How to Apply for a County Job and Prepare for a Job Interview with Montgomery County

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How to Apply for a County Job and Prepare for a
Job Interview with Montgomery County
WE WANT YOU!

• Presenter Joe Adler, Director
• Montgomery County Office of Human Resources
• Job Search Workshop and Information Fair
• Sponsored by Congressman Chris Van Hollen and
  Councilmember Nancy Floreen
• November 14, 2009

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Objective of this presentation

• Information will help you understand the process
  of applying for a position or a promotion with
  Montgomery County, including
• Your application for a county position
• Application process, job application materials,
  and rating process for your online application
• Preparation for your job interview

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Presentation Topics

• Career Paths
• Job Postings
• Application Process/Preparing a resume
• Resume Tips
• Preferred Criteria
• Applying on line
• Rating/Selection Process
• Interviews
• Staying Informed
• Job Offers

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Career Paths with Montgomery County

• Clerical/Administrative
• General Professional
• Health Care/Social Services
• Information Technology
• Managerial/Executive
• Public Safety
• Trades/Labor

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Types of County Job Postings

• Open Continuously
• open throughout the
• year
• no closing date
• numerous vacancies
• Open Until Filled
• no closing date
• hard to fill positions
• here today/gone tomorrow

• Closing Date
• applicants must apply by midnight of advertised
  closing date
• minimum posting of two week
• Deadline requirement job posting is the most
  common type of job announcement

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Application Submission Process

• Montgomery County uses on-line recruitment
  process with three application submission options
• Resume Builder to create your resume
• Upload your existing resume/cover letter
• Cut/paste your resume/cover letter
• After you save and submit your resume, you may
  reuse your resume for future job applications
• You can make changes to your online resume/
  application information up to the closing date.
• No additional information is accepted after the
  job position closing date

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Resumes should include -

• Name, address, contact phone numbers and an
  e-mail address
• Objective a brief statement describing your
  desired position or highlight your abilities
• Education level
• number of credit hours earned if no degree was
  earned
• name of the institution and number of years
  attended

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Resumes should include -

• Work History
• Title of position held
• Month and year started and ended position
• List of duties and responsibilities associated
  with each position on the resume
• Positions listed in reverse chronological order
• Trainings, Licensure, Certifications,
  Multilingual level

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Sample Resume

• Interested Applicant
• 1234 Montgomery Road
• Rockville, 20850
• Cell 301-123-1234 Home 301-567-5678
• iapplicant_at_yahoo.com
• Objective to obtain a position using my skills
  in training and recruitment
• Education
• University of Maryland 29 credits
• Graduate studies Reading Secondary Ed 09/93
  05/96
• American University BA
• English Secondary Ed 09/88 05/91

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Sample Resume contd

• Work History
• Human Resources Specialist 12/03 Present
• Office of Human Resources Part-time (25
  hrs/wk)
• Conduct recruitments for assigned departments
• Prepare advertisements, job postings and
  advertising strategies
• Provide technical guidance with regard to
  employment laws, Personnel Regulations and best
  practices to department contacts
• Conduct New Employee Orientation as part of a
  team
• Administer entire promotional examination process
  for public safety departments
• Certifications Professional in Human Resources,
  since 2005

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Resume Tips

• Review minimum qualifications for each position
  you apply for
• Most jobs require a minimum amount of experience.
  To receive proper credit for your experience you
  must specify the beginning and ending month and
  year of each employer. Without this information,
  we may not have sufficient information to
  accurately credit your work experience
• To receive appropriate credit for part time work
  and for volunteer work, include the number of
  hours worked and the dates of employment and/or
  volunteer service

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Resume Tips contd

• Job Recruiters cannot make assumptions about your
  application such as your resume and other
  information. If work experience, professional
  licensure or other work related information is
  not listed, job recruiters will determine that
  the candidate does not have the work experience,
  license or work skills
• Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!! Pay attention
  to typos, grammar errors and ensure information
  is accurate
• Review the job announcement/job requirements and
  highlight your experience that is relevant to the
  position you are applying for
• Customize your resume. Using the same resume for
  different jobs may save time, but can cost you
  the opportunity to be competitive for the position

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Application Process contd On Line
Application Submission

• For every position you are interested in, you
  must submit an online application for each job
  posting
• Your resume and cover letter (optional) should be
  in the same document to be successfully uploaded
• There is a 90 minute time limit when you use the
  County online application system. After 90
  minutes you will time out from the online
  application and you will need to start over.
  Remember to save your information in your files
  for future reference or to cut and past your
  information into the online application.

