FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do I apply for a state job? What is a job
bulletin?
2. What is the "register"?
3. May I apply online? Can I e-mail my resume to the Bureau of Human
Resources?
4. Do I have to submit an application form for every position
for which I apply? Can't I just write down several announcement numbers
on one application?
5. What paperwork do I need to complete when applying for a position
with the state?
6. Please define what the closing date on a job bulletin means.
7. I want to apply for a job, but the city I want is not listed. Can
I still apply for the city I want?
8. I am a current state employee and want to apply for a promotional
opportunity. Do I need to send in a state application for employment?
9. Will I have to take an examination after I apply?
10. I have applied. What happens now?
11. What do my results mean in the examination results letter?
12. Why does my rank change almost daily?
13. I have received my score, what happens next?
14. I live out-of-state; can I apply? How do I interview?
15. What are Veteran’s Preference points?
16. What does "re-hire" mean?
17. How do I transfer or demote?
18. What benefits do state employees have?
19. I have reached my register end date. What happens now?
1. How do I apply for a state job?
What is a job bulletin?
A job bulletin is an announcement that lists a job
for which the State of Maine is currently recruiting. Job announcements
will tell you the title of the job, the time period during which applications
will be accepted (open/close date), the agency(s) and city(s) where
the job is located, pay, duties and what type of examination (if any)
you will take to qualify for the job and be on the register of qualified
applicants. The announcement will tell you how and where to apply
and will list the requirements of the job. You may apply for
a State of Maine job when there is a current job announcement.
2. What is the "register"?
A register is a list of applicants qualified for the
job(s) for which they have applied. They have completed testing and
are placed on a list, ready to be referred to agencies for job interviews.
When state agencies have openings, they call the Bureau of Human Resources
to request a Certification of Eligibles. Once an agency receives a
Certification of Eligibles, they may begin the interview process. If
your score places you within the top 6 scores on the register, you
may be called for an interview. Be sure to keep your telephone number
and address current with the Bureau of Human Resources. Your name will
remain on the register until your score expires. You will receive a
letter indicating both your examination results and the expiration
date of your score.
3. May I apply online? Can I e-mail
my resume to the Bureau of Human Resources?
The processes for accepting online and e-mail applications
are being developed. You are welcome to apply for a specific job using
the State of Maine Employment Application and include your resume,
but please do not send only a resume. Each job bulletin contains instructions
on how to apply.
4. Do I have to submit an application
form for every position for which I apply? Can't I just write
down several announcement numbers on one application?
Most positions require a State of Maine Employment
Application and any additional information as requested on the job
bulletin. You are welcome to complete the Employment Application just
once and make copies of it--changing the job class title and code.
We do need an original signature.
5. What paperwork do I need to complete
when applying for a position with the state?
This depends upon the position. Most positions/bulletins
require a State of Maine Employment Application. Instructions on each
bulletin will tell you what paperwork or information is needed. This
could include any of the following: answering questions listed on the
back of the bulletin, college transcripts, resumes, checklists, or
other information.
6. Please define the closing date on a job
bulletin.
The closing date found on any given job bulletin is
the date by which all application materials (envelopes, resume, copies
of transcripts, supplemental forms, application form, etc) must be
postmarked to the Bureau of Human Resources.
7. I want to apply for a job, but the city
I want is not listed. Can I still apply for the city I want?
Some announcements will show that positions are located
only in certain cities. If there is no restriction on the location
of the positions, you may apply and indicate the cities where you would
be willing to consider employment. Please note that not all positions
are located in every city.
8. I am a state employee and want to
apply for a promotional opportunity. Do I need to send
in a state application for employment?
Yes, please submit a State of Maine Employment Application.
9. Will I have to take an examination
after I apply?
In many cases, the questions you answered on the back
of the bulletin were the examination. However, some jobs require a
multiple-choice written examination. If additional testing is required,
you will be notified by letter. The examination process is described
on each bulletin.
10. I have applied. What happens
now?
Once the job announcement has closed, all applications
received for that position will be reviewed by Subject Matter Experts.
Usually within two weeks after the closing date, you will be notified
by mail of your score, an examination date or the need for additional
information. The letter you receive will tell you the status of your
application. For those positions with an 'until canceled' closing date,
it takes roughly two weeks to review and assign a score after we receive
your application.
11. What do my results mean in the
examination results letter?
The examination result letters notifies applicants
if they passed or failed an examination, what their passing score is,
and their expiration date on the register.
12. Why does my rank change almost
daily?
An applicant’s rank on the register can change
almost on a daily basis. As new applicants are added to the register,
your placement could go down (if their score is higher than yours is). Your
rank can also go up as applicants come off a register. This can
occur for several reasons: scores have expired, applicants have obtained
other jobs and asked to be removed, or applicants did not respond to
letters sent by an agency or the Bureau of Human Resources. Depending
on the position, names can be added and deleted daily.
13. I have received my score, what
happens next?
If there is a current job opening for this position,
a Certification of Eligibles is created and sent to the agency with
the vacancy. If some of the applicants in the top six decline the interview
opportunity, are no longer available, are unable to be contacted, etc.,
the agency can go to the next name(s) on the register. If there is
no current opening for this position, (the bulletin is open for continuous
recruitment for future job openings) the applicants are placed
on the register and are available when there are job openings.
14. I live out-of-state; can I apply?
How do I interview?
The Bureau of Human Resources accepts applications
from anyone no matter what their location. The State of Maine Employment
Application and job bulletins can be printed from our Internet site,
or we can mail or fax them to you. This information is also available
at any Maine Career Center Office. We accept applications by personal
delivery, drop-off box, or mail. Job interviews are arranged by the
state agency that is hiring the applicant. You are welcome to inquire
about telephone interviews with the hiring agency should you be called
for an interview.
15. What are Veteran’s Preference
points?
Go to the Veterans Preference page.
16. What does "re-hire" mean?
Re-hire means the re-employment of a former classified
employee to a class in which he or she held a permanent status. Former
classified state employees: If a state employee quits or their employment
from state service is terminated, without prejudice, for any reason,
they may be eligible for re-employment into a job classification which
they held as a state employee. The length of re-hire eligibility is
3 years. Re-employment forms must be approved by the last employer
and submitted to the Bureau of Human Resources.
17. How do I transfer or demote?
A current classified state employee may be eligible
to transfer or demote into any job classification of equal or lower
pay grade if they meet the minimum qualifications of that job classification.
A Transfer/Demotion request should be completed and submitted to the
Bureau of Human Resources.
18. What benefits do state employees
have?
Go to the Employee Benefits page.
19. I have reached my register end date. What
happens now?
Once a score has expired, you must re-apply for the classification.
(See Question 1)
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