CSC circular allows online interview, hiring of prospective state workers

GOVERNMENT agencies can now hire new employees using online job interviews under a new circular issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). In its Memorandum Circular 14, Series of 2020, CSC issued a new appointment and hiring guidelines in response to the Covid-19 crisis pursuant to its Resolution 2000659.

“In recruiting and selecting candidates, agencies shall adopt internal guidelines that will allow online recruitment and selection processes such as online competency assessments, videoconferencing for interviews and selection board deliberations,” CSC said in a news statement released on Monday.

Likewise, copies of appointment signatures can now also use electronic signatures provided it is certified by the head of an agency and its specimen signatures submitted to the concerned CSC regional office.

The administration of oath of office may be done through virtual modes, such as videoconferencing.

The new guidelines will apply for the hiring for first and second level positions, including second level executive/managerial positions in the career service, and those appointed to the non-career service who are non-presidential appointees during a state of calamity.

To recall, President Duterte declared a state of national calamity last March due to the Covid-19. Extended validity

CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada explained the Covid-19 crisis led to the applications for available vacancies to pile up when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was imposed in many parts of the country.

To address this, she said CSC extended the nine-month validity period of the required publication and posting of vacant positions from government offices.

The extension will be equivalent for the period equivalent to the duration of the ECQ, or modified ECQ, imposed in the areas where the agency is located.

“However, if the vacant position is not filledup within the said extension, the agency is required to re-publish and post the vacancy, as well as submit the electronic copy of the Request for Publication of Vacant Positions [CS Form No. 9, Revised 2018] to the CSC Field Office [CSC FO] concerned through e-mail,” CSC said.

MC 14 will retroactively take effect on March 16, 2020.