North Carolina is hiring! Find your perfect job at the state government career expo

This article was written for our sponsor, North Carolina Office of State Human Resources

Looking for a more fulfilling career? You may be in luck. The State of North Carolina will soon host the State of North Carolina Career Expo showcasing jobs available in state government across all 100 counties.

On October 4 at the McKimmon Center, job seekers will have the chance to speak face-to-face with recruiters from statewide agencies and the university and community college system.

"How many times have you heard, ‘Recruiters are so busy, I never get a chance to talk to a recruiter?’" asked Stephanie Miller, Talent Acquisition Manager at the Department of Adult Correction. "This is your opportunity to make a great connection, network, and actually get to speak to the recruiter."

What jobs are available?

State government is one the largest employers in North Carolina, with nearly 74,000 employees working across all one hundred counties.

State government employees work in a diverse field of jobs varying from IT professionals to medical professionals, from law enforcement to maintenance workers and housekeepers.

On average, the State actively recruits for about 1,100 vacancies at any given time. Currently, the highest number of vacancies within state government are in the following areas:

• Medical
• Corrections
• Human services
• Engineering
• Operations and trades
• Human resources

All state government jobs are posted in the State of North Carolina Careers portal, but the State of North Carolina Career Expo will provide a unique opportunity to interact personally with those who are hiring.

"Candidates can see the depth and breadth of jobs we have within state government," said Kristin Siemek, State Talent Acquisition Manager with the Office of State Human Resources. "Recruiters from state agencies, universities and the community college system will be there, and they'll be able to talk about all the opportunities they have across the state."

What happens at the Career Expo?

On October 4, representatives from state agencies and the university and community college systems will participate in the State of North Carolina Career Expo at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh to share information, answer questions, and discuss open positions. Some agencies may conduct on-site interviews and make conditional offers; others will pre-screen candidates on site.

HR staff will be available to assist you in creating an online profile that spotlights your skills and abilities, as well as how to create job alerts and apply for positions of interest. If you are looking for an entry-level or executive role, or anything in-between, they can help you to identify agencies that seek individuals with your experience.

Temporary Solutions, the State’s temporary employment agency, will also be recruiting for temporary workers. Around 6,000 temps are employed in a vast scope of roles across all state agencies. Working as a temp is a great opportunity for learning about an agency before considering permanent employment, generating supplemental income, or keeping skills sharp in retirement.

"If you're interested in changing careers, or if you're just starting your career, we have tons of different outlets," Miller said. “There also are great opportunities for retirees who still want to contribute and make a positive difference in the lives of North Carolinians.”

Do I need a degree to qualify for jobs?

Applicants do not necessarily need an academic degree to qualify for a position, even if a degree is listed on the job posting. In a majority of State of North Carolina jobs, agencies recognize equivalent work experience and skills in place of a degree.

"Even if you think you don't qualify, apply, because often you actually do," Miller said. "If you’ve got the right attitude and the ability to be trained, yeah, we want you."

That’s why it’s so important to be specific about your experience on the state job application, including how that experience relates directly to the position of interest. Miller notes that while job titles differ, the skills needed to perform the jobs may be the same. An HR specialist and an administrative assistant may both handle HR duties, for example, but the job title alone doesn’t necessarily reveal that.

Miller’s advice? Briefly but fully detail your related knowledge, skills and abilities on the state job application, as a resume will not be accepted as a substitute. For example, if you use Microsoft Excel daily to create spreadsheets and track reports, say so. If you manage others or have created successful, related initiatives, include that. The more specific you are in describing skills which apply to the job you’re interested in, the better.

And if, in your job search, you think no one is actually looking at your application, Miller says nothing is further from the truth.

"Agency HR staff screen every single application," Miller said. "For us, the best part is to get to see the wide array of people who apply. As a recruiter with agency knowledge, we review each application and may decide, ‘Oh this candidate would actually be a better fit over here based on their skills. Let's reach out and see if they'd be interested in this job.’"

Missed the event on October 4? For ongoing career opportunities with North Carolina Office of State Human Resources, click here.

This article was written for our sponsor, North Carolina Office of State Human Resources