Applying for a job

How It Works

Thank you for your interest in serving the people of Maryland with in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). Laws and regulations protecting fair hiring practices dictate the staffing process for state agencies. To the novice, they can make the application process seem confusing. Following certain suggested steps will simplify the process and increase your chances of obtaining a career with the Department. The following should give some insight into the process used by DHMH to hire.

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS-

ELIGIBLE LISTS PROCESSES
With over 11,000 employees, there are positions with similar titles that DHMH hires for on a routine and ongoing basis. Rather than the confusion of overlapping recruitments for each position, “lists” of eligible applicants are established and posted to a secure website, accessible only by hiring managers in programs statewide.

Analysts in our Recruitment and Selection Division review and rate candidates. In the majority of situations, the reviews are performed on the information already provided in the application/MS100, requiring no additional effort on the part of applicants. Based on objective factors determined by our health program directors and managers, applicants are rated in a “band scoring” process as Best Qualified, Better Qualified and Qualified.

Once the review is completed and qualifications are demonstrated, the applicant is added to the appropriate list. This is the last step of the process handled by OHR. You must be placed on an eligible list by OHR to be contacted for an interview by a program. Please pay close attention to the posted closing date and submit the requested documents prior to that date to be considered.

Lists are reviewed and interviews are set up by the hiring managers as their resources, time and schedule permit. OHR is not aware of the timeframes, selections or progress beyond this point.

CURRENT RECRUITMENT -
Click here to find a listing of current recruitments for DHMH. These are job openings for which DHMH is currently accepting applications. This category includes all “Open and Continuous”, “Position Specific”, Management Service”, “Special Appointment”, and “Contractual” positions (SEE DEFINITIONS BELOW). If a position is not a Current Recruitment, your application will be returned to you with a notice to that effect. Visit the OHR website often to be updated on current job recruitment announcements as they change weekly!

OPEN AND CONTINUOUS -
Applications for these positions are accepted at any time during the year. The Department hires too many people into these positions to do a one time recruitment for each, so a list of qualified applicants is created that is accessible to hiring managers statewide at any time as need arises. Follow the directions and submit the appropriate documents for consideration. If you are qualified for the position, your name will be added to the list and be made available for interviews.

POSITION SPECIFIC RECRUITMENT -
This is a one time use search for a specific job at one of our facilities, affiliated counties, or the central office. A “position specific” recruitment is done if there is something unique to the job that would require unique experience or availability that wasn’t required to get on an existing generic list.

An example would be if a facility needed a Program Administrator, class code (2941), but needed someone who had at least two years experience doing budget preparation for a facility. In this case it would be time consuming to run through the entire existing list, contacting each applicant to determine if they had the additional qualifications. OHR would use a one time recruitment with the “selective” experience requirement that in addition to the usual minimum requirements and applicant must also demonstrate “two years experience in budget preparation for a facility”.

It is important to realize that if you were on the generic list for a Program Administrator class code (2941) you would need to submit another application for this one time recruitment (as there would be a new list generated). Check the OHR current recruitments section often as job recruitment announcements change weekly!

ANNUAL TEST SCHEDULE -
Positions on the annual testing schedule can be found on the Annual Testing page. When applications for these positions are being accepted, they will appear on the Current Recruitment page. The schedule reflects pre-set windows of opportunity to apply for certain jobs. These opportunities are limited due to the lesser number of positions hired annually from these lists. If there is a classification you are interested in on the schedule, make a note to yourself of its opening date. Applications for these positions will be accepted only for the three week period prior to the closing date listed. Do not submit an application before or after the three week period or it will be returned to you unaccepted. Applicants on these lists remain active for a duration of 1 year from their being added to the list and will be contacted when programs are interviewing.

COMPLETING THE JOB APPLICATION/MS100
Once you have found a position you are interested in, applying for a position from the DHMH Recruitment page is simple. Click on the position link to see a job announcement with detailed information about that position. Print a copy of this announcement for your records. Complete all required areas on a state application/MS100 Click here to get download an MS 100 or call the DHMH Recruitment and Selection Division at 410-767-1251 to have a copy sent by mail, and give information about your job history that relates to list required experience on the announcement, attempt to be as concise as possible.

Please send a photocopy only of any required certificates, DD214’s (showing honorable discharge), transcripts, or licenses if required with your application as they will not be returned to you or forwarded to the hiring authority (TIP! Make sure you save a completed copy of the application/MS 100 on your computer as it can be used for future applications to state positions.)

Submit all the required materials to:
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Recruitment and Selection Division
201 W. Preston Street, Room 114-B
Baltimore, MD 21201

DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT- OFFICE OF PERSONNEL SERVICES AND BENEFITS (OPSB)
OPSB recruits and establishes lists for position classifications that are used statewide (professional fiscal, generic management, Police, cook, etc.) . If you apply for a position announced by OPSB, any state agency that uses that classification may contact you after the list is established. DHMH will on occasion use OPSB created lists for generic positions. Go to the OPSB website. Click here to review recruitment announcements for statewide recruitments and follow the directions outlined.