County job postings worth checking - any advice?

I found several public-sector postings with benefits and a steady schedule. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. Hiring is slower than private jobs. How long did it take to hear back?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 13 months ago, and it settled down 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.