Chances are your questions are answered in our list of Frequently Asked Questions, which have been grouped by the topic areas noted below. If your question does not appear in this list, contact us.  

Civil Service Examinations
If you have questions pertaining to the civil service exam application process, visit the Online Application System (OASys).

Jobs Posted Outside of NYC Careers
If you have questions pertaining to the application process for jobs posted outside of NYC Careers, please refer to the contact information noted on the Job Vacancy Notice or the specific agency website.

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NYC Careers

General Information

How do I register and create an account? 
If you are an external applicant, click on the Register Now link on the NYC Careers homepage to create an account. You will be required to create a user name and password. Your user name may be any unique name consisting of six (6) or more letters and/or numbers or can be a valid email address. User names must not include spaces and are limited the use of the at symbol (@) and period (.) if using any special characters. Passwords must be at least eight (8) characters in length and must contain one number and one letter. Please note that you are responsible for the security of your user name and password. In addition, we may suspend or terminate your user name and password at any time with or without notice.

Current City employees with access to Employee Self Service (ESS) should not create an NYC Careers account. All City employees with ESS access should log into ESS with their Employee ID Number and password to access the Careers link under Recruiting Activities on the ESS homepage. Current employees are required to apply for jobs using ESS and are encouraged to conduct all job searches using ESS as well, since internal postings are not available on the external NYC Careers page. Applications submitted by current City employees using the external applicant portal will not be processed.

I entered my email address while registering for a new account and received an error message that an account already exists. What do I do?
In an effort to prevent users from creating duplicate NYC Careers accounts, the system will display a message box when a duplicate email address linked to an existing NYC Careers account is entered during the registration process. The message box displays the current user name and the first and last names associated with the existing NYC Careers account.

If the account that appears in the message box is your NYC Careers account, check the box in the SELECT column and click the RETURN TO LOGIN button to login using the existing account. If the account that appears in the message box is not your NYC Careers account, click the CONTINUE button for instructions on how to proceed.

I am trying to create a new account, but I received an onscreen message that the user name already exists. What do I do?
If the user name you have chosen is already in use by another applicant, you will receive an onscreen message informing you that the user name already exists. To create your account, you will need to enter a new user name and click the REGISTER button again. For further details on user names, see How do I register and create an account?  

I noticed that some of the information posted on NYC Careers has changed. Is there a reason why this information was changed?
All information posted on the site is subject to change without notice.

Can another applicant (for example, someone else in my household) use the same email address to create an account and apply for an exam?
To ensure privacy and security, each NYC Careers account must have its own unique email address.

I have already applied for a job in NYC Careers and wish to apply for another. Do I have to enter all my information again?
The information you entered on your first or most current application will automatically appear on all future applications you submit, making the process easier and much quicker. The information that automatically populates on future applications can be edited before submitting.

Am I required to self-identify my race/ethnicity, gender, etc?
Disclosure of this information is optional. However, in order to fulfill the City’s EEO obligations under the City’s EEO Policy, the City Charter, federal law and regulations, and other laws, the City of New York asks you to voluntarily identify your gender, race/ethnicity, date of birth, and whether you are a veteran. The City uses the race/ethnic and veteran categories specified in federal regulations. This information is confidential and is used to generate statistical reports submitted to civil rights enforcement agencies. When reported, data will not identify any specific individual. The City of New York also uses this information to ensure that employment policies, practices, and programs foster equal employment opportunity.

Can I upload my resume and cover letter?
Yes. You have the ability to upload DOC, DOCX and PDF resumes and cover letters not to exceed 2MB.

Why haven’t I heard anything back after I submitted my application?
There can be a number of reasons. For example, the job opening was cancelled, the interviews have not been scheduled, you were not selected for an interview or job offer. You will be contacted by a representative if selected for interview or job offer.

How many years of experience do I need to qualify for a job?
Refer to the qualification requirements section on the job posting.

Can City employees apply for a new position from their personal computer?
City employees can apply to agency-specific and Citywide jobs in NYC Careers via the City Employees link on this site or go directly to Employee Self-Service (ESS). In addition, City employees can apply to jobs posted outside of NYC Careers (e.g. CityJobs, Working for NYC) per the method described on the Job Vacancy Notice. Please note that applying for positions may only be performed before or after work or during the employee’s lunch break.

If I’m not sure which job I want, can I submit a blank application online for consideration to any job for which I am most qualified?
No. To be considered as an applicant, you must formally apply for a position.

I am having a problem using the Back button on my browser to get to a prior page. It keeps returning me to the same page, what do I do?
Do not use your browser’s “Back,” “Forward” or “Refresh” buttons to navigate the online careers site. This may cause unexpected results, including loss of data or being logged out of the system. Please use only the navigational buttons within the site.

I am having a technical problem with my computer that is stopping me from completing the application or applying for a job. What can I do?
Delete your cookies and/or clear your cache.

Which browser(s) can I use to apply for jobs through the NYC Careers home site?
Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Netscape are the recommended browsers to use when applying online.

I am a terminated, retired, or former City employee. What should I do?
Apply via the External Applicant link.

