Our Hiring Process

Resumes must be detailed to show how you meet the minimum qualifications for us to consider you. Here’s some tips to help you prepare you resume:

1. A chronological resume format is best to ensure we see that you meet the minimum qualifications.
2. Do not include a picture or any private data, such as social security number, date of birth, marital status, race or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, age, national origin, and public assistance status.
3. Resumes we see average 2-4 pages as they must be detailed enough to show how you meet the minimum qualifications.
4. List the months and years of your employment for each employer with the most relevant experience at the top. For part-time positions please list your average number of hours per week.
5. Describe work responsibilities in detail, including systems, software, tools and/or equipment you have used. This helps articulate how you meet the minimum qualifications.
6. Go through the minimum qualifications line by line and if you have that experience make sure it is clearly listed in your work responsibilities at your current or former positions.
7. Go through the preferred qualifications line by line and if you have any of the requirements listed, make sure it is clearly listed in your work responsibilities at your current or former positions.

This section explains our job postings to help you understand them and to show you what to look for.

• Job Titles
  • There are two job titles for every role, a working title, and a job classification title.
    • The working title is a descriptive title of the role for the position. These are the most helpful with describing the work the position is responsible for.
    • The State of Minnesota job classification title is statutorily required on all job postings. These are a general description of work performed to ensure similar duties and responsibilities have the same schedule of pay under similar employment conditions. These can be helpful to navigate the years of experience you have, see what you can qualify for, and see the salary for each level. Here’s an overview of the majority of positions we use.
  • Job Details
    • Who May Apply: This list the eligible job seekers who may apply. Sometimes positions are open to internal bidders and open competitively simultaneously. A bid is a way for employees to express interest in a job that's in the same class and option as their current job to be considered before all applicants are considered.
    • Date Posted: This will list the date the job posting opened.
    • Closing Date: This is the date you can apply through until 11:59 p.m. Most positions must be open for 7 days minimally.
    • Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: This is the state agency the position is for.
    • Division/Unit: This is the work division and unit within the agency where the position will be working.
    • Work Shift/Work Hours: We are a 24/7 operation, and the required work shift and hours are listed here.
    • Days of Work: These are the required days of work for the position upon being hired.
    • Travel Required: This will inform you if travel is anticipated for the position.
    • Salary Range: This is the salary information for the position. Salaries cannot be negotiated outside of the range listed.
    • Job Class Option: A subtitle used within a job classification title to identify an area of specialization within a job classification.
    • Classified Status: Positions are classified or unclassified. MN Statute 43A.08 defines and provides further clarification on unclassified positions.
    • Bargaining Unit/Union: This is the labor contract/union the position is in. Bargaining unit contracts are listed on the Minnesota Management & Budget’s website.
    • FLSA Status: This is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) status. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments.
    • Telework Eligible: This informs you if the position is in the office, is hybrid, or has the option to work from home.
    • Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: This will list yes or no. If yes, you will need to email in your certificate to the contact listed on the job posting.
  • Job Summary
    • This is a summary of the work the position and Division are responsible for.
    • Additional telework information will be listed here. Positions currently eligible for full-time telework will mainly be working from home but may be required to be in the office based on business needs.
  • Minimum Qualifications
    • You must meet the position’s minimum qualifications when you apply.
    • You can use work experience, education, or a combination to meet the minimum qualifications, each position is different.
    • If you are within one month of graduating with a degree and need it to qualify, it will be accounted for when you apply knowing if offered the position you will not start until after the degree is obtained.
  • Preferred Qualifications
    • These are ideal qualifications the incumbent would have once fully trained into the position.
    • If you have any of the preferred qualifications listed in the posting, make sure to include it in your resume as it will help you get the furthest in the hiring process.
  • Additional Requirements
    • All requirements needed beyond the minimum qualifications will be listed in this section, such as a background check, reference check, education verification, etc.
    • Minnesota IT Services will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including F-1 STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
  • How to Apply
    • The first part of this section lists contacts if you have questions.
      • For assistance with your applicant account, how to apply, or general application process questions you can contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us.
      • For specific questions about the job posting reach out to the human resources contact listed.
    • Connect 700 Program: This section will instruct you where to send your Connect 700 certificate if the position is eligible for the program.
    • Veterans: Individuals who qualify as a Recently Separated Veteran or Certain Disabled Veterans need to follow the instructions and email the required documents in before the posting closing date.
    • Current State Employees may be eligible to bid for positions and the details will be listed here.
  • About Minnesota IT Services: This is additional information about our agency.
  • Diverse Workforce: Information about our diverse workforce of the State of Minnesota.
  • Comprehensive Benefits: This is a summary of what your benefits may include.
  • An Equal Opportunity Employer – This provides reasonable accommodation contact information for the application process.

