Hiring process overview
Our application process explained
After applying to a job(s), you’ll receive email communications at various points. Your application status will also be updated in the portal. You can check the status at any time by logging into your account.
Please keep in mind that some positions receive hundreds of applications, and it takes time to review them all. Our application process can be very competitive. This is why it benefits you to spend time making sure your resume accurately reflects your experience, demonstrates how you meet the requirements, is in chronological order, and is error free. If you are not selected the first time you apply, do not lose hope. We encourage you to continue to apply to jobs you qualify for.
Below is a brief summary of the possible steps and status changes your application may go through.
Your application is complete. Make sure you received an email saying your application has been submitted. Sometimes candidates think they’ve finished an application, but more information is still needed. If you see a red “1” make sure to click on the alert to resolve any unfinished portions of your application (Reference our How to Guide for additional steps). Please keep in mind that each position will have a unique recruiting timeline. Some move more quickly than others, so please be patient.
Once your application has been submitted, a member of the Talent Acquisition team will review your application, as well as all others that have been received. Typically, this will not happen until after a posting has closed. No action is needed from you currently.
If you meet the minimum requirements and your application has been selected to move forward, you may need to complete a pre-employment assessment. For some positions, there are multiple assessments. You will receive an email with instructions on how to take the assessment(s). In order to be considered to move to the next step, you need to successfully complete the assessment(s) within the timeframe listed in the email. Typically, that is within 5 days.
If you receive a request to complete a pre-employment assessment, we suggest reviewing the study guides provided prior to completing the assessment. View the study guides.
Resumes are now sent to the hiring manager for review. At this time, there is nothing further needed from you while the hiring team reviews resumes to determine who they will interview.
At this stage, someone will reach out to schedule an interview. Interviews are done either in person or on video via Microsoft Teams. You will be notified prior to the interview which format is being done for the position. Regardless of the format of the interview, SDG&E has adopted a professional dress code for interviews. Please avoid clothing that is offensive or unacceptable in the office or field environment. If you are on video, make sure your background is professional.
At the same time as the interviews, we will be requesting a reference check. We use Skill Survey 360 and you will be sent an email to provide your professional references. This is a requirement if you are selected for an offer.
You may also be contacted to verify that your online application is complete and accurate. If any updates are needed a member of our team can open your application back up for you to update.
After all interviews are completed, a selection will be made. At that time, we will verify that the reference check and your application are fully complete and meet our standards.
If you are the selected candidate, a member of the Talent Acquisition team will contact you to discuss your offer.
Once the offer has been finalized, you will accept the position in the online portal. You will electronically sign the offer and fill out the background check forms to authorize us to perform a pre-employment background check. Once those forms are complete, you will receive a call from a member of the Talent Acquisition team to verify your responses. Then we will submit the request for a background check. You may get calls or emails from the background check agency or from our team requesting documentation. Please read all communications carefully and complete or reply as quickly as possible. You will also need to take a pre-employment drug screen and/or physical (if required for the role). Information will be sent to you with a set date/time to get that completed. If the position is a DOT role, additional contingencies steps may need to be completed.
Once you’ve completed all pre-employment contingencies you will be notified, and it is recommended that you give notice to your current employer (if applicable) at this time. Your start date will be confirmed, and you will be given details regarding new hire paperwork and new employee orientation. Your new manager will also reach out with information for your first day.
What if I am notified that I am not moving forward in the application process? At any point in the process you may receive a notification letting you know that we are not moving forward with your application. That will be the final notification from us regarding that position. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide specific feedback regarding our decision. However, do not lose hope. As stated, it can be a very competitive process and we encourage you to continue applying to jobs you qualify for.
Application requirements
A resume is required to apply for all positions, a cover letter is optional.
Potential employees must meet all requirements to be considered for a position:
- Must be at least 18 years of age at time of application
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent at time of application
- Must have proof of eligibility to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future
We only accept resume submissions online and are unable to accept resumes at any of our locations.
Resume and interview tips
Resume tips
Your resume is often your first impression with an employer, and a well-written resume can increase your chance of being invited for an interview.
- Your resume should be no more than 1-2 pages in length
- Use a professional font (Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri). All three fonts are legible and easy to read.
