I applied online, as well as using some networking to improve my chances of being considered. Several weeks after applying, I was asked to come in for an in-person interview through an automated process, which was very efficient but supplied no details. I entered the County Commissioner's meeting room, and slowly 6 department heads and the three Commissioners entered. I sat in the middle of the room (Congressional hearing-style) and answered questions for 45 minutes (pretty intimidating due to not being given a heads-up it would be happening like this).
For the second interview a few weeks later, I was asked to put together a five-page strategic plan and was told to be prepared for a writing exercise upon arrival. For the first 30 minutes of the interview, I was asked to prepare a press release based on a script they provided, plus multiple people playing "roles" that I could interview. They reviewed my release upon completion and then I was asked to defend what I wrote. This was followed by a review of the strategic plan I developed. The third interview took place several weeks later. I was told that it would be the Commissioners doing most of the talking, but it turns out they had 30 minutes worth of additional questions to ask me. About 5 days later, I was told they were going with someone else.
