I have worked in HR for field locations and I can say that you're definitely at a disadvantage by being an outsider. More often than not, someone who is already working for Transit will get the job offer. They are required to have someone from outside to be interviewed. Your best bet is to take the civil service exams as there is some sort of rule in place that agencies must hire 1 in every 3 interviewed and the 3 people they interviewed are off a list in some order. As I suggested earlier, don't confine yourself to just a Transit exam, take the DCAS civil service exams, which Transit is also a part of. You are casting a wider net by applying to DCAS exams as most agencies can use an analyst . You may not be working for MTA/Transit but at least you get the valuable work experience or permanent title after passing thru the 1 year probationary period. You will look a lot more attractive by already having the permanent title and work experience under your belt, despite coming from another agency. There are also requirements in MTA job postings now that you must be permanent in a specific title to apply. Higher level titles are harder to obtain since there are more trainee and lower level analysts vying to get promoted as well. Civil service jobs are hard and long to come by, especially now given the job market and lack of job security in the private sector.