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Create an Account

• First time users of the County online application
  system will be asked to create an account.
• Go to http//www.montgomerycountymd.gov
• Click on Careers
• Click on Current Job Opportunities
• Click on Sign In to create an account or to
  access application status, saved documents or job
  search agents

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Create an Account Page 1
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Job Application Steps

• To Create your personal account
• Enter your personal information on page 1
• You can update any changes in your personal
  information here if you have previously created
  an account

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Your personal account with the Department of
Human Resources
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After you create your personal account

• Select a position you want to apply for
• When you prepare your application information,
  remember to
• Tailor your resume for the position
• Document that you fulfill the minimum
  qualifications required for the job position
• Document that fulfill the preferred criteria
  required for the job position.
• Check that you provided all information requested
  in the application documents
• Click on Apply Now

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Stages of Applying Page 2
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Preferred Criteria KSA

• KSAs are the job related knowledge, skills and
  abilities above and beyond the minimum
  qualifications that a hiring manager is seeking
• KSAs are specific to each position
• You have an opportunity to demonstrate your level
  of competency in each of the KSA areas by the
  thoroughness of your answer
• The highest rated candidates will possess
  education, training and experience in those areas

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Address the Preferred Criteria stated for the
position you apply for

• Be concise- dont confuse describing your
  employment accomplishments with creating an
  autobiography
• Describe the context in which KSA was addressed
• Describe the factors that contributed to the
  challenge of a particular KSA
• Describe the actions you took when answering the
  KSA
• Describe the results of your actions-
• Use numbers to highlight accomplishments when
  possible

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Stages of Applying Page 3REMEMBER Document
the Preferred Criteria carefully!
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Stages of Applying Page 3 - contd

• Choose a method to include your resume
• Use Resume Builder Candidate enters answers to
  questions in blocks provided
• Upload existing Resume and Cover letter
• Cover letter is optional
• Resume and Cover letter MUST be in the same
  document for successful upload
• Type or Paste Resume and Cover letter Resume
  can be pasted from an already open document

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Stages of Applying Page 4

• Preview your resume submission
• Be sure your contact information is correct
• Look for typos/spelling errors and fix them
• Your online application will be the first time
  your introduce yourself to a hiring manager
• ? Make it look good!

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Stages of Applying Page 5

• Equal Employment Opportunity EEO Data is
  requested on this page
• Information requested for EEO Data is optional

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Stages of Applying Last Page
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Stages of Applying Last Page contd
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Note This is not a confirmation - contd
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Confirmation E-Mail

• Dear Ms. Interested Applicant
• Thank you for your interest in employment with
  Montgomery County. You should print and retain
• a copy of this notice as confirmation that your
  resume was received.
• You can check the status of your application at
  any time by logging in to your account or by
  contacting the Montgomery County Office of Human
  Resources at [phone]. Further contact
  regarding your application will only be made if
  you are scheduled for an exam or an interview.
• Your application materials will be reviewed to
  assess the extent of your qualifications relevant
  to the position for which you applied. If you
  are selected as one of the most qualified
  candidates, the hiring department will contact
  you directly to schedule an interview. If you
  applied for a position designated for Montgomery
  County Employees Only and you are not an employee
  or if your resume was submitted after an
  announced closing date, you will not be
  considered for the position.
• If you are not selected for an interview, please
  consider Montgomery County Government for future
  career opportunities. Our employment needs are
  constantly changing, so we encourage you to visit
  our website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov.
• It is the policy and practice of Montgomery
  County to select new employees and to promote
  current employees based on qualifications only,
  without regard to race, religion, color, national
  origin, gender, ethnicity, marital status, age,
  sexual orientation, or disability. Each
  applicant appointed to a merit system position
  must meet all the requirements of that position.
  Such requirements may include successful
  completion of an oral or written examination, a
  medical examination, and confidential
  investigations, including the submission of
  certain documents.

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RECAP Resume and Preferred Criteria Tips

• Pay attention to KEYWORDS
• Think about what words you want to highlight
• Review the job description and find the words
  that are frequently mentioned
• Look for buzzwords
• Support what you write
• Dont just cut and paste - quantify your own
  experience
• Do not plan to use the job interview to address
  the preferred criteria. Your application should
  do this. If you did not address the preferred
  criteria on your application, you may not have an
  interview opportunity.
• You may be the most qualified applicant, but
  unless you tell us what youve done, no one else
  will know
• Print a copy of the confirmation e-mail
• ? It is your receipt for your
  application submission!

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Job Application RECAP

• Make sure you review advertisement to confirm
• Closing date
• Minimum qualifications
• Preferred criteria
• Special licensing requirements
• Language requirements
• Testing requirements
• Background investigations
• Medical protocol
• Candidates in the well-qualified category will be
  eligible for an interview
• REMEMBER- Resumes are reviewed based on the
  minimum qualifications and preferred criteria for
  the job position

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Questions

• About the
• Resume submission?
• Preferred criteria?
• How to create an account?
• What to keep?

