State Government

Careers with the State of Tennessee

At the State of Tennessee, they do not usually recruit for specific job vacancies such as you would see in newspaper ads. They work on what would best be described as a job pool principle: they select from a pool of qualified applicants for jobs as jobs become available. Their application process places applicants in the appropriate pool, called a register, for each position for which you apply. So instead of waiting around for a job opening, this system allows job seekers to be placed on registers ahead of time. It's very important to get your application in and the more detailed and accurate your application, the better they will be able to match you with a state job.
To get contact information for the various departments and agencies, visit the State of Tennessee's agency and department directory page for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I apply for a job with the State of Tennessee?
A: Apply online for a job with the State of Tennessee. View and print a copy of our application, fill it out and send it in.

Q. What happens after I submit my application?
A: Your application will be evaluated to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications (e.g., education, experience) required for the job(s) applied for. You will be notified by mail of any necessary examinations. For most jobs, an examination is not required, and a score is calculated for you based on the education and experience information you provided on the application form. Once you have obtained a score for a job classification (from either a rating of your education and experience, or by passing any necessary examination), your name is placed on a list of eligible applicants for that job classification. This list is available for use by agencies as vacancies occur. Agencies must hire from among the top five eligible applicants who are willing to accept a particular vacant position.
More Frequently Asked Questions...

State and Local Government - The Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook is an awesome source for information such as the nature of the industry, working conditions, earnings, outlook, and more.

Additional Information

• State Legislative Internship
  TN State Legislative Internship and UT National Alumni Internship
• Careers Now Internship Program
  Three Constitutional Offices created the Careers NOW Program to allow junior, senior and graduate students who attend college in Tennessee and Tennessee residents who attend out-of-state colleges an opportunity to work in the Department of Treasury, Department of State, and the Comptroller of the Treasury department. To participate you must contact your school’s representative.
• Tennessee Government Documents and Information
  UTK Library Tennessee Government Reference
• What Can I Do with This Major?
  While all majors are relevant in the Government you may want to view specific links under majors such as Political Science, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, International Studies, etc.