Most of the rest worked for State employment security agencies. Employees of career consulting or outplacement firms are not included in these estimates. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Although most public and private agencies prefer to hire college graduates, a degree is not always necessary. Entry level employment interviewer positions in the public sector are generally filled by college graduates, even though a bachelor's degree is not always a formal requirement. This situation may reflect the abundant supply of college graduates interested in State government jobs.
Some States allow substitution of suitable work experience for college education.
However, college graduates are likely to be at an advantage in competing for jobs as employment interviewers in State employment security agencies. In states that permit employment interviewers to engage in counseling, coursework in counseling may be required. Most if not all States and many large city and county governments use some form of merit system for hiring purposes. To establish eligibility for positions covered by a merit system, applicants may take a written exam, undergo an interview, or submit records of their education and experience for evaluation. Those who meet the standards for a particular position are placed on a list from which the top-ranked candidates are selected for interviewers.