General Information
Veterans Preference
To qualify for Veterans Preference, an individual must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Have separated under honorable conditions from any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States; AND
- Have served on active duty for 181 consecutive days or more or for the full period ordered to active duty OR have separated by reason of disability incurred while serving on active duty; AND
- Be a United States citizen or resident alien.
OR if an individual is a spouse of a veteran who meets all of the above criteria AND the individual meets either of the requirements below:
- The widow/widower (not remarried) of a deceased veteran; OR
- The spouse of a disabled veteran who cannot qualify for employment because of the disability.
Note: Individuals will be required to present proof of Veterans Preference before they are hired.
Definition of Veteran: Minnesota Statute 197.447
Definition of Veterans Preference: Minnesota Statute 43A.11
If you have questions regarding your DD-214 form or if you are not certain you meet the veteran requirements above, please contact your County Veterans Service Officer.
If you have questions about the state's hiring process, visit the State of Minnesota Careers website or contact the State Director for Equal Opportunity, ADA, Diversity and Inclusion.
Recently Separated Veterans
Veteran Interview Legislation for State of Minnesota Government Employment
Effective July 1, 2009, the top five Recently Separated Veterans (RSV) who apply and meet the qualifications for a vacancy will be granted an interview. To qualify as a Recently Separated Veteran, an individual must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Have separated under honorable conditions from any branch of the armed forces of the United States; AND
- Have served on active duty for 181 consecutive days or more or for the full period ordered to active duty OR have separated by reason of disability incurred while serving on active duty; AND
- Be a United States citizen or resident alien; AND
- Have served in active military service at any time on or after September 11, 2001 as shown on your form DD-214.
Note: If invited to interview, recently separated veterans will be required to present their DD-214 to the hiring agency for verification. It is the responsibility of the veteran to apply and meet the qualifications for the vacancy; and submit and maintain current veteran information in the Supplemental Information section in Resume Builder (online application system).
If you have questions regarding your DD-214 form or if you are not certain you meet the veteran requirements above, please contact your County Veterans Service Officer.
Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Disabled Veterans
Minnesota Statute 43A.111 Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Disabled Veterans allows agencies to appoint disabled veterans to classified positions on a noncompetitive basis if all qualifying factors are met, including:
- The veteran meets service requirements and has a verified service-connected disability rating of at least 30%,
- The veteran provides qualifying documentation verifying the disability, and
- The veteran meets the position's minimum qualifications.
If an appointing authority chooses to appoint a disabled veteran to a vacant position under this section, the appointing authority is not required to interview any other person.
State agency responsibilities
- Follow your agency's normal process to create a classified vacancy.
- If the agency chooses to appoint a disabled veteran utilizing new provision Minnesota Statute 43A.111 the agency must ensure the following:
- The veteran meets the position's minimum qualifications,
- The required written document (issued by the federal government) is obtained from the veteran indicating the veteran meets the service requirements and has a compensable service-connected disability of a least 30%, and the document was issued within the year preceding appointment.
- Upon appointment, use the SEMA4 reason code: VNC (Veteran Non-Competitive Appt) with appropriate appointment action code (for example: HIR, REH, PRO, DEM, MOV).
Disabled veteran responsibilities
As indicated in Minnesota Statute 43A.111, the disabled veteran is responsible for providing the hiring agency with official written documentation indicating they meet the service requirements, have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 30%, and the document was issued within the year preceding appointment.
Updating Your Veterans Information in Self-Service/SEMA4
Article 3, Section 22, of Chapter 94 from the Session Laws of 2009 requires Minnesota Management and Budget to report the number of veterans among the state's workforce to the legislature every year. This information will be used to determine if the number of state employees who are veterans is representative of veterans in the Minnesota labor force. You are not legally required to provide this data. However, to ensure accurate reporting, Minnesota Management and Budget asks all employees to update their Military Status in Self-Service/SEMA4.
To update your veterans information, go to Self-Service/SEMA4 and follow these steps:
- Go to the main menu
- Click My Personal Information
- Click Veteran Status
- Follow the prompts to update your veteran status
- Click Save to submit your information
To view the Minnesota State Government Efforts to Employ and Support Veterans Annual Report, visit the Reports tab on this page.
Veterans Employment Resources
Employment Resources
The State of Minnesota Careers website is the main source for employment opportunities in Minnesota state government and provides applicants with resources for navigating the State's application process, instructions for updating their veteran status on the online application, and more.
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs operates the LinkVet Support Site which contains information on employment, education, health and disability benefits, and other assistance.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) also offers Veterans Employment Services to veterans seeking employment and businesses interested in hiring veterans.
Recruiting Resources
For recruiting resources to attract veteran applicants to opportunities within the State of Minnesota, visit the Equal Opportunity, ADA, Diversity, and Inclusion's Resources Page on the Minnesota Management and Budget website.
Other Resources
The Military Skills Translator on O*Net Online's website provides resources for translating military skills, experience, and training to civilian terms.
