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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I apply for a job at UC Santa Cruz?
  2. How do I apply if I do not have a computer?
  3. Do I need an email address to use the online application process?
  4. What if I forget my user name or password?
  5. Why do I have to fill out an application?
  6. Where can I get more login help?
  7. Do I need a resume?
  8. How do I submit a cover letter?
  9. What does the term "required qualifications" mean?
  10. Can I start the application process and come back later to complete it?
  11. What happens when I submit my application?
  12. How do I find out the status of my application?
  13. Can I edit my application after I submit it?
  14. Can I still apply to a job after the Initial Review Date (IRD) has passed?
  15. Why do job openings remain listed after the Initial Review Date (IRD) has passed?
  16. How do I know if a job is still available?
  17. Do you keep applications on file for future vacancies?
  18. When can I expect to hear from the hiring department?
  19. How will the department contact me?
  20. May I have the contact information of the hiring manager?
  21. How can I get more information about the hiring department or a particular job opening?
  22. How can I learn about employment opportunities at other UC Campuses?
  23. How can I learn about academic (i.e., lecturers, professors, etc.) job openings?
  24. How can I obtain counseling on resume preparation, interviewing and other career search activities?
  25. How can I learn more about successful tips for applying and interviewing at UC Santa Cruz?
  26. Are positions at UC Santa Cruz covered by unions and what are the fees associated with being part of a union?
  27. What are the definitions of the different types of jobs?
  28. What benefits does the University offer?
  29. I am a citizen of the United States, but residing in another country. Am I eligible to work for UC Santa Cruz?
  30. I am a citizen of a country other than the United States. Am I eligible to work for UC Santa Cruz?

 

  1. How do I apply for a job at UC Santa Cruz?
    1. The application process requires submitting an application online. Anyone who is not currently employed at UC Santa Cruz will use the External Candidate Gateway to submit their application. The External Candidate Gateway can be accessed through jobs.ucsc.edu. We do not accept ANY application materials outside of the jobs portal - this includes application materials physically received by or emailed to the Talent Acquisition team.
  2. How do I apply if I do not have a computer?
    1. A computer is available at the UC Santa Cruz Staff Human Resources office located at the Scotts Valley Center. Computers are also available at most public libraries and the Employment Development Department locations across the county. NOTE: Please call the Scotts Valley Center prior to coming into the office to ensure there is a staff member available to assist you. We can be reached at (831) 459-2009.
  3. Do I need an email address to use the online application process?
    1. Yes, an email is required to complete the online application. If you don't have an email address, you can set up a free account with Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo.
  4. What if I forget my user name or password?
    1. There is a login help link that allows you to enter your user name and get a new password sent to you via email or enter your email address and your username will be sent to you via email.
  5. Where can I get more login help?
    1. There are a few reasons why you may experience issues logging into the candidate gateway, so please visit our Troubleshooting page for more information.
  6. Why do I have to fill out an application?
    1. Your employment application is considered a legal document, and will be used as a tool to determine whether you qualify for a specific position. Your employment history, educational background, language skills, and certifications and licenses are not collected in the job application, so be sure to include these in your attached materials.
    2. An application is required to be considered. You do not need to fill in every field, but at a minimum, you will need to provide your contact information and answer general self-identification questions.
  7. Do I need a resume?
    1. Yes. Uploading a resume is the only way to share your employment history, educational background, and whether you possess specific language skills, and certifications and licenses.
    2. Your resume should be included as an attachment when you submit your online application. We do not accept resumes outside of the online application portal.
  8. How do I submit a cover letter?
    1. Your cover letter should be included as an attachment when you submit your online application for a job.
  9. What does the term "required qualifications" mean?
    1. Required qualifications are the basic knowledge, skills, education and experience necessary for the position as defined in the specific job classification.
  10. Can I start the application process and come back later to complete it?
    1. Yes. You may save your application and finalize it at a later date. Your application will not be considered for the job posting until it is submitted.
  11. What happens when I submit my application?
    1. After you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive an email notification acknowledging receipt of your application. If you do not receive this email, your application may not have been successfully submitted or may have ended up treated as spam or junk email. The application should also appear in your list of applications on your “My Activities” page.
  12. How do I find out the status of my application?
    1. The status of any job for which you successfully submitted an application is listed in “My Activities” after logging into your profile. For a list of the possible statuses and a description of each status, please visit our Applicant Status Overview.
  13. Can I edit my application after I submit it?
    1. You cannot edit an application after it has been submitted, but you can withdraw a submitted application and re-apply for the same position. If you choose to withdraw and submit an updated application, be mindful of the Initial Review Date (IRD). If you withdraw and edit your application after the IRD, your newly edited/submitted application may not be reviewed by the hiring team.