- Font size should be between 10 to 12 point
- Margins should be at least 0.75”, but no larger than 2”
- Use bullet points
- White space is fine! Don’t feel like you need to fill in the entire page of your resume. White space breaks up the sections and helps create focal points for our recruiters
- Include: Heading, Experience, Education, Skills, and Professional Affiliations
- Make it straightforward and effortless to read. Due to the amount of resumes our recruiters receive, we value conciseness and quality over quantity
- Help the recruiter make the connection from past experience to transferable relevant skill
- Include experience that is most pertinent to the position you are applying to List experience in reverse chronological order. Employers want to see your most recent experience first
- Use active language to write about experiences. Action verbs will assist you in highlighting not only your experience but also your accomplishments. Focus on what you did, not necessarily what the job duties were
- Have a trusted friend, mentor, or family member review your resume for grammatical errors and typos
- Avoid first person pronouns (I, me, & my)
- Check for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes
- Make sure that your resume aligns with the job description
- Double check your contact information
Heading
- Include: Name, Email, Telephone
- Optional: Address, LinkedIn
Experience
- Include: Job Title, Company Name, Location, & Length of time you worked in the position
- Use bullet points to highlight achievements
- Use numbers, if possible, to highlight results
Education
- Include: Institution Name, Location, Degree, & Graduation Date
- Optional: Concentration, Honors, and GPA
Skills
- Include both hard and soft skills that align with the job description
- Hard Skills – Technical Knowledge (Examples: Certifications, Licenses, Proficiencies)
- Soft Skills – Behavioral Traits (Examples: Problem-solving, Critical Thinking, Effective Communication)
Professional affiliations
- Include: Professional Organization Name, Role, Length of time in organization
- Information about your: age, gender, political affiliation, marital status, or personal data beyond your contact information
- Information on your salary or salary expectations
Interview tips
You applied and received notice to set-up an interview. The interview is your second impression with the employer and your chance to convince.
- Study our website and learn about SDG&E and our industry
- Browse our Careers landing page and learn about benefits, diversity, and Corporate Social Responsibility
- Check out our Blog for SDG&E News
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Think about personal stories that demonstrate your problem-solving skills and be prepared to speak upon your roles and experience
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Use the STAR Interviewing technique to help prepare for behavioral based interview questions
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Situation – Describe the situation that you were in. You must describe a specific event or situation
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Task – Describe the objective, issue, challenge or task you had to overcome or took responsibility to complete
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Action – Describe the action YOU took and keep the focus on you
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Results – Describe the results you achieved. What happened? What did you accomplish? What did you learn? Quantify the results (Access a STAR worksheet to prepare for your next interview)
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Additional questions to think about it…
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Why are you interested in the position?
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What makes you a good candidate for this position?
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What are your short-term career goals and how does this opportunity fit into your goals?
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Practice Practice Practice!
- Dress for success with professional attire
- Bring extra copies of your resume, a pen, and notepad
- Be punctual. If possible, arrive 10 to 15 minutes early
- Silence your cell phone
- Provide honest, direct answers
- Make eye contact with your hiring manager
- Voice your career interests
- Ask questions
In addition to the recommendations for your Interview Day, additional recommendations for a virtual interview are:
- Set up your space
- Have a clean, uncluttered professional virtual or real background
- Check your lighting
- Do a speed test on your internet connection
- Ensure webcam functionality
- Silence all electronics (cell phones, email notifications, etc.)
- Become an expert on whatever platform is chosen for the interview and test the platform prior to interview (Microsoft Teams, WebEx, Zoom, etc.)
- Keep one page of notes handy but do not refer to it too often
- Keep calm – if you need a moment to gather yourself you could say, “Could I take a few seconds to think and answer?”
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Rehearse
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Monitor your pace
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Use open posture and some hand gestures - wide hand gestures for exciting points and hands closer to the heart for personal reflections; do not cross your arms
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Look into your webcam, not at your reflection
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Don’t perform a monologue; spark conversations
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Converse in a natural, candid way
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- Send a thoughtful thank you email to your recruiter expressing your interest in the position
Frequently asked questions
Application process
SDG&E accepts applications online. You can attach supporting documents such as resumes and cover letters via the application page.
We recommend you only apply to those roles that you meet the minimum requirements for.
At this time our careers website only supports sign-in using a valid email address.
Yes, please apply to the role(s) that align with both your interests and skillset. You will be evaluated against the requirements for each role and may interview for different roles at the same time. We recommend you only apply to those roles that you meet the minimum requirements for.
You will receive an email from us confirming receipt of your application. You may also check our status in the online portal.
Due to our volume of applications, we are not able to make personal contact with everyone who submits a resume. In the event that there is an interest in your resume, a company representative will be sure to contact you via phone or e-mail.
To check your status, log in to your application profile and review the roles for which you’ve applied.
Your dashboard is regularly being updated to display the most up-to-date status information relating to each application. When an application status changes, your dashboard is updated in almost real-time to reflect this new status.
Check the status of your application via our online portal.
We regularly post new positions and remove positions that are no longer open. We also actively remove roles that have been filled. If a job is not listed, that means we are no longer taking applications for the position at this time.
You can sign up to be notified when positions are posted within your specific area of interest. To do this, please go to our list of current job openings, select your area(s) of interest on the left side of the page, then click on “Notify Me” in the top right corner. You will be asked to provide your email address, and will receive email notifications when jobs that meet your criteria are posted.
In most cases, you will be notified via email if we’re moving forward with your application. You can also check your status any time in our application portal.
Prior to completing an assessment, review our assessment prep guides.
After you complete the assessment, certain roles may require you to participate in a phone/virtual interview, or come on-site for an in-person interview, which allows us to dive deeper into your skills and experience to learn even more about you. To help prepare, explore our prep material.
At any point in the process you may receive a notification letting you know that we are not moving forward with your application. That will be the final notification from us regarding that position. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide specific feedback regarding our decision. However, do not lose hope. As stated, it can be a very competitive process and we encourage you to continue applying to jobs you qualify for.