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After you submit your application The Rating
Process

• Positions that have a written test as part of the
  selection process will not have preferred
  criteria
• Candidate resumes that meet the minimum
  qualifications will be forwarded to subject
  matter experts for a review of the preferred
  criteria
• Based on the resume review or examination
  process, applicants may be placed in the rating
  category of Well-Qualified or Qualified
• Typically, only candidates in the Well-Qualified
  category will be eligible for an interview

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Tips after you submit your application

• Prepare for the interview
• Print a copy of job description to know which
  jobs you might be called for an interview (sample
  attached)
• Learn about the job you applied for
• Print the classification specification from
  http//www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/ohr/Reso
  urceLibrary/ClassIndex.cfm
• Ask questions of people who work in that type of
  job

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Job Interview

• Usually, only the highest rated candidates are
  eligible for an interview
• Hiring Managers are not obligated to interview
  every candidate in the highest rating category
• Hiring Managers should utilize job related
  criteria to determine which candidates to
  interview
• Interview questions should be job related
• Information that is not job related should not be
  discussed or disclosed
• Notify the EEO office if inappropriate questions
  are asked

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Job Interview Questions

• Ask yourself questions that might be asked in an
  interview setting
• Even if they arent the questions the hiring
  manager will ask, being prepared to answer
  questions under the pressure of an interview is
  important
• What type of questions might be asked?

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Job Interview QuestionsSource The 150 Typical
Job Interview Questionshttp//www.quintcareers.co
m/interview_question_database/interview_questions.
html

• Fifty Six Sample interview questions to help
  prepare for a job interview.
• How would you describe yourself?
• What specific goals have you established for your
  career?
• What will it take to attain your goals, and what
  steps have you taken toward attaining them?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in
  this career?
• How do you determine or evaluate success? Give me
  an example of one of your successful
  accomplishments.
• What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
  
• Are you more energized by working with data or by
  collaborating with other individuals?
• How would you describe yourself in terms of your
  ability to work as a member of a team?
• What motivates you to put forth your greatest
  effort?
• Would you describe yourself as goal-driven?
• Describe what you've accomplished toward reaching
  a recent goal for yourself.
• What short-term goals and objectives have you
  established for yourself?
• Can you describe your long-range goals and
  objectives?

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Job Interview Questions contd

• 14. How would you evaluate your ability to deal
  with conflict?
• 15. Have you ever had difficulty with a
  supervisor or instructor? How did you resolve the
  conflict?
• 16. Tell me about a major problem you recently
  handled. Were you successful in resolving it?
• 17. Would you say that you can easily deal with
  high-pressure situations?
• 18. What quality or attribute do you feel will
  most contribute to your career success?
• 19. What personal weakness has caused you the
  greatest difficulty on the job?
• 20. Describe the characteristics of a successful
  manager.
• 21. What are the most important rewards you
  expect to gain from your career?
• 22. How would you define "success" for someone in
  your chosen career?
• 23. What qualifications do you have that will
  make you successful in this department?
• 24. What skills have you acquired from your work
  experience?
• 25. What have you learned from your experiences
  outside the workplace?
• 26. If you were hiring for this position, what
  qualities would you look for?
• 27. How would you describe your leadership
  skills?

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Job Interview Questions contd

• 28. Which is more important creativity or
  efficiency? Why?
• 29. What have you accomplished that shows your
  initiative and willingness to work?
• 30. What was the toughest challenge you've ever
  faced?
• 31. What two or three things are most important
  to you in your job?
• 32. Some people work best as part of a group --
  others prefer the role of individual
• contributor. How would you describe
  yourself?
• 33. When given an important assignment, how do
  you approach it?
• 34. If there were one area you've always wanted
  to improve upon, what would that
• be?
• 35. When you have been made aware of, or have
  discovered for yourself, a problem
• in your work performance, what was your
  course of action?
• 36. What kinds of things have you done on the job
  that were beyond expectations?
• 37. What, in your opinion, are the key
  ingredients in guiding and maintaining
• successful business relationships?
• 38. Describe a situation in which you were able
  to use persuasion to successfully
• convince someone to see things your way?

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Job Interview Questions -- contd

• 39. Describe an instance when you had to think on
  your feet to extricate yourself from a difficult
  situation. Give me a specific example of a time
  when you used good judgment and logic in solving
  a problem.
• 40. By providing examples, convince me that you
  can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations
  and environments.
• 41. Describe a time when you were faced with
  problems or stresses that tested your coping
  skills.
• 42. Give an example of a time in which you had to
  be relatively quick in coming to a decision.
• 43. Describe a time when you had to use your
  written communication skills to get an important
  point across.
• 44. Give me a specific occasion in which you
  conformed to a policy with which you did not
  agree.
• 45. Give me an example of an important goal which
  you had set in the past and tell me about your
  success in reaching it.
• 46. Describe the most significant or creative
  presentation that you have had to complete.
• 47. Tell me about a time when you had to go above
  and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job
  done.

