Resources for Separated
Extension Employees

The "hiring authority" is the person who will ultimately be making the decision on whom to hire. For Civil Service and Bargaining Unit jobs, the hiring authority is often making this decision on their own. For Academic jobs, there is usually a "search committee" that screens candidates, interviews candidates and sometimes recommends the final list of candidates to the hiring authority.

Talking to the hiring authority (before you fill out your application materials if possible) will allow you to learn the following:

• more about the job itself,
• more about the department and its culture, and
• more about what the hiring authority is looking for in a candidate.

By networking with the hiring authority, you will also allow them to get to know you, beyond what your resume and/or application can tell them.

You can find out the name of the hiring authority in several ways:

• For CS/BU jobs, once your application passes the initial screening, the Job Center may be able to give you the hiring authority's name. Sometimes, the hiring authority has instructed them to not do so, but, never fear, you have other alternatives!
• Contact the HR Pro associated with the department offering the job and ask them. If you aren't sure who an HR Pro is or how to contact one, click here.
• Contact the main number of the department offering the job, explain what job you are interested in, and see if the receptionist can find out who is the hiring authority.
• Contact anyone you know in the department and see if they can help connect you. Use the Inside Scoop

Talk to an HR pro

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