Stage 1

Applied

We value your time and have created a streamlined hiring process that ensures:

A clear understanding of the position and its requirements
Effective communication with our hiring team
A holistic assessment of each candidate, considering your unique experiences, background, and interests
Timely updates on your application status

Application Period
The application period typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks. This duration may vary based on factors such as the time of year, the initial response to the job posting, and the capacity of our small but dedicated team.

Screening & Interviewing
The active hiring process, which includes screening, interviews, and reference checks, generally takes around 4 weeks. We will keep you informed of any delays or changes to this timeline.
Applications are submitted through our applicant tracking system, Pinpoint, and are anonymized to minimize bias. This approach helps ensure a fair and consistent review process.

Application Questions
The application questions, along with any required support materials, play a vital role in the review process. Because we redact most personally identifying information for anonymity, these questions are designed to capture the essential details our hiring team needs to evaluate your qualifications.

While we try to avoid asking you to duplicate information already included in your resume, we ask that you answer all application questions thoroughly. This helps our reviewers gain a clear understanding of your experience and interest in the role.

Stage 2

Application Review

We review applications on a rolling basis using a detailed rubric that evaluates your experience, professional skills, and interests against the qualifications listed in the job description.

Applications are anonymized upon receipt, so our focus during the initial review is primarily on your answers to the application questions and the relevance of your experience. Those with the required qualifications and the highest scores will advance to a phone interview with the hiring manager. You’ll receive an email (from the same address as your application confirmation) with a link to self-schedule your interview.

If your application does not meet the basic requirements or rank high enough, we’ll let you know that your application will not move forward.

Stage 3

Initial Interview

In this stage, you'll participate in a 30-minute phone interview with the hiring manager. After self-scheduling your time slot, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a calendar invite and helpful preparation instructions.

We’ll ask around 8 questions to learn more about your relevant experience and your interest in CNPS (California Native Plant Society) and the position itself. Prior to your interview you’ll receive a reminder email with the exact number of questions and a summary of the topics that will be asked about to ensure fairness and transparency.

During the interview, we’ll use consistent metrics to evaluate your responses. After completing all interviews, candidates with the highest scores will be invited to the panel interview stage. If you don’t rank highly enough to continue, we’ll let you know.

Stage 4

Panel Interview

The panel interview is a 60-minute session conducted on video via Microsoft Teams. You’ll receive an email invitation to self-schedule your interview. Once booked, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a calendar invite and more details.

Before your interview, we’ll send you a summary of the question topics and the number of questions or scenarios you can expect (approximately 8-10). The hiring panel will score your responses using a rubric, with certain questions weighted based on their importance.

At the end of the interview, you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions. We encourage you to come prepared to take advantage of this opportunity before the entire hiring panel.

After all interviews are completed, the candidates with the highest scores (often the top two) will move on to reference checks. If you’re not selected to advance, we’ll let you know that your candidacy has concluded.

Stage 5

Offer

If you’re the top candidate, the hiring manager will call to extend a verbal offer, including details about compensation, benefits, and a proposed start date.

Once you verbally accept, you’ll receive a written offer, job description, and the CNPS Employee Handbook via email. The offer will include an expiration date by which you’ll need to accept or decline electronically. This time period is usually 48 hours.

Stage 6

Hired

Congratulations! After you accept the employment agreement, we’ll begin the onboarding process to welcome you to CNPS.