Applicant Reference Library

Welcome Message: Nicholas Hermes

Everything you need to know about CT state employment


Below you will find an all-inclusive reference library for applicants seeking opportunities with the State of Connecticut! Explore our collection of tools, tips and resources designed to guide you through every stage of the recruitment process. Whether you are just starting out or looking to enhance your approach, we are here to support you in securing your next career milestone with the State of Connecticut.

Frequently asked questions

In order to apply for jobs with the State of Connecticut, all users must create an account. Creating an
account is easy!

  • On the Online Employment Center, click “New User Registration.”
  • This will bring you to the Master Application page. Navigate to the bottom of the screen and click "Apply Online."
  • Review the Terms of Use Agreement and check the "I agree with the terms of use" box. Click "I am a NEW USER" at the bottom of the screen.
  • If you have registered previously, click “I have REGISTERED PREVIOUSLY” or log in to JobAps.
  • Complete the New User Registration page and click the "Submit Registration" button at the bottom of the screen. Record your User ID and Password for future reference.
  • You will then be prompted to create a Master Application, which you will use to apply for future vacancies.
A Master Application is a tool that simplifies the application process, allowing you to create an application template that can be used to apply to as many State of Connecticut job openings as you would like. It saves you time because once it’s completed, you can use it to apply to multiple job openings.
  • Fill out your Master Application.
  • Navigate to the bottom of the screen and click "Apply Online."
    • Result: A new screen will open with the Terms of Use Agreement. Please review.
  • Navigate to the bottom of the screen, check the "I agree with the above terms of use" box and click "I have REGISTERED PREVIOUSLY," to sign in or create your account.
  • You may complete the application in any order by clicking on the tabs at the top of the application.
  • To save data as you move to each tab, click "Save and Continue" at the bottom of each page.
  • You may exit the application and come back to it later by clicking on the Exit tab at the top of the screen.
  • Sign into your account.
  • Scroll down to the Master Application Template bar.
  • Click on the "Master Application"
  • Click on the tab that you want to update and select “Save and Continue” when complete.
  • You may exit the application and come back to it later by clicking on the Exit tab at the top of the screen.

To create a Master Application after submitting one or more job applications, complete the following:

  1. On the Online Employment Center, select Master Application under the “Master Application and Freenames” header to launch the Master Application page.
  2. At the bottom of the page, review the Terms of Use Agreement and check the box. Select “I Have Registered Previously,” then sign in.
  3. On the “Copy My Application” page, select the application you wish to use as a source to create the Master Application.
    • Result: The Master Application displays the data copied from the job application
  4. Review and update each tab, ensuring you complete all areas marked with an asterisk, then submit the application.

Note: To copy the Master Application to populate into a job application, go to the Job Openings page, select the title of the job, then click Apply > Apply Online and complete the sign on process. On the “Copy My Application” page, select the Master Application as the source document to populate into the job application.

  • Make any desired changes and click "Save and Continue" at the bottom of the screen.

When all updates have been made and saved, you may exit the Master Application by clicking on the "Exit" tab at the top of the screen.


Step 1: Create An Account (refer to How Do I Create An Account section)
Step 2: Create A Master Application (refer to How Do I Create a Master Application section)
Step 3: Follow The Below Instructions to Apply!

  • On the main Job Openings page, click on the job title or recruitment number that you would like to apply to.
  • After reading the job posting, click "Apply Online" at the bottom of the screen.
  • After reviewing and agreeing to the Terms of Use by checking the box, click "I have REGISTERED PREVIOUSLY".
  • Sign into your account.
    • Result: The ‘Copy My Application’ page will open. Select your Master Application as the source document to populate into the job application.
  • At the top of the screen, you will see the title and recruitment number of the position for which you are applying.
  • Your Master Application is now open.
  • You may modify any information in your Master Application as needed.
  • Click "Save and Continue" after navigating to and editing each tab.
  • From the “Review” tab, click “Ready to Send App” once you have reviewed your application.
  • From the Submit tab:
    • If you are not ready to submit your application: Click “Save and Continue” on each tab to save your current edits. You may exit your application and return any time before the deadline to make your final edits and Submit.
    • If you are ready to submit your application: Click “Submit to State of Connecticut” on the Submit tab of your application. No changes can be made after you submit your application

After successfully submitting your application, a pop-up box will display confirming the date and time the application was submitted. Applicants also receive an e-mail confirmation of submission (please check junk/spam folder if not in your Inbox). If applicants do not receive this notification, the application has not been submitted. The electronic submission of your application serves as your authorization and agreement to the terms. No written signature is necessary.

All application materials must be submitted by the closing date and time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. You must meet all the qualifications by the closing date to be eligible for consideration. Verification of your application information will be completed by the appointing authority.

A Personal Status Board is a convenient feature that is offered to all applicants. You will be able to view all your State of Connecticut applications and status updates in one place.

Log in to the Personal Status Board.

When you log in, your Personal Status Board will display all applications and Referral Questionnaires that have been submitted or are currently in progress. It will also display a copy of all notices that have been emailed to you. Applicants are strongly encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board daily to monitor their status and check for notices from recruiters. Viewing notices directly from your Personal Status Board ensures full visibility of all emailed notices in the event an email provider places these notices in a junk or spam folder.