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Job Opportunities

How do I find a job?
Visit the NYC Careers Job Search page on this website where you’ll be directed to the appropriate portals to search for jobs in NYC Careers or other City sites. If searching for jobs on the NYC Careers Home page, you can perform a basic or advanced job search. Applicable job postings then appear on the page, and you can select a posting title to review. Additionally, the most recent job postings are posted in the Latest Postings section.

What is a saved search and how do I create a saved search?
Saved searches help you look for jobs in your area of interest. The saved search will automatically search for jobs based on your search criteria and email you when there are new jobs entered into the database that meet your specifications.  

To create a saved search, simply follow these instructions:

 
a.   Log in to your Careers Home page;

b.   Click the My Saved Searches link at the top of your Careers home page;

 c.  Enter the search criteria in the “Search For” field (e.g. Administrative, Accountant, and Analyst);

 d.   Name of your search;

 e.   Select “Use As Job Agent” if you’d like to receive notifications for the search criteria entered (maximum of three);

 f.    Enter the email address to where you’d like to receive job search notifications;

 g.   Click on the “Save Search” button.

How do I delete a saved search?
Follow the instructions below to delete a saved search:

1. Log in to your NYC Careers account;
2. Click the My Saved Searches link at the top of your Careers home page;
3. Click Edit or Delete on the line of the Saved Search you wish to delete;
4. When asked, “Are you sure you want to delete your saved search?” click OK.

If you delete a saved search which was designated as a job agent, you will no longer receive notification emails associated with that particular saved search.  If you would like to keep the saved search, but cancel the job search agent email notifications, please see the FAQ for cancelling a job search agent notification below.

How do I cancel a job search agent notification?
Follow the instructions below to cancel email notifications for a saved search:

1. Log in to your NYC Careers account;
2. Click the My Saved Searches link at the top of your Careers home page;
3. Click Edit on the line of the Saved Search for which you would like to stop notification emails;
4. Deselect the checkbox for Use as Job Agent by clicking on the checkbox with your cursor;
5. Click the SAVE CHANGES button.

Cancelling the job search agent notification will not delete the saved search. If you would like to delete a saved search, see the FAQ for cancelling a saved search above.

How do I apply for a job?
If applying through NYC Careers, you will need to apply for that position by clicking the "Apply Now" button on the Job Vacancy Notice or by following the instructions provided on the notice. You will then be asked to login to the online application (as a returning user) or create a new user name and password. You should write down and retain your user name and password for future reference and use.

Do I have to apply for job vacancies through NYC Careers?
Only for the agencies whose postings are currently on the NYC Careers website. Other City agencies will be added to NYC Careers in the near future. To view job postings, visit the Job Search page.

I don’t have a computer at home. Where can I apply for jobs?
You can view and apply for employment opportunities anywhere that you can access the Internet, including public libraries, career placement centers, Internet cafes, and the kiosks available at all agencies.

Do I need to register and create an account to view a job posting? 
No. You can view job postings as a visitor and will not be required to register and create an account.

Do I need to register to apply to a job posting? 
Yes. If you click “Apply Now” you will be required to register and create an account in order to submit an application.

How long will the online application process take?
The application process may take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

Is there a time limit on how long I can spend on each section of the application?
No. There are no time limits while you are actively using the system to create and submit an application. However, to protect the security of your data, the system will time out and log you out after approximately 40 minutes of inactivity. If you are unable to finish a section of the application, you may click the “Save and Return” button to continue with a different section of the application. If you are unable to finish your application, you may click the “Save” button to continue the application at a later time, as long as the position is still available.

Is my personal information secure?
Yes. Security for NYC Careers has been vigorously tested. Your personal information is considered sensitive and is not stored in NYC Careers. Please refer to the City of New York's privacy policy.

Will I need an email address?
Yes. An email address is required for all applicants applying through NYC Careers. Notifications will be sent to your personal email address at different points of the recruitment process. If you do not have an email address, there are several Internet providers from which you can obtain a free email account, such as www.google.com and www.yahoo.com as well as many other sites.

What if my personal information changes after creating an account and/or applying online for a job?
If your personal information has changed, (e.g. personal email address), log into your NYC Careers account and click the My Profile link. You will be able to edit your personal information in the appropriate fields from this page. If you update your personal email address, all NYC Careers email notifications for jobs that you apply to will be sent to the new email address.

Current City employees with access to Employee Self Service (ESS) must update their personal information by clicking the link for their Personal Information Summary on the ESS homepage.

What if I forget my user name?
Upon accessing the NYC Careers page, click on the Login Help link, type in the email address on your profile and then click on the “Find User Name” button. A notification will be automatically sent to the email address on your profile containing your user name. Please note that you do not have the ability to change your user name.

Can I change my user name?
No. Your user name cannot be changed. Please note that if you chose to use a personal email address as your user name that changing the email address associated with your account will not change your user name.

What if I forget my password?
Upon accessing the NYC Careers page, click on the Login Help link, type in your user name and then click on the “Get New Password” button. A notification will be automatically sent to the email address on your profile containing your temporary password. You will then need to log in using the temporary password provided, and you will also have the ability to change your password.

