Career Service Employee Information

The Recruitment and Examination Division posts job announcements, develops tests and generates eligibility lists for all classifications that are unique to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA). Other Transportation Business Units (TBU) test for their own unique or specific job classifications. When more than one business unit utilizes a job classification, the MDOT examination unit posts announcements and recruits.

General Job Information

There are several ways that MDOT SHA employees can find new opportunities:

MDOT Employment Website

To browse current job opportunities, visit the MDOT Online Employment Center. Click ‘Search MDOT Jobs’ to view and/or apply for any of our current opportunities. For helpful tips on ensuring that your online application is accurately completed, see the ‘How to Apply’ section below.

Job Interest Cards

Job Interest Cards provide an opportunity for you to automatically receive notifications of new job openings. To enroll, you will subscribe to job categories of your choice. For the next 12 months, you will receive an email notification each time a position opens with the MDOT category that matches a category that you've chosen. The MDOT Careers page is currently accepting Interest Cards. Please visit the MDOT Online Employment Center or click on Job Interest Cards.

How to Apply

To apply for a job that is currently posted, visit the MDOT Online Employment Center to complete an electronic application.

FYI: MDOT will only accept and review online electronic application submissions.

To apply online:

Register. Click the ‘Sign In’ link on the main page to create a new account or sign into an existing account. You must have a valid email address to register. If you do not have an account, a free one can be acquired from many websites, including www.yahoo.com and www.gmail.com.

Employment Profile. The next step is to complete your online Employment Profile (Personal Information, Education, Training, Experience, etc.). This information will be saved in our Employment Center, so you will not need to enter it each time you apply for a job. It is your responsibility to update your Employment Profile as needed, and you can do so at any time.

Apply. Click on the ‘Job Opportunities’ link to view the jobs for which we are currently accepting applications. You can view the full job announcement/details by clicking on the title of the job. You can apply by clicking ‘Apply!’ If you need technical assistance, email mdotjobs@mdot.maryland.gov or call 410-865-1073. Please note that resumes cannot be submitted through the “email us” link; you can copy and paste your resume in the Online Employment Application. Please remember: We are no longer accepting paper applications. Please do not send resumes, applications, and job-specific correspondence to mdotjobs@mdot.maryland.gov.

IMPORTANT

Due to current operational limitations caused by COVID-19, we are only providing electronic notifications of your application status to the email address provided on the application. We will not send paper notifications, regardless of notification preference listed on the application. It is solely your responsibility to ensure that the email address provided is accurate and the account is reviewed regularly. Timely attention to application notifications is important. Your email provider may have security levels that disrupt our email receipt. We suggest monitoring all email folders, including Spam or Junk, as needed.

Tips for Applying Online

Read the job announcement thoroughly.
Pay attention to details within the job announcement to determine if you are eligible.
Be sure that your personal information (e.g., phone number, address, etc.) is accurate, since this will be how we will contact you.
Be sure that you complete all the sections of the application, including your Educational Record and Work History. Although you can copy and paste your resume into your application, we will not review this if your application is not completed properly.
Be specific and thorough when describing past job experiences. For example, if the experience requirements include two years of supervisory experience, be sure to include specific examples of your duties as a supervisor.
Please see application tips by clicking on https://www.mdot.maryland.gov/OHR/Application_Tips.pdf or going to ‘Menu” (top left corner), then “MDOT Application Tips”.

DTS-1 (Applications)

Applications should be complete and thorough, including a full and detailed description of work history. Occasionally, applicants state their entire work history under one job description; we advise against this. Many of our applicants work in their respective fields for many years. It is difficult to gain a full understanding of their experience through a short, incomplete application. When an applicant gives insufficient information, or we cannot ascertain if minimum qualifications are met, we research and check references in an effort to approve the applicant. This process takes a significant amount of time and could cause an unintentional delay in the approval process. An application could be rejected based on the lack of information. “See Resume” is not sufficient for a completed DTS-1 as well.

Tips for Completing a DTS-1

Be specific and thorough when describing past job experience, especially when reporting supervisory duties.
At this time, photocopies and faxed applications will NOT be accepted; only online electronic applications/submissions will be considered and reviewed.
Be sure that your personal information (e.g., phone number, address, etc.) is accurate, since this will be how we will contact you. Report any changed information (name, address, etc.) to our office as soon as possible.

Vacancies and Eligibility Lists

Does a scheduled examination mean there is a vacant position?

Not necessarily. It is our responsibility to list eligible candidates for each MDOT SHA-specific job classification should the need arise for a candidate. An Eligibility List includes all applicants whose applications have been approved and whose requested exams were taken.
After an exam is completed, the individuals are placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Applicants are placed into these categories based on their test score. Although Best Qualified applicants are interviewed first, those in other categories may receive interviews, as well. Eligibility lists are usually used for one year, at which point they are extended, or a new list is generated. All candidates will be notified by email of their final disposition/results.

Minimum Qualifications

Every Maryland Department of Transportation job classification has a unique set of minimum qualifications. For an application to be approved, the individual must meet these minimum requirements.

Minimum qualifications can be found on job announcements (newspaper, social media, professional sites and college/university boards). In some cases, an applicant can substitute educational requirements, such as a college degree (or other criteria), for years of experience. Also, applicants who will meet minimum qualifications within six months of the closing date of the recruitment will be approved with a pending status (until the minimum requirements are met). It is the applicants’ responsibility to advise our office through email when they have met these requirements.

If your application was rejected because you did not meet the minimum qualifications, you will be notified in writing. You will be given a deadline to respond with any additional information (three-day reconsideration period) you may have about your relevant work history. Your application will then be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications.

What to expect during the interview…

Our interview process is different than what you might expect or read about in preparing for a job interview. The interview will be conducted by a panel of three to five employees — generally a hiring manager, peer, customer, and HR representative. The interview will consist of two parts:

The Informational Section This portion of the interview is informal and will not be used to evaluate your performance. We will begin by telling you a little bit about our office and the position for which you are interviewing, and then ask for any general questions you may have. Please be aware that during panel interviews, each participant will be writing notes from your response/provided answers.
The Test Section, like the application, is structured and scored to ensure a fair and unbiased appraisal of your performance. Generally, panel members take turns reading prepared questions (each candidate is asked the same list of questions). You may be asked “quality” questions regarding your general background, customer service, diversity, and technical skills. The technical questions may be related to coursework, computer skills, school projects or other areas that demonstrate your understanding of basic concepts related to the position. Answer the questions as completely as possible. You will have a copy of the questions in front of you so that you can make sure you answered all parts.

Since the advent of COVID-19, many of our interview processes have changed. You may be asked to join panel members virtually and interviewing using Microsoft Teams.