City may loosen job qualifications
Ben Godar
City officials are hoping that by loosening the minimum qualification
standards for filling management positions they will be able to keep
qualified candidates from being eliminated before they are even
considered.
Under a resolution expected to be adopted at Tuesday’s City
Council meeting, applicants for all management and executive
positions not represented by a union would be given more flexibility
in the areas of work and education experience that would qualify them
for a job.
“We can have qualified individuals with years of experience, but
they may not have completed the right level of education,” Management
Services Administrative Officer Joanne Koch said.
In addition to helping experienced individuals who are lacking in
education, Koch said it would benefit many entry-level candidates who
lack experience because they have pursued advanced degrees.
The search for a new superintendent for the Burbank Animal Shelter
was an example Koch said demonstrated the need for more flexibility.
Before eventually assigning the position to a police lieutenant, city
officials twice broadened the type of experience necessary after some
potentially qualified candidates were eliminated automatically.
Councilman Todd Campbell said loosening the minimum qualifications
could only be a positive thing for the city.
“There are a lot of CEOs out there who don’t have a master’s in
business administration,” he said. “The same is true of any
profession. If you have someone who’s qualified, why would it hold
you back?”
The proposed change would affect about 250 positions, and Koch
said management positions represented by unions already receive such
flexibility.
Since individuals who do not meet the specified requirements for a
position would still have to pass interviews and other screening
procedures, Koch said the change will not mean less-qualified people
will be hired.
“This means we’re going to exclude fewer people in the very
beginning,” she said.