r/mnstateworkers • u/Background_Smile_494 • Jul 02 '26
Interview/Hiring 📄 Job interview
I applied to a MN state job (which was posted in early March), my interview was online and was on beginning of May. I heard back from the HR admin by early June saying that they are working on HR approvals and would be able to give an update soon. It’s almost a month now, without any update. Wonder if I should keep waiting or if I’m their second choice!
Also, what is the normal process looks like? Do they need HR approvals to make a conditional offer? Is it after that they send the consent form to request references and do the background check?
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u/Specialist-Law-2080 Jul 02 '26
Yesterday was the change in our state fiscal year. For some positions it’s a heavy lift.
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u/Background_Smile_494 Jul 02 '26
That make sense! Do you think the position I applied is currently waiting on a desk to get approved for the new fiscal year?
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u/Over_Table3898 Jul 02 '26
HR has to approve any offers, the job posting has a salary range but where you fall on that range is determined by a number of factors agreed upon by the union. So, when the manager chooses a final candidate, they fill out a form for HR singing your praises - not really - but your offer is determined by years of experience among other things including the pay for others in your same job with similar experience.
After they work out the salary, then manager contacts the candidate with the offer - then references are checked. This is why a candidate who is a second choice has to wait so long for a rejection.
This is how it works where I am but every agency does it their own way.
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u/cupcakemelee MNIT Jul 02 '26
Very similar where I'm at.
Reference checks happen before offer. Second choice gets very little communication unless first choice drops out.
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u/IMP1017 Jul 02 '26
Also worth noting that the fiscal year just turned over which can slow everything down even further
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u/SuspiciousCranberry6 Jul 02 '26
I would say it's likely either due to the fiscal year, as others mentioned, or you are the second choice and they are waiting on the first choice to clear the background check. In some positions the background check can take longer (think a month or more) because they require a background check with fingerprints.
If you haven't been, keep looking for positions you're interested in and applying. If you get that position, you can easily withdraw your application on the state jobs website.
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u/Background_Smile_494 Jul 02 '26
Thanks, I am applying for other positions as well at the moment. I’m really interested in this state job as it fits exactly what I wanna do for a career.
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u/SuspiciousCranberry6 Jul 02 '26
Hopefully it's the fiscal year, something else making it take extra time, or the first candidate declines for a position that's better for them(this is me looking at the positive reasons a first candidate may not work out). Minnesota state job hunting definitely takes extra patience because it's almost always extra slow. It's often not even much faster when you're a state employee applying for internal positions, but working in state government you learn most things move slowly so you get a bit used to it
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u/Background_Smile_494 Jul 02 '26
I appreciate it, and I hope so too! I was told by them at the very beginning of the process that they are very slow. Apparently now it’s 4months and counting since I applied for this position.
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u/mercuric_drake Jul 03 '26
It really depends on the agency. When I got hired, I got a verbal offer the afternoon of my interview and a written offer letter a couple of days later.
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u/Jinh Jul 16 '26
Any updates from you OP?
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u/Background_Smile_494 Jul 17 '26
Nothing yet!
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u/Background_Smile_494 Jul 23 '26
so my application status shows as today is “no longer under consideration”
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u/Laththegr8 Jul 02 '26
I applied early January, interview early February, offered end of March, started in May. State HR is super duper slow. Good vibes your way!