Candidate requirements and accommodations
SDG&E does not sponsor H-1B or F-1B visa for new or current employees.
A candidate must have successfully completed and received their high school diploma or passed a General Education Development (GED) test. Some of our positions do require four-year degrees and/or certifications.
As an equal opportunity employer, SDG&E is committed to a diverse workforce and is also committed to a barrier-free employment process. In order to ensure reasonable accommodations for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.
If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the job application process and would like to request assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please submit a request via this Accommodation Request form.
Yes. All offers of employment at SDG&E are contingent upon candidates passing a background check and drug screen. We review all criminal background checks in a manner consistent with state and local laws.
A background check will consist of the following:
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Criminal History Report
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Social Security Verification
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Motor Vehicle History Report
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Employment Verification
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Education Verification
Our company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a web-based system that allows an employer to determine an employee's eligibility to work in the US using information reported on an employee's Form I-9. The E-Verify system confirms eligibility with both the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). For more information, please go to the USCIS E-Verify website.
Working at SDG&E
Some jobs are hybrid, typically this will allow you to work from the office three days per week and work remotely on the remaining workdays. Some jobs require 100% onsite or in the field.
When you apply to a job the work schedule and work location (CA or out of state) are notated. Unless otherwise noted you are required to reside in California or be willing to relocate upon hire.
To build a more connected and collaborative culture, we have intentionally designed a hybrid work schedule with high density days where employees can interact with each other in person and do not need to navigate different schedules for different teams.
By having more employees on campus at the same time, we expect this will help to enhance collaboration, creativity, and foster a stronger company culture. While some employees like to work in a group setting, others prefer to work alone. The hybrid model creates a positive employee experience for all.
- The hybrid model enhances employee work-life balance.
- Hybrid work allows business continuity during emergencies.
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The hybrid model also allows for:
- In-person connection and collaboration, as well as many individual and efficiency-related benefits associated with virtual and remote work.
- Enhanced employee well-being that is a byproduct of social connection among employees, both within and between teams.
- Enhanced collaboration that results from face-to-face communication, immediate feedback, real-time problem-solving, and the ability to more quickly avoid or address misunderstandings.
- Reduced logistical complexity that comes from employees being on the same schedule.
- A stronger company culture when employees can more easily connect with the organization’s values, mission, and goals. In-person interactions promote a sense of belonging and shared identity, strengthening company culture and employee engagement.
Absolutely. SDG&E is dedicated to employee development and career growth.
From lifestyle to wellness to education, our compensation and benefits programs take a whole-person approach tailored to the needs of each employee. We offer opportunities that will inspire you individually and as part of the larger SDG&E team, options to help you navigate the different stages of your life and programs that will help you lead the kind of life you’ll love. Learn more about our benefits.
University program FAQs
Please visit the Start Your Career with Us page to learn more about opportunities for students and new graduates.
We recruit and hire current undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent graduates, for internship and full-time opportunities across all lines of business.
Students currently enrolled in an accredited university and returning to school in the fall to continue their education towards a degree are eligible for a summer internship. Students must also be in good academic standing with their university. In addition, each job description will reflect the minimum qualifications for eligibility.
Internships are typically 10-12 weeks in duration. The internship duration will be based on your school’s academic calendar. This will be determined by when you’ll need to return to school in the fall. Typically, internships start in June and end in August.
We recommend applying for an internship to gain valuable work experience and learn first-hand what it’s like to work at SDG&E, but we still welcome direct applications to full-time roles.
No, participation in an internship does not guarantee placement in the Rotation program or as a full-time employee at SDG&E.
Placements are determined through a formal interview process. When preparing for annual rotations, program participants select the departments they wish to interview with based on their professional goals. Participants are given an opportunity to interview for the rotation position in the selected department. Following the interviews, feedback is collected, and the rotation program steering committee does final matching of employees to departments.
Mentors are assigned by the program management team. Associates will receive a manager or director mentor and a peer mentor. Interns will receive an associate mentor. We aim to assign you a mentor with similar backgrounds and professional interests that will help you develop and grow.
Our company also has a corporate-wide mentorship program available to all employees. Rotation participants are able to apply for participation in this program as well.
Within each department employees are given specific training to be successful in their jobs. This is done through a combination of on-the-job and technical training, if required. You will also have access to our robust online training resources as well as company trainings.
In our programs, you will grow your technical skills through your assignments and any training that you take. You will have the opportunity grow your technical and professional skills through rotations/assignments, experiential training, networking, and leadership opportunities.
After the formal entry-level rotation program is completed, participants are encouraged to apply for any open positions for which they are qualified. Our company is very supportive of this; managers and mentors are available to provide further guidance.
Although we heavily rely on our internship as an extended interview process for the rotation program, we often hire recent graduates into the program who have not completed an internship. We interview students in their senior year and often have great success finding capable graduates to join our program.
As a company we value and support further education and professional development. We have a tuition reimbursement program to help fund educational advancement through certifications, licenses and graduate degrees.