Introduction
Position Highlights:
- Full-time, 40 hours per week
- First (1st) shift
- Monday - Friday
- 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Wethersfield, CT
Please Note:
Incumbents may be required to travel to the Department of Labor’s Wethersfield location for operational needs and training.
What’s In It For You:
- Work at a Forbes-recognized company! Connecticut is proud to be featured on both America's Best Employers by State and Best Employers for New Grads in 2024. With our dynamic job market and commitment to fostering a thriving workforce, Connecticut stands out as a top destination for both seasoned professionals and fresh graduates seeking to launch their careers.
- Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
- A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
- State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
Discover the opportunity to:
- Engage in a rewarding career
- Assist our employees so they can achieve success
- Make a difference in the public sector
- Work together in a collaborative team environment
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Department of Labor this class is accountable for providing client services in the areas of unemployment insurance, assessment of clients needs, placement of workers and employer services; in a Central Unit this class is accountable for performing basic technical tasks in the following functional areas: claims examination, benefit payment control and merit rating.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
CENTRAL UNIT:
- Performs basic technical
tasks within operational support functional areas of claims examination,
benefit payment control and merit rating;
- Reviews employer protest
to unemployment insurance benefit charges, researches issues and makes
initial charge/non-charge decisions;
- Audits and recalculates
employer tax rates based on protest determinations;
- Participates in
compilation and dissemination of quarterly and annual employer accounts
statements;
- Conducts fraud audits by
reviewing quarterly cross match reports and automated files;
- Obtains information
needed to verify overpayments;
- Calculates
overpayment(s) amounts including penalties;
- Reviews, analyzes and
corrects claims under a variety of special programs including military,
federal, out of state or multistate claims and claims involving reduced hours,
pensions, child support or shared work;
- Obtains and verifies
data;
- Applies federal and/or
state laws and guidelines to make monetary determinations and other disposition
of claims;
- Reviews and processes
special program claim appeals;
- Corresponds with
employers, claimants and their representatives on variety of matters;
- Provides technical
support to local offices in pertinent areas;
- Creates, updates and
maintains case management files;
- Maintains records and
prepares reports;
- May collect overpayments
as assigned;
- Performs related duties
as required.
FIELD UNIT:
- Serves as a front-line
service provider for all services necessary for determination of monetary
eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits;
- Reviews benefit
application and secures additional data needed;
- Analyzes work history to
determine appropriate benefit program;
- Assesses need for
non-monetary hearing based on reason for separation or any barriers to
employability;
- Makes appropriate
adjustments to system wage file or refers to a field auditor as needed;
- Processes adjustments to
claims, investigates and resolves held claims and exceptions;
- Provides information,
referral, assessment, eligibility determinations and certification for all job service and employment and training programs;
- Determines barriers to
employment;
- Assesses needs and
refers client to employment counseling, training, employment planning or other
support services;
- Develops job
opportunities for clients whose skills do not match current listings;
- Periodically assesses
continuing eligibility;
- Assists in developing
work search plan;
- Customizes and conducts
job search and vocational exploration workshops;
- Works with employers to
seek, place and follow up on workers with appropriate skills;
- Provides services,
including outreach services, to specialized client groups as assigned;
- Provides and explains
information on programs, procedures, policies, laws and regulations to clients,
employers and others as appropriate;
- May assist in training
new or lower-level staff;
- Performs related duties
as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
-
Knowledge of
- job service, unemployment insurance and employment
and training laws, regulations, policies and procedures;
- interviewing techniques and principles;
-
Skills
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- analytical skills;
-
Ability to
- make decisions;
- establish cooperative relationships with staff,
employers, diverse client population and the public;
- use automated systems;
- maintain good public relations;
- understand, apply and explain relevant laws,
regulations, policies, programs and procedures;
- create and maintain case management records.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Five (5) years of technical level experience in counseling, employment placement, veterans employment and training support services, public contact work, human service programs, community action programs, job service, unemployment insurance or employment and training functions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
- College training may be substituted
for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) hours equalling one-half
(1/2) year of experience to a maximum four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
- For state employees two
(2) years of experience as a Social Services Trainee with the target class of
Labor Department Community Services Representative may be substituted for the
General Experience.
- For state employees two
(2) years of experience as an Employment Security Intermittent Interviewer may
be substituted for the General Experience.
- Successful completion of
a Connecticut Careers Trainee program approved by the Department of
Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with computers, especially with Microsoft products – Word, Outlook, Excel, and Teams.
- Bi-lingual in both English and Spanish so to understand and converse with Spanish speaking individuals.
- Verbal and written bi-lingual communications skills in both English and Spanish.
- Experience receiving and making customer service calls and troubleshooting skills.
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class assigned to veterans program positions will be required to meet the qualifications set forth in Title 38, i.e. must be veterans, preferably disabled veterans, or other qualified, eligible persons. Any employee who bumps a Labor Department Community Service Representative in a veterans program position must meet the eligibility requirements under Title 38.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196
of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of
positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single
title for administrative purposes. As
such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or
responsibility.