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Job Interview Questions contd

• 48. Give me an example of a time when you were
  able to successfully communicate with another
  person even when that individual may not have
  personally liked you (or vice versa).
• 49. Sometimes it's easy to get in "over your
  head." Describe a situation where you had to
  request help or assistance on a project or
  assignment.
• 50. Give an example of how you applied knowledge
  from a previous position to a project in another
  position.
• 51. Describe a situation where others you were
  working with on a project disagreed with your
  ideas. What did you do?
• 52. Describe a situation in which you found that
  your results were not up to your supervisor's
  expectations. What happened? What action did you
  take?
• 53. Tell of a time when you worked with a
  colleague who was not completing his or her share
  of the work. Who, if anyone, did you tell or talk
  to about it? Did the manager take any steps to
  correct your colleague? Did you agree or disagree
  with the manager's actions?
• 54. Describe a situation in which you had to
  arrive at a compromise or guide others to a
  compromise.
• 55. What steps do you follow to study a problem
  before making a decision?

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Job Interview Questions contd

• 56. We can sometimes identify a small problem and
  fix it before it becomes a major problem. Give an
  example(s) of how you have done this.
• In a supervisory or group leader role, have you
  ever had to discipline or counsel an employee or
  group member? What was the nature of the
  discipline? What steps did you take? How did that
  make you feel? How did you prepare yourself?
• Recall a time from your work experience when your
  manager or supervisor was unavailable and a
  problem arose. What was the nature of the
  problem? How did you handle that situation? How
  did that make you feel?
• Recall a time when you were assigned what you
  considered to be a complex project. Specifically,
  what steps did you take to prepare for and finish
  the project? Were you happy with the outcome?
  What one step would you have done differently if
  given the chance?
• What was the most complex assignment you have
  had? What was your role?
• Tell of some situations in which you have had to
  adjust quickly to changes over which you had no
  control. What was the impact of the change on
  you?
• Compare and contrast the times when you did work
  which was above the standard with times your work
  was below the standard.
• Describe some times when you were not very
  satisfied or pleased with your performance. What
  did you do about it?

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Job Interview Tips

• From http//jobsearch.about.com/cs/interviews/a/
  jobinterviewtip.htm
• Get Ready
• Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy
  and appropriate for the interview. Include a pen
  and paper for note taking.

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Job Interview Tips contd

• Be On time
• Be on time for the interview. On time means five
  to ten minutes early.
• If needed, take some time to drive to the office
  ahead of time so you know exactly where you are
  going and how long it will take to get to the
  interview location.

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Job Interview Tips contd

• Stay Calm
• During the job interview try to relax and stay as
  calm possible
• Take a moment to regroup. Maintain eye contact
  with the interviewer
• Listen to the entire question before you answer
  and pay attention - you will be embarrassed if
  you forget the question!

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Job Interview Tips contd

• Be prepared with questions to ask the hiring
  manager
• What is the work schedule?
• What is the work location?
• What are the expectations for this position?
• Any other questions that may be appropriate for
  the job interview session.

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For Internal Department Candidates Dos Don'ts

• Do not assume your department or division know
  about your accomplishments
• Write them on your resume
• State your accomplishments during your interview
• Demonstrate expertise
• Dont get too casual if you know members of your
  interview panel
• Keep it professional - You are still competing
  for a job

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STAY INFORMED

• After submitting an application, applicants will
  be notified via email that their application
  materials have been received
• You should keep a copy of the email confirmation
• Throughout the process you will be notified via
  email about any change of status in your
  application
• In the event of questions, call the Office of
  Human Resources at 240-777-5000 to speak with the
  HR Specialist handling the job vacancy and your
  application

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Job Offers for Job Positions

• The Office of Human Resources Specialist will
  make a formal job offer to the applicant
  contingent upon medical clearance, background
  investigation, multilingual examination, and
  licensure/education verification (depending on
  the requirements of the position)
• There may be different medical and background
  process for different positions

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OHR Contact Information

• County job posting website www.montgomerycountymd.
  gov/careers
• Jobs are posted to the website based on job
  vacancies that occur in county departments
• For information contact Office of Human
  Resources
• [phone], TTY [phone] at 101 Monroe
  Street, 7th Floor, Rockville, Maryland, 20850
• Monday through Friday from 830 am to 500 pm

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Questions Answers

• Montgomery County Government is
• committed to achieve an inclusive
• County workforce
• Join a winning team with Montgomery
• County Government!
• Thank you for participating in todays
• seminar.
• Much success to you in your career!