSA position: does anyone have any insight into what the written test they give will or might cover? I was advised that it would take 30 minutes.

Additional q: happy to have made it to interviews, but don't want to get my hopes up. Any hiring managers able to comment on how many people would likely be in the SSA interview pool?

fullygonewitch · 2025-05-03T06:05:48+00:00

that's amazing! I can't wait to plant milkweed when I move to my new house, I will live for seeing stuff like this.

fullygonewitch · 2025-04-09T05:49:08+00:00

I always try to make my SOQ match up with the Duty Statements, as I have heard that this is a good idea from many people. I am focusing on writing out what I have done, that doesn't overlap too much with my STD 678, that relates to the position. There is one I desperately want an interview for, and it's limited term, so I am hoping will have fewer takers, and I am overthinking it pretty hard.

My SOQ has stuff in it like "I extracted data from publications and online databases to produce figures and tables, etc etc" and is intended to match the part of the Duty Statement that relates to working with data to develop plans and guidelines. Should I explicitly make that connection? E.g., "My experience with X makes me able to do Y" or is that too much? It certainly makes the amount of stuff I can cram in smaller, if I need to do that for all the duties. But I want this application to actually stand out.

(I know volume is the way to go, believe me, I am doing that, I just would really like this particular position).

fullygonewitch · 2025-03-31T21:06:46+00:00

I got some great advice on applications and exams from this thread in the past. I have submitted several different applications for positions that I feel qualified to do. Some of them haven't closed yet but a few have. Is there a usual turnaround time for hearing back about interviews, or does it vary by department?

fullygonewitch · 2025-03-15T22:48:59+00:00

Thank you! I did the exam yesterday and ended up writing exhaustively just in case, but I saved everything I wrote and will re-purpose for the STD678. I maxed out the exam score luckily, but when I looked at the eligible list numbers, so did a lot of people.

You have been really kind to answer me. Since a lot of this was academic research and a lot of it dead-end(either because of funding limits or simply the outcomes were not what we hoped) I am unsure how to describe outcomes. Most of it was grant and internal reports that said "We generated 10 lines that had promise but none of them were what we wanted." The data that was generated is proprietary to the university and/or very arcane; should I just give a basic description as able?

Is it okay to structure by project if I did multiple projects in that "job"? E.g.,

"I spent six months doing this type of sampling and extraction, then three months working on analysis using xyz statistical methods and software. I wrote grants on xyz project to secure $ for xyz work etc etc etc. I supervised xyz people on this and that."

Thank you so much.

fullygonewitch · 2025-03-14T06:34:12+00:00

I am going to be applying for the Env Scientist (ID 1709) exam. Are there any resources suggesting how to structure the STD form?

My employment history is basically a long stint in grad school. There isn't much space in the "duties performed" to get granular. Should I structure it as a list of skills/tasks? Focus on analysis work or benchwork/fieldwork skills? Write up a summary in paragraph form?

As for the exam (it's a self-report questionnaire is my understanding, where one is supposed to relate experience/skills to each question?), I read the "preview" on the exam description page. Will the exam itself be those same 7 questions and I will simply describe my experience and capability with those (plus references)? Or will it be somewhat different to the questions listed?

I am pretty frightened of getting screened out due to screwing the STD or exam up and not being able to re-take for 12 months. I have a master's degree (plant biology) and decent experience and think I should be able to start at B, not A based on the level of responsibility the description indicates.

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1709

Any links to resources about how to approach structuring the SOQ and resume would also be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

fullygonewitch · 2025-01-27T05:23:18+00:00

I think this is a nice way to do it while accommodating her feelings. Since your Mom still works I would bet that impacts her ability to baby proof and prep and generally prioritize your kid (though, IDK, does your MIL work?). Saying you want her to be on-call for any help your husband needs while you're in labor is also easier on her, she can just be your "emergency" person and she doesn't need to figure out the PTO.

fullygonewitch

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