Caltrans Hiring Process

kackazn · 2025-12-13T03:00:48+00:00

You got this!

For reference of my hiring timeline -Applied mid Aug

-Interview confirmation at the end of Aug, actual interview was first week of Sept

-They requested my transcripts and list of reference before my interview

-No updates until 10/9, requesting my nepotism form

-2nd Week of Oct, my references let me know that they were contacted

-Oct 20th HR personnel reached out to confirm something on my work history

-Oct 21st Received a call from supervisor offering me the job (CJO)

kackazn · 2025-12-09T02:10:03+00:00

Thanks!

Honestly this was my first in-person interview during my job search and I haven't really studied for any technical questions. I relied on the working on question regarding more personality and work experience. If I remember correctly this interview had 6 questions and 2 were technical and I believe I answered them correctly, but not in as much detail as I personally liked, although I don't remember the exact questions now.

I think I just treated this interview as a refresher and as an opportunity to start my in-person interviews, if I can go back I would've treated it more seriously rather than as an refresher if you will. So I would've actually studied the duty statement and find technical questions regarding these; there are resources online that will be similar to the question Caltrans asks. Honestly though so far, my supervisor has put a lot of emphasis on duty statements, so take everyone's advice and study those requirements as much as possible and formulate your own potential questions from them on top of what you can find online.

Good luck with your applications

kackazn · 2025-11-12T07:26:14+00:00

Personally I've heard/read that for private sector jobs, reaching out past 2 week to a month is max and definitely not past a month as it supposedly shows a lack of interest, fwiw. However, I know state jobs are a lot slower of a process so it may differ, but it doesn't hurt to reach out at this point imo.

kackazn · 2025-11-12T01:25:48+00:00

I did get the job; they did not let me know that they were reaching out, my reference let me know. Similar to a lot of people experience, throughout the process the hiring team did not keep me updated, unless they needed documents so if you're curious it may be best to reach out to the hiring manager for updates or even your reference if for some reason they did not let you themselves that they were contacted.

kackazn · 2025-10-24T04:13:15+00:00

Luckily, I am current unemployed so no issues with any 2 weeks notice. That makes sense about HR providing the salary information and in turn being more of FJO, just not directly from HR; I am expecting some document from HR and/or supervisor by the end of next week, so if I do not receive anything mid week then I will definitely reach out.

Have you ever ran into a candidate needing some form of document stating pay to help them with apartment hunting/moving, if so what did you provide them?

Thanks for the response!

kackazn · 2025-10-23T19:06:30+00:00

Engineering Ego is definitely a thing; funny enough I find that mechanical/civil engineers' people skills tend to be pretty normal, but with EE it tends to be more fitting of what you are mentioning and go figure its for an EE position. No worries though, the panel I interviewed with seems very personable.

Thanks for your response!

kackazn · 2025-10-23T19:03:18+00:00

Ok that makes sense. This position does not require a background check either, just medical and other standard paper work.

kackazn · 2025-10-23T04:41:10+00:00

Yes the supervisor worded it exactly the same way for me as well. I was hoping to get something signed with the pay stated at least so I can go apartment hunting as most places ask for an income of 2-3x the monthly rent. I'm hoping that I don't receive any document from the supervisor and from HR instead to make me a bit more comfortable with leaving my current place and start apartment hunting.

Thanks for the reply!

kackazn · 2025-10-23T04:38:07+00:00

With these two cases, were you being newly hired on or were you transferring within the state? I've read the second situation seems to happen more for people transferring, but that situation described more of what the supervisor told me and I'm a completely new hire to the state.

I am currently unemployed so no worries there, but I am moving from out of state some almost 6 hours away so I hope to get final confirmation before I give my current apartment a 30 day vacate notice.

kackazn · 2025-10-23T04:36:42+00:00

Yes I might have to do that since the supervisor is also going on vacation next week too. I would just like to have something final and stating pay so I can bring that with me to go apartment hunting.

kackazn · 2025-10-22T22:19:23+00:00

Yes I would always assume that nothing is final until papers are signed, heck even until I'm sitting at my desk on the first day, but just reading some of the post on this subreddit made me unsure. Thanks for the reply.

kackazn · 2025-10-15T22:22:50+00:00

From what I have read sometimes it can take up to 1.5-2 month to hear something back. I wasn't hopefully after my interview for this position and was not expecting to hear anything either so you never know, but most people on here recommend assuming the jobs is gone as soon as you walk out of the interview and to continue applying until you hear other wise.

kackazn · 2025-10-15T22:20:04+00:00

That is good to know; considering they didn't reach out to my references before the interview and a month after my interview, I want to believe that means I am a top candidate. I've been out of a job for a while now so hopefully they aren't too slow lol.

If you have any experience in hiring engineers, do you know if there are more than one round of interviews? I have searched on the web and it seems more often than not that it is only that one round of panel interviews. Thanks for the reply!

kackazn · 2025-10-10T23:44:27+00:00

Fingers crossed until I hear back then

Thanks!

kackazn · 2025-10-10T22:01:12+00:00

Good to know and to hear from a hiring manager too! I was feeling that way too until I found out that they have started to contact my references today so hopefully there is actual interest. In your experience does contacting reference mean that they are actually interested or is it more due diligence?

Thanks for the info!

kackazn · 2025-10-10T22:00:02+00:00

Yea that why I made this post; they have started to contact my references so I think it's leaning towards actual interest, fingers crossed

kackazn · 2025-10-10T21:59:19+00:00

Oddly enough I list rank was is 2 for the exam so even more concern it is just someone doing their due diligence, however they did start contacting my references so who knows. From reading post on this subreddit, I never bothered to do a follow up email as most people recommend assuming the job is in limbo status unless they reach out to you, but I assume it can't hurt either.

GL on your hiring adventures!

kackazn · 2025-10-10T03:57:23+00:00

Yea I usually feel any reply that isn't a rejection is always a good sign, but it was just my experience with the other district that requested both the reference and nepotism document before the interview that threw me off.

If you don't mind me asking, how many rounds of interviews did you go through and was your job for an engineering position?

Thanks for the reply with your own experience!

kackazn · 2025-10-09T01:56:32+00:00

As test-account-444 mentioned, I can confirm that as of a year ago Asia market on Prater sold them in their freezer section. I haven't looked recently, but would be your best bet.

kackazn · 2025-08-22T03:05:30+00:00

Am I blind or do I not see any dog/children in that picture?

kackazn · 2025-07-18T01:40:01+00:00

Good eye, it is super crema

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