California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) officials say a newly launched IT system and website should make it less cumbersome to find and apply for state jobs and will help hiring managers find more qualified candidates.
Last week CalHR launched the first public-facing components of the Examination and Certification Online System (ECOS), a multi-phase project that's eliminating back-end legacy systems and moving the state to an automated, modern architecture that offers improved online functionality to the public and internal users.
The improvements include a new jobs.ca.gov website where users can log in to a new "CalCareer" online account to upload and save multiple versions of their resume, apply online for jobs and track the status of positions, and search geographically for positions, among other features.
"We want to make it easier for people to find state jobs, to apply for state jobs, and for the state departments -- hiring authorities -- to administer the process in a more timely manner so we can be more responsive to these candidates and get thewm in before we lose them to other employers," CalHR Director Richard Gillihan told Techwire on Thursday.
For the first time, state hiring managers also will be able to view the applications they receive online and in real time, said CalHR CIO Chad Crowe. The new features also should reduce the state's reliance on paper-based processes. Until last week, for each open job the state would mail 150 to 300 "contact letters" to qualified candidates, Crowe said. Now that process is done entirely online.
Gillihan and Crowe note that ECOS has been developed almost entirely with state staff. Visionary Integration Professionals (VIP) in Folsom, Calif., has provided a few developers for the effort.
"It's a relatively small project being managed in-house by state employees, largely staffed by state employees with some vendor support. But this very much is a state IT project and we're proud of that -- and we're proud we were able to deliver a project successfully," Gillihan said.
The next phase of ECOS will focus on modernizing the state's examination system, Crowe said. The state will be modernizing a ColdFusion app that runs exams that are offered online, and moving off of a mainframe that scores and processes written exams. CalHR wants to offer the majority of exams online, and CalCareer account holders eventually will be able to access exam results online.
ECOS is a key part of a larger civil service reform initiative that's overhauling all aspects of the state's antiquated hiring system, Gillihan said. The state is working to eliminate unnecessary job classifications and streamline classifications as a whole. Also, on a parallel track, CalHR launched a redesigned homepage website last week that features responsive design; Kiefer Consulting contributed on the project.
The $9.9 million ECOS project was initiated in 2011. Before he was named CIO last year, Crowe was the project manager of ECOS; Gillihan previously oversaw budget authority for the project while at the Department of Finance. The Department of Technology has oversight control.
"CalHR’s ECOS project is a great example of California harnessing the power of technology to make government more accessible," said Carlos Ramos, director of the California Department of Technology and state CIO. "ECOS is a solid IT investment that is user-friendly to constituents and those seeking employment with the state which aligns with the goals in the state’s IT Strategic Plan.”
