We do our best to answer all of your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and recommend reviewing these FAQs before contacting the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). We are confident you will find what you are looking for; however, if your question is not addressed, please email recruit@psmfc.org or call 503.595.3100. Thank you for your interest in PSMFC.

How to Apply

Q: How do I apply?
A: All candidates must apply online. Users need to create an account/profile and "submit" their profiles to the position they want to be considered for. Upon creation of your profile you can upload your resume (MS Word is recommended) to help pre-populate some of the profile fields. Applicants will be given an additional opportunity to copy and paste a resume and cover letter in their profile. Applicants will be asked to provide current or most recent employment activity.

Q: Do you have letters of reference or a copy of a license you want to attach?
A: Applicants can attach up to 2 attachments to their profile each time they apply for a new position. Attachments need to be professional in nature and relate directly to the position to which the applicant is applying. Attachments cannot be viewed, changed, or deleted from an applicant's profile once they have been submitted. (Recommended attachment formats are pdf, doc, docx)

Q: Can I submit a paper application instead of applying online?
A: If you are unable to complete the online profile, contact a member of the HR Team.

Q: When must my application be received?
A: Your completed profile must be submitted by 9:00pm PT the night prior to the closing date listed for the announcement. For example, if a job lists 10/10 as the closing date, the career center will remove the job announcement at 9pm PT 10/9. The closing date of a job means that the job is no longer available as of that date, no exceptions.

Q: I found a job I am interested in applying for but I can't find it on the PSMFC Career Center?
A: It is highly encouraged that applicants do not wait until the last minute to apply for an open position. PSMFC reserves the right to remove or pull down a recruitment for any reason at any time. Typically if you do not see the position you are looking for on the Employment and Career center, it is no longer available. PSMFC will not accept resumes or emails from applicants who wish to apply for a position that is no longer posted and available on the PSMFC Career Center.

Q: Can I apply for multiple positions?
A: Yes. Once you have created a profile, you can search other job openings and submit your profile for those positions as well.

Q: Can I submit a cover letter and resume specific to each position I am applying for?
A: Yes. However, the online recruiting system applies the most recently saved version of the cover letter and resume that was pasted in your profile to the position. If you are applying for multiple positions, you will want to tailor your cover letter to the specific position in which you are applying for, save it as the "Published Job Title Name" (ex. Fisheries Technician 1: Yuba River Crew Member), and attach it when applying for that particular position. The hiring manager will be able to view any attachments that you have uploaded. Do the same process to tailor your cover letter if you are applying for multiple positions.

Q: I don't see the information I am looking for in the job search drop-down menu?
A: Only information for current job openings will be available to view in the Job Search drop-down menu. For best results and to see all of the current openings, just click on the Search button. This will bring up all of the current openings.

Q: How will I know when my dream job is posted?
A: Please click on the "job agent" link and follow the steps to creating a job agent. This option will tell our career center to notify you any time a job that matches your criteria becomes available.

Q: I don't see a job(s) I recently applied for...
A: There is a brief time between a job posting closing and until we hire someone into the job when you may not see a job listed in your "jobs I've applied to" history. Once we have hired someone into an open position, your full job application history will reappear in "jobs I've applied to." Please know that if you received the message "Thank you for your interest in... (Position Title)" then your profile was included in the applicant pool for that position.

Q: None of the information I entered in my profile is there when I view it.
A: After you have completed all the fields in your profile, you will first click on "confirm" at bottom of the online form. If you have completed all of the required fields, the page will refresh. Please scroll down to the bottom again and click on "submit". You must complete this second step or all the information you submitted will not be saved to your profile.

Application & Interview Process

Q: When and how should I expect to be contacted once I have applied for a position?
A: Most communication will be via email. Make sure you have entered a valid email address. You will receive a confirmation email shortly after applying for a position. If you do not receive an email, please verify that you entered your email address correctly. You should also add recruit@psmfc.org as a trusted email address.

Typically hiring managers will review the applicant pool once the position has closed. At times, the hiring manager may review applicants and contact applicants before the closing date. If you are selected for an interview you will be contacted directly by the hiring manager or his/her assistant to schedule the interview. You will receive an email notification if you are not selected for a position or you may also be contacted by phone.

Q: What if I am contacted for an interview?
A: If you have been selected for an interview, you will receive an email invitation inviting you back to the career center to complete a formal application. You should anticipate setting aside a minimum of 30 minutes to complete the application. The application process is intended to gain a more detailed look into candidate's prior experience. It is highly recommended that you print a copy of your application prior to saving and submitting as final since the application will not be accessible or viewable once you submit it. Be sure to show up early and dress professionally. You will receive an email reminder with the time, date and location of your interview.

Q: I think I'm the top choice for the job, but I didn't get an interview.
A: Please know that it is not uncommon for us to receive hundreds of applications for a single position. You should regularly review and update your profile to be sure your information and the answers you have provided accurately reflect your skills and interest in the position that is posted. Update your profile first and then apply!

Miscellaneous

Q: I can't remember my profile password.
A: If you have forgotten your password there are a couple of options available to you:
The career center is designed so you can get a new password by answering two challenge questions. You should have created your two challenge question answers at a previous login. Once you have correctly answered the challenge questions, you will be prompted to create and verify a new password of your choosing.

You can also enter your email address into the "forgot your password" section of the login page. The career center will email you a new temporary password. You will need to create your own password upon your next login.

Q: I am getting an error message that reads "invalid start/end date info".
A: Please be sure to fill in each of the following categories for employment dates - month, date, and year. If you are unsure of an actual date, it's okay to use the last day of the month for your start date and the first day of the month for your end date.

Q: Do I need to be a US citizen to apply?
A: We consider all qualified candidates legally authorized to work in the United States and able to provide proof of eligibility. PSMFC is unable to support visa sponsorships or extensions.

Q. Does PSMFC accept applications from out-of-state applicants?
A. Yes, we consider all qualified candidates for each position. When applying for a position, it is assumed that you are willing to relocate if necessary.

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is an Affirmative Action (AA) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer, and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic data, or other legally protected status.

If you have a disability and need assistance completing the application form, you may call the PSMFC Human Resources office at (503) 595-3100 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PT, Monday-Friday. Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Applicants may contact a member of the Human Resources Team for technical assistance by emailing recruit@psmfc.org or calling 503.595.3100.