County job postings worth checking - any advice?

I found several public-sector postings with benefits and a steady schedule. I have read a lot of threads here and could not find my exact situation. Hiring is slower than private jobs. Do they prefer local residents?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 8 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.