Kaua‘i has made it easier for people who want to join the county workforce.
The county launched on Jan. 10 NEOGOV Insight, a new software system that makes it possible for anyone with Internet access to apply for county jobs online.
Kaua‘i is the first Neighbor Island county to offer the new public service, which was initiated by Mayor Bryan Baptiste.
“The Department of Personnel Services and the Information Technology division teamed up on this project, which utilizes technology to help make county government more accessible to the general public,” Baptiste said in a statement. “Anyone can now apply for a county job in the comfort of their home 24 hours a day.”
Joyce Schuierer, personnel management specialist with DPS, said the biggest benefit is that it’s easier to apply.
“We wanted to implement NEOGOV as quickly as possible,” Schuierer said in the statement. “There are many benefits to using this system.”
Previously people could find out about jobs on www.kauai.gov, but they had to send in applications or drop them off at the county’s personnel department.
Now people can find out about the same jobs, but can electronically sent in their job applications, Schuierer said.
“You simply log on to the county Web site, www.kauai.gov, and click on the job opportunities link,” Schuierer said. “If you find a job you’re interested in, the next step is to click on the job title, and then on the apply link.”
She said first-time users need to create an account and select a user name and password.
An e-mail address is also required, she said. After an account has been established, the user can fill out an application and apply for a county job.
Once an application has been submitted, an automatic e-mail reply confirming receipt of the application will be sent immediately, she said.
NEOGOV also gives the county a real-time database of applicant information, recallable in seconds.
“We’ll be able to generate reports and track all kinds of data electronically,” Schuierer said. “
The county will be able to keep track of information like applicant flow, recruitment costs and positions that draw a lot of interest, among others.
Since Jan. 10, the county has received 41 applications electronically — 15 of which were for police service officer positions. The other 16 were for other county jobs, Schuierer said.
People without access to a computer can use computers at a public library, which requires a Hawai‘i state library card, the Workforce Development office in Lihu‘e and the DPS office at the Lihu‘e Civic Center, Schuierer said.
NEOGOV Insight is currently used by the City and County of Honolulu, Hawai‘i State Judiciary, state Department of Education and the state Department of Human Resources Development.
For more information on the new system, contact DPS at 241-6595.
• Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or lchang@kauaipubco.com.