Learn more about your Personal Status Board by viewing An Introduction to Your Personal Status Board.

Job alerts allow individuals to receive a notification in real time when jobs are posted for your chosen interest areas. Visit our YouTube page for a quick tutorial to learn how to sign up!

Job Alerts last for one year, beginning on the date you subscribe. Remember to register for new notices if you change your email address or mobile number. You may also modify your subscriptions at any time or renew when the year is up on the Manage Job Alert Subscription page.

After a recruitment has closed, a Certified List is created for candidates who self-identified as meeting the minimum qualifications of the job. These candidates have been placed into a pool of individuals who are eligible to be considered for hire. Certified lists are typically valid for up to one year, meaning that the hiring agency can pursue candidates for hire from the certified list for up to one year after the job close date.
Before Eligible for Referral (BER) indicates that based on applicants’ self-identified responses to supplemental questions asked when submitting their application, they attested to meeting the minimum qualifications for the position. “Before Eligible for Referral” is a waiting period code used for candidates who, based on self-identified responses do meet the minimum qualifications while the statutory appeals process is underway for other candidates who based on self-identified responses do not meet the minimum qualifications. BER candidates move on to ER (Eligible for Referral) following this waiting period, which can last to a maximum of 21 days.

Eligible for Referral (ER) means that based on the candidates’ self-identified responses and attestation to meeting the minimum qualifications for the position, the applicant moves on to the next step in the recruitment and selection process. Steps in this process can vary and may include multiple rounds of referral questions, scheduled interviews or other methods of recruitment and selection. C.G.S. Section 5-215a as amended by Public Act 23-194, allows the appointing authority to select the most qualified and suitable candidate on the candidate list.
Referral questionnaires may be sent to you after you have been placed on a Certified/Candidate List. Please note that a questionnaire may not be sent for every recruitment. Questionnaires are used to learn more about your experiences and have a defined deadline. It is important to note the deadline, as late responses are not accepted. Multiple rounds of questions may be sent to help gather additional information.

You can check the status of your applications by logging in to your Personal Status Board.


All submitted job applications, notices, Referral Questionnaires (if applicable) and the status of each will be displayed. Once a list of applicants has been certified, the list of applicants is then forwarded to the hiring agency for further review and next steps of the recruitment process. This process could take up to several months. Future communication will be coming from the hiring agency. If the agency needs any further information, they will reach out to the applicant directly.

All application materials must be received by the close date. Late applications or Referral Questionnaires cannot be submitted or considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting/follow up time period. It is the applicant's responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Accommodation requests should be sent to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Please clear your browsing history if you are experiencing any issues logging in to your account.

Note: Passwords are case sensitive.

You can also visit the Password Lost and Found and select “I Forgot My Password” or “I Forgot My User ID” beneath the log in fields.

If you set up your account with a hyphenated or suffixed last name, ensure your entries on the retrieval page match your account setup. If you continue to experience issues logging in, please contact us directly at DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for a job, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the United States, you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service. USA accrediting services specialize in determining foreign education equivalencies. Once this documentation is obtained, it must be emailed to the talent acquisition professional listed on the job posting prior to the job close date. 

If the closing date for the job posting has passed, you can navigate to the Closed Jobs menu.

Locate and select the title and corresponding recruitment number. When the job bulletin launches, click “Review Job Bulletin”. Jobs that have closed are available to view for up to 6 months after the closing date. If the job closed more than 6 months ago, enter the Recruitment Number into your preferred search engine (i.e. Google, Bing, etc.).

No changes can be made after your application is submitted. All applicants are strongly advised to carefully proofread every application prior to submission. Please be sure to include all relevant experience for the job you are applying to in your Master Application. We are unable to consider any supplemental materials outside of the JobAps Portal including resumes, cover letters, recommendation letters, etc.

Applicants may offer supporting documents at the time of interview, if selected. Applicants may request to withdraw their application at any time However, applicants will be unable to reapply for the same recruitment after withdrawal.

Internship/volunteer opportunities are posted on the Online Employment Center, where you can learn more about the opportunities that are available throughout the various state agencies.

Effective October 1, 2021 and in order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer accepting resumes during the initial application process. We are unable to consider additional materials outside of the JobAps Portal with the exception of a U.S. accreditation for a degree earned outside of the United States. You may offer a resume and/or other supporting application documents at the time of interview, if selected. 
If a hybrid/telework schedule is offered for any particular position, it is typically included on the job posting. Specific details regarding scheduling are determined by the hiring agency and can be discussed later in the selection process.
  • Log in to update your contact information.
  • Make any desired changes to your name, username, password, mailing address, email address, or phone numbers as needed, and click the "Update Contact Information" button.
  • Review a summary of the updated information.
  • Navigate to the bottom of the screen and click "Confirm/Above Info is Correct" button if the changes are correct.
  • Click the "Back/Above Info is NOT Correct" if you need to move back to the prior screen to make corrections.
  • After clicking "Confirm/Above Info is Correct", you will see a message confirming your information was updated for all your existing applications.
The Talent Acquisition Professional’s contact information is included at the bottom of the “Selection Plan” of every job posting. Visit the job posting that you have a question about and connect via the provided contact information. It is helpful to always provide the job title and corresponding recruitment number to which you applied. You may also email DAS.SHRM@ct.gov for technical assistance.