Louisiana is taking a skills-based approach to hiring. That means hiring panels look at what you can do, not just your degree or job title.
Your experience can come from many places, including:
- Work
- School
- Military service
- Volunteer activities
- Caregiving
- Life experience
If you have the skills needed for the job, your experience is relevant.
Most Louisiana State jobs no longer require a pre-employment exam. Instead, hiring managers evaluate your application to understand:
- What you have done
- How you have done it
- How your experience relates to the job 
Hiring managers review your application as part of the hiring process. Two key areas that often help them better understand your skills include:
1. Your Experience History
Include all relevant experience, paid or unpaid. This may include jobs, internships, school projects, volunteer work, caregiving, or community involvement.
2. Your Responses to Skills-Based Supplemental Questions
These are two-part questions:
- First, you rate your experience level.
- Then, you provide specific examples that support your rating
Your examples should clearly explain your self-evaluation.
Describe:
- Specific situations
- What you did
- How you did it
- What happened because of your actions
Avoid:
- Skipping questions by entering "Not applicable" or "See Resume"
- Vague answers that do not show your skills in action
- Generic AI-generated responses
- Simply repeating the competency-based supplemental question without adding detail
When you apply for a state job, hiring managers evaluate your application using a consistent set of skills and behaviors found in the
Louisiana Competency Model.
When you use the same language in your application, it becomes easier for hiring teams to:
- Understand your experience
- See how your skills match the job
- Evaluate your application fairly and consistently
Competencies are grouped into four areas:
- People - how you communicate and work with others
- Self - how you manage yourself and grow
- Thought - how you think, solve problems, and adapt
- Results - how you complete work and deliver outcomes
These categories reflect the full range of skills needed to succeed in a role.
Each competency includes clear examples of behaviors, so you can see what strong performance looks like.
You don't need to memorize the model.
Instead, use this simplified version of the Louisiana Competency Model for Applicants to help you turn your experience into clear examples of your skills.
- Review the competencies listed in the job posting
- Use the examples of successful behaviors as a guide
- Describe your experience using similar language
This helps you:
- Choose stronger examples
- Avoid vague responses
- Clearly show how your experience connects to the job
The Skills-Based Application Guide is a step-by-step worksheet designed to help you describe your transferable skills using the Louisiana Competency Model for Applicants.
This tool helps you think through your experience and organize your responses with confidence.
Using this guide helps ensure your experience is described clearly, consistently, and in a way hiring teams can evaluate.
- Identify the skills you have gained through paid or unpaid experience
- Describe your experience using the same language used by hiring teams
- Prepare strong examples for applications and interviews
- Feel confident applying for state jobs
- Managed calendars, scheduled meetings, and coordinated logistics for multiple supervisors
- Responded to phone and email inquiries from internal staff and the public
- Prepared reports, tracked data, and maintained organized records
- Prioritized competing requests and adjusted schedules based on changing needs
Organization, communication, customer service, attention to detail, and prioritization
Managing Time
Focusing on Customers
Demonstrating Accountability
Balanced multiple priorities by organizing schedules, responding promptly to inquiries, maintaining accurate records, and adjusting plans as needs changed while ensuring deadlines were met.
Operations ran smoothly, requests were handled efficiently, and information was accurate and accessible when needed
Applied Managing Time, Focusing on Customers, and Demonstrating Accountability by coordinating schedules, responding to inquiries, and maintaining accurate records to support efficient daily operations.
- Loaded and unloaded shipments
- Organized and tracked inventory
- Followed workplace safety procedures
Organization, accountability, attention to detail
Demonstrating Accountability
Managing Resources
Tracked inventory, followed safety protocols, and ensured proper storage of materials.
Maintained accurate inventory and safe operations.
Demonstrated Accountability and Managing Resources by maintaining inventory accuracy, following safety procedures, and ensuring proper handling of materials.
- Anyone unsure how to describe their experience
- Anyone applying to state jobs for the first time
- Current state workers looking to advance their careers
- Anyone skilled through alternative routes, including military, caregiving, volunteer, or life experience
Contact the Recruiting and Outreach Center (225)925-1911 for further assistance.