Why can’t I find a Job Vacancy Notice online?
The Job Vacancy Notice is automatically removed from NYC Careers upon closing or cancellation of the posting.

What is the EMAIL A FRIEND button?
If you would like to share a job posting with a friend, colleague or family member, click the EMAIL A FRIEND button within the online application to forward a link to the NYC Careers job posting. You may send a single job posting to multiple email addresses by inserting a comma between each email address entered in the TO field. You have the ability to edit the SUBJECT line of the email, however, the content of the MESSAGE window is not editable. Please note that the EMAIL A FRIEND button is only available on the external NYC Careers job postings and is not available in Employee Self Service (ESS) for current City employees to prevent forwarding of internal postings, which are available to City employees only.

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Application Section

What if I have submitted an application and do not see it on My Careers Tools?
If you submitted an online application via NYC Careers, contact us through our feedback form for more information; include a description of the problem and your application confirmation receipt.

Can I attach or paste my resume instead of filling out the online application?
No. All applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and application online to ensure proper consideration for each position of interest unless otherwise noted on the Job Vacancy Notice.

Will my application be saved if I’m not ready to submit? 
Only if you click the "Save" button. If not, you will need to start over.

Can I review my information before submitting my application?
You have the ability to review and/or modify your application before submitting by navigating through the application pages.

Can I update my resume at a later date if I am interested in applying for another position?
The only way you can update your resume is when applying to a job. If you have already applied to a job and would like to update your resume, you will need to submit a new application for that job to include your updated resume text provided that the job vacancy is still open.

How do I know that you have received my application?
Once you submit your application, a confirmation email will be delivered to the email address on your profile for each submitted application, provided that the email address is valid. You may also check “My Applications” on your NYC Careers page to view your application status through the “My Profile” link.

Can I cancel my application once I submit?
No. However, if you’re contacted for an interview, you have the ability to decline.

I submitted an online application but did not receive an application confirmation receipt. What do I do?
Make sure that the confirmation did not go to your email “junk” or “spam” folder or that you logged in to the email account tied to your applicant profile. If you are still unable to find the confirmation, contact us through our feedback form for more information; include a description of the problem, your name and the Job Opening ID. 

Can I apply for more than one job at the same time?
No. You will have to apply separately to each job. However, the information you entered on your most current application will automatically appear on all future applications you submit, making the process easier and much quicker. The information that automatically populates on future applications can be edited before submitting.

Are paper applications accepted?
All applicants are required to follow the application instructions noted on the Job Vacancy Notice. However, please note that if you have a disability that will interfere with your ability to apply for a job online without special accommodation(s) or other assistance, you must submit your request for specific special accommodation(s) through our feedback form before the Job Vacancy closes. The request must include: your full name, the Job Opening ID, the job posting title, the specific nature of your disability, and a justification for the special accommodations.

As a City employee, how do I update my personal information in order for it to be reflected on my application?

If you are a City employee with access to Employee Self-Service (ESS), you will need to update your personal information in ESS. Your updated personal information will be automatically reflected on your application.

If you are a City employee and do not have access to Employee Self-Service, simply go to the External Applicant located on the Job Search page on this website, log in with your user name and password, click on the "My Profile" link within your My Career Tools to edit and save your online information. Your applicant record updates automatically once your information is saved. Please ensure that your contact information is updated regularly so we are able to contact you as needed.

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Pre-employment Information

Why must I complete the SSN verification form?
The SSN verification form is required after you have accepted the conditional offer in order to verify and confirm your identity with the Social Security Administration.

Why must I complete the CPD-B form?
All applicants for employment with the City of New York are subject to investigation to determine whether they meet the qualifications for the position. The first step in your investigation is the completion of the Comprehensive Personnel Document (CPD-B).

If you are selected for appointment or promotion from a civil service list, you have the right to request that your investigation be completed before appointment. However, you should be aware that such a request may delay your appointment. If you wish to be investigated before appointment, inform the agency representative appointing you.

What is the CPD-B Affirmation?
All applicants are required to read the electronic CPD-B Affirmation page in order to acknowledge that your appointment or promotion depends upon your full cooperation in investigation and meeting all applicable qualifications, including medical and residency, as provided by the Civil Service Law or other applicable Laws, the Personnel Rules and Regulations of the City of New York, the Notice of Examination or Class Specification, and the NYC Charter/Administrative Code/Mayoral Directive on Residence. Download the document (in PDF) to read about some of these employment requirements. Please note that you are not required to print and sign the electronic CPD-B Affirmation Page when submitting your electronic CPD-B. An original signature will be required later in the recruitment process at the time you are fingerprinted.

What is the CPD-B Authorization for Release of Information?
All applicants are required to read the electronic Authorization for Release of Information page. The release is used for investigation purposes when requesting information regarding education, employment, or other background information relevant to your qualifications for employment. The release is also used to request medical records from the Military for confirmation of claims made by an applicant for Disabled Veteran’s Preference Credit. Please note that you are not required to print and sign the electronic CPD-B Authorization for Release of Information page when submitting your electronic CPD-B. An original signature will be required later in the recruitment process at the time you are finger printed.

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