County job postings worth checking - any advice?

I found several public-sector postings with benefits and a steady schedule. It has been weighing on me all week. Applications close on a fixed date and need a full work history. Do they prefer local residents?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 5 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

The exam was simple, mostly clerical skills. Practice material is usually on the same website.