  14. Can I still apply to a job after the Initial Review Date (IRD) has passed?
    1. Yes, however there is no guarantee that your application will be shared with the hiring team. In the event that the hiring team does not find a candidate in the application pool that came in before the IRD, they may request to view applications that came in after the IRD, although this happens on a case by case basis.
  15. Why do job openings remain listed after the Initial Review Date (IRD) has passed?
    1. UC Santa Cruz is a large institution with many departments. Hiring departments utilize a search committee to carefully screen and interview applicants. The search committee may request to review additional applications beyond the initial review date. The time required to recruit and hire can vary.
  16. How do I know if a job is still available?
    1. In general, if the job is posted on the candidate gateway, it is still available. However, there are circumstances when a job may be posted, but is not open to apply to. In these cases, you will receive a pop-up message when you try to apply letting you know that the job is no longer available.
    2. For jobs that you have already applied to, your status should change to “No longer under consideration” when the job is filled. If your application was routed to the unit for consideration, you are likely to receive notification from the unit as well.
  17. Do you keep applications on file for future vacancies?
    1. While your information will remain stored in the applicant system, you will not be considered for future vacancies unless you have formally applied to the position.
  18. When can I expect to hear from the hiring department?
    1. The majority of the positions on campus require a two-week posting period before applications can be reviewed. In most cases, the review process takes four-six weeks. After the department begins reviewing applications, they will contact applicants of interest directly for telephone screening and/or an interview.
  19. How will the department contact me?
    1. Most applicants are initially contacted via telephone, but may also be contacted through email if a telephone call is not returned. Make sure to have current contact information on your application, as well as resume.
  20. May I have the contact information of the hiring manager?
    1. For a variety of reasons, including privacy protection, we are not able to provide unit contact information. If you would like to address your cover letter, you can address it to “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Hiring Committee”.
  21. How can I get more information about the hiring department or a particular job opening?
    1. Hiring departments may reference a website or department contact on the job posting. In addition, you may research a hiring department through their web page at the UC Santa Cruz A-Z Index.
  22. How can I learn about employment opportunities at other UC Campuses?
    1. To research employment at other UC Campuses, medical centers and laboratories go to the UC Systemwide Employment website.
  23. How can I learn about academic (i.e., lecturers, professors, etc.) job openings?
    1. You can find information about academic positions on the Academic Employment website.
  24. How can I obtain counseling on resume preparation, interviewing and other career search activities?
    1. Employment Development Departments (EDD) in Capitola and Watsonville provide free job seeker consultation. Please visit the EDD website for more information, including local office locations and contact information.
  25. How can I learn more about successful tips for applying and interviewing at UC Santa Cruz?
    1. You can visit our Applicant Resources web pages for troubleshooting tips, information about the application and IRD process, and our Applicant Workshop Video and Slidedeck.
  26. Are positions at UC Santa Cruz covered by unions and what are the fees associated with being part of a union?
    1. Some positions on the UC Santa Cruz campus are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Employees in positions that are covered may be required to pay an Agency Fee to their exclusive representative union. Agency fees vary from union to union. For more information about this, please visit the Labor Relations website.
  27. What are the definitions of the different types of jobs?
    1. Definitions of available appointment types at UC Santa Cruz are below:
      1. A Career job is established at a fixed or variable percentage of time at 50 percent or more of full-time, and is expected to continue for one year or longer. A career job may be established through conversion from a limited appointment.
      2. A Contract job is considered a “temporary” assignment and has a definite time period, i.e. six-month or a one-year contract. Terms and conditions are specified in a written employment contract.
      3. A Limited job is considered a “temporary” assignment. Individuals in this type of job are expected to be on pay status for less than 1,000 hours in a 12-month period.
      4. A Partial Year Career job is a Career job, in which employees have regularly scheduled furlough periods not to exceed three months per year.
      5. A Per Diem job is established to complement or substitute for career and limited jobs to maintain appropriate staffing levels.
  28. What benefits does the University offer?
    1. Please visit the University of California ‘UCnet’ website to view information about health and welfare benefits for University of California employment locations.
  29. I am a citizen of the United States, but residing in another country. Am I eligible to work for UC Santa Cruz?
    1. All UC Santa Cruz staff must be living within the United States at the time of the job’s start date to be eligible for employment.
  30. I am a citizen of a country other than the United States. Am I eligible to work for UC Santa Cruz?
    1. All offers of staff employment to new employees are contingent upon presentation of documents demonstrating the appointee's identity and work authorization consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. UC Santa Cruz does not offer sponsorship for staff jobs.