California Job Blog

2020 CalPERS Member Health BenefitsFall is almost here which means a new calendar year isn’t far behind. For State of California employees, that means it’s time for open enrollment.

CalPERS has had 2020 health plan rates posted since July. During open enrollment, State employees can change their health insurance plan, add or remove dependents, enroll in a plan if they don't currently have coverage, or cancel coverage if they no longer need it.

To view the 2020 rates for you and your dependents, follow this link. Rates are different if you're living out-of-state. For members living outside of California, follow this link.

This year, open enrollment begins on Monday, September 9 and ends on Friday, October 4. Changes will take you place on the first day of 2020. Since State of California employees pay for health benefits a month in advance, they’ll see the rate changes on their December pay check.

Remember, the amount listed for health plan premiums is the total monthly amount …

1) As with most aspects of the State's hiring process, you'll want to start from jobs.ca.gov (also known as CalCareers). You don't need to be signed in to your CalCareer account to search for vacancies, but you'll need to be in order to apply for them electronically.


2) You should see the above menu on the front page. You can search by Job Title or a Keyword. The search functions on the site aren't great, so you may be better off using an advanced job search and selecting the exact classification you're interested in. That's what we've done below. We have a great article that explores how to search for State of California jobs.


3) For this example we're using the Associate Governmental Classification (AGPA). It's among the most common classifications you'll find in State of California employment.



4) The image above shows how search results will appear. They are all Associate Governmental Program Analyst positions. The AGPA classifica…

What are Non-Testing ClassificationsNormally, applicants for a classification must meet 2 requirements before they are able to apply. First, they must meet the minimum qualifications for the classification. The minimum qualifications are the base level of knowledge, experience, skills and ability someone must have to the considered for a position. The second, is they must take and pass an exam. An exam is the way to determine which candidate is the most suited for a position, in a merit-based hiring system.

In State of California employment, there are certain classifications that don't require candidates to complete an exam. They still have to meet the minimum qualifications and complete any pre-employment clearances that might be required by the department. But, the hiring process is generally much quicker than it is for classifications requiring an exam.

Non-testing classifications are different than your typical jobs with the State of California. They are all temporary appointm…

State of California Student Assistant Jobs Student Assistant positions with the State of California are considered a non-testing classification. This means that they are considered outside of the State's civil service. Applicants to these positions must still meet the minimum qualifications and compete against other potential candidates. However, there is no eligibility requirement, so candidates aren't required to take an exam.
Minimum Qualifications There is one requirement to be qualified for Student Assistant Positions with the State of California. You must be a student! Specifically, you must be a college student. Applicants are required to show proof that they are currently enrolled in a college or university before they can be appointed to a position. Hiring departments will usually ask for a student's most recent transcript to verify that they are currently enrolled in school.
How to Apply The first step, if you don't have one already, is to create a CalC…

The State of California is always hiring. For an employer as large as the State - there are about 240,000 employees in California's government - there is constant turnover. New jobs become available everyday as people retire, leave state service, promote or transfer laterally into new jobs. On an average day, a jobseeker may see that 150 new jobs have been posted. At the time this article was posted, there were 3,602 vacant State of California positions.

These vacant positions are in every county in the state and span entry level to senior. Whatever your career goals, education and experience level, there is a California state job for you. The tough part is narrowing down the thousands of job and exam bulletins that are currently posted. This article is a guide to how to search for California State Jobs.

For jobseekers, the State of California Job search usually begins at CalCareers. CalCareers is the State's hiring portal and, by law, each vacant position must be posted…