If it helps anyone, my employer(City of Los Angeles) will be issuing a civil service test for entry level positions starting in late Feb or early March. The classification is called Managment Assistant.
The one and only requirement to take the test is that you have a 4 year college degree(any major is ok). Some of the jobs you will eventually interview for might have more stringent job requirements.
Job starts at ~45-50K, 5% raise after the first six months and then each year for 3 years after that. Pretty easy to promote into positions paying up to ~$85K. Possible but more difficult to promote into positions paying $95-120K. 13 holidays a year, 12 sick days, 2 weeks vacation to start, retirement, health care, dental, I forget what else right now.
You take the civil service exam. Its pass/fail and they use a scale because thousands take this particular test. If you pass, you get an interview and are assigned a score based on the interview. A list starting with the highest scores is sent to all city departments, who can then set up interviews for openings they have. They have to interview the highest scores available first.
Anyway, its an option for anyone tired of full time poker, anyone looking to get away from jobs demanding lots of hours, or for an older person looking to work 10-15 years and have something as a retirement.
At one time I had a city job that was incredible for playing poker at Commerce. I worked 10 hours a day, four days a week. On Thursdays I'd go home and crash from around 5-10pm, then head down to Commerce until 3-4 am, rinse wash repeat Friday and Saturday nights. Sundays on holiday weekends(LOL Columbus Day & Cesar Chavez Day). I wish I lived in Downtown at the time like I do now because Commerce is very close.
Anyway, website is
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/lacity/default.cfm The job posting will show up a week or two before the filing opens.
Not sure how many jobs are available during the next two years(the list is active for two years) due to city budget issues. But in the past there has been several hundred hired off each exam. The Management Analyst Class has several thousand employees.
If anyone wants more info, just ask. I don't check in here every day lately so you may want to pm that you asked a question so I know to look for it.