Find a position that interests you that you feel you meet the minimum qualifications for. Log In or create your applicant account and apply. Follow the detailed step by step instructions for how to use the job application website to submit your application.

Human Resources reviews resumes after the job posting closes to determine which applicants meet the minimum qualifications. You will be updated via email throughout the process. For the applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, we then consider candidates in a specified order determined by Minnesota State Statutes and the bargaining unit contract. Here’s a sample of considerations when filling vacancies:

• 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.
• Bidders: A bid is a way for employees to express interest in a job that's in the same class and option as their current job to be considered before all applicants are considered.
• Claims: Employees in the same job classification facing layoff may request to claim a new position.
• Layoff Lists: If an employee has been laid off, they are considered for new vacancies.
• Workers Compensation: If an employee has been injured and cannot return to their current job, they may be reassigned to a new position.
• Connect 700 Program: Connect 700 allows eligible individuals with disabilities the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to perform a specific position for up to 700 hours on the job.
• Recently Separated Veterans/Veteran’s Preference: If Veterans qualify under these considerations they may be given special considerations.
• Competitive Candidate List: All candidates who have shown how they meet the minimum qualifications in their application/resume/cover letter who were not considered for one of the other conditions listed above.

If you’re selected for an interview, you’ll be contact via email by the hiring manager to schedule an interview time. Many interviews are being held virtually through Microsoft Teams or you’ll be invited to the office in person. You will be asked a variety of questions. The more detailed you are and provide real-life examples that are relevant to the job you’re interviewing for is best. View more interviewing tips here.

You will be contacted to complete the following:

• You will authorize the background check which may include scheduling an appointment for fingerprinting.
• Our reference checks are completed online where you enter 5-6 reference’s contact information. The reference will receive an email and be prompted to complete the online reference check in a timely manner.
• If you are current or former State of Minnesota, a personnel file review will be conducted.
• Some bargaining unit contracts allow vacation accrual credit for prior work experience. We’ll walk you through this process.
• You’ll receive a compensation offer and determine a start date.

• Keep applying! Apply for as many state positions you’re interested in that you feel you qualify for. You are only considered for the positions you directly apply for.
• Be patient. You should have a status update within a couple of weeks of the posting closing if not sooner.
• Check your application Status.
  • On the Minnesota Careers homepage, sign into your account then select My Job Applications. Your job applications will display. Go to the Application Status column to view the status.
• Sign up for email alerts! You can create a Job Search Agent which will send alerts to your email address when new jobs that match your search criteria are posted. You can create up to five Job Search Agents and they remain active for six months. Follow these instructions:
  • Go to http://www.mn.gov/careers
    • Non-State Employees: Select the Search open positions button.
    • Assistive Technology Users: Select the Accessible Applicant Portal.
    • Current State Employees: Access Careers in Employee Self Service.
  • At the Minnesota Careers page select View All Jobs.
  • Filter the search criteria for the Job Search Agent you want to create. We recommend setting up two searches:
    • Search #1: All job postings for Minnesota IT Services.
      • Filter Agency by “Minnesota IT Services”. This will send emails for all new job postings for our agency the same day they are posted.
      • Select Save Search.
      • Enter a name for your Job Search Agent in the Search Name
      • Select the box for Email me when new jobs meet my criteria.
      • The email address associated with your account will populate the Email To
      • Select the Save
      • Clear search filters before setting up the second search.
    • Search #2: All IT positions within any state agency.
      • Filter Job Family by “Information Technology Careers”. This will send emails for all new job postings for information technology positions the same day they are posted.
      • Select Save Search.
      • Enter a name for your Job Search Agent in the Search Name
      • Select the box for Email me when new jobs meet my criteria.
      • The email address associated with your account will populate the Email To
      • Select the Save
• Sign up for our Hot Jobs email newsletter to stay informed of new opportunities and get helpful information from us to aid you with your search.
  • Emails: Select here to sign up for emails.
  • Texts: Text MNIT CAREERS to MNGOV (66468) to receive the newsletter link via text.