Advice for someone looking to work for the City of Houston?

Hi all!

Long story short I’m a recent transplant as of a year ago looking to start a career working for the local government. I come from a financial asset management background and noticed that the city is hiring analysts in all different types of capacities to support their operations. Being unfamiliar with how the city operates its hiring processes and coming from a whole different industry altogether, I’m assuming that these positions require more than just an application just to get noticed.

My real question is, how difficult is it to break through coming from a for-profit sector? Is there something I need as a new and now forever resident to provide me a leg up? Is the process long and tedious due to how their administrative processes currently are? Is applying reliable or would I need to know someone on the inside of the hiring process may be leaning more on a need to know someone basis?

Just looking for advice as I’d love to work for the city. I have always wanted to work in government but life takes you to where you need to go first before going to where you want to go later. At least in my life at least.

Anyone in the city have any words they’d like to share about their experiences?