Civil service, also known as the merit system, was created to assure that the recruitment and retention of a qualified work force, and, the selection and promotion of employees providing public services and compensated by tax dollars is conducted in a fair and impartial manner and in a competitive fashion.
Fairfax County operates under a merit system, which means that applicants are selected for jobs on the basis of their education, experience and skills.
Minimum qualification tests, also called min qual evaluations, are used to assess whether a candidate meets the prerequisites for a position. These tests help streamline the screening process and ensure candidates are meeting the organization's minimum standards.