Eligibility List

[Reaper08]

One of my departments said I will be on the eligibility list for 6 months. But if you've been contacted by a detective and you start doing your background do they take you off the list?

I guess my question is at what point do they "take you off" the list? Does it make a difference what your rank is if they've done your background?

[Xellos357]

I can't say if it's for certain in all departments but my understanding is that typically your name is put on the list for twelve months. If twelve months has gone by and you have not proceeded then your name is removed, if someone tests and scores better than you your name would be pushed back and if you proceed further through the process your name is removed in either case if you do not pass every other test and are offered a position or if you fail a section.

Since you're going through the background investigation right now your name is effectively off of the list. The only thing you need to do is worry about getting the position otherwise if you fail your name will effectively disappear!

The list is there to decide in what order the candidates proceed after the initial interview.

[Reaper08]

Awesome! Thanks for clarifying!

[Flash2pablo]

Part of it depends on the department too. I completed the oral board and had a background interview with vancouver pd a few years ago, but never had the official call that my actual background check was started. Although I was 9th on their civil service list, my score expired without anything further.

When I tested for Fish and Wildlife last time, I was in the top ten, but they took the top 5. They told me I would be in the civil service list for 6 months after my oral board.

[Reaper08]

But with Fish and Wildlife you didn't start a background, right?

[Commish]

For us when we start a background we are looking for candidates to move on in the process. If at any point your passed because of a background problem you are taken off the list. With that said you'd be able to reapply the next time we test. We usually do not start a background unless we want to hire you.

[Reaper08]

Well that's a huge comfort since I'm in background with one department! Now I just need to not screw it up!