Featured Employer: Baltimore County Government

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 16:25:00 -0400

The UMBC Career Center is excited to spotlight Baltimore County Government as one of our featured employers. Baltimore County has multiple summer 2020 internship and temporary/seasonal positions posted in UMBCworks. Most of these postings will close on April 30, 2020.

Eric Stewart-Craig, Human Resources Analyst for Baltimore County Government shares his experiences and thoughts about working within the Baltimore County Government.

What positions are Baltimore County Government currently hiring for?

Baltimore County is always hiring for a wide variety of positions with different experience, education, and skill levels. Our positions are posted on our website, and updated weekly. We are currently hiring for Computer Forensics Examiner I, Engineering Associate II (Highway Design), and Social Work Associate. We are also hiring for our summer internship program. In addition to the civilian positions we offer, we also hire for public safety positions such as Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Emergency Communications Technician Trainee, Correctional Officer, and Probationary Firefighter.

If you had to describe Baltimore County Government in three words, what would they be?

Inclusive, Excellence, and Empowerment (Employee)

What is the number one thing you look for in a new team member?

We want individuals that are engaged and have a passion for what they do. This includes having a desire to continue in their professional development, take on leadership roles, and help us build a better Baltimore County.

What qualities do your coworkers possess that make them enjoyable to work with?

We have a diverse group of employees throughout the County that bring a variety of perspectives on both work and life. My coworkers have a wide variety of experiences in different positions that can help provide unique solutions to work questions. My coworkers are also able to offer advice and assistance to any non-work related questions I may have. This type of balance makes Baltimore County an enjoyable place that makes you want to come to work.

What do you want people interested in working within Baltimore County to know about them?

Baltimore County is a leading jurisdiction that is continuing to grow. We are undergoing an exciting transformation that will lead us to be able to continue to be proactive and innovative when addressing the community’s evolving needs.

How do you describe the Baltimore County Government culture? What makes you excited to work there?

Baltimore County’s culture is focused on delivering the highest standards of service to its residents, business, and visitors. We are also focused on using the county’s resources in a way that is effective, efficient, and ethical. As employees, we understand we are here to serve our community, and being part of something bigger than ourselves is a part of what makes it exciting to work here. I enjoy coming to work every day because of the impact I can make, as well as the people I work with, both inside the organization and outside the organization.

Can you tell us about the career development options available within Baltimore County Government? Specifically for entry level employees?

Baltimore County has a wide variety of positions, and therefore has a wide variety of career development options. If you are a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree looking for an organization with room for professional growth, Baltimore County has a career for you. We have 40 agencies and 520 class specifications (types of jobs). With a Bachelor’s Degree, you are eligible for positions such as Human Resources Analyst I, Management Analyst I, and Statistical Analyst. With a Master’s Degree, you are eligible for the positions previously mentioned, as well as other positions including Human Resources Analyst II, Investment Analyst I, and Management Analyst II. These aren’t the only positions you are eligible for, we just have too many to list them all. Most positions in Baltimore County are on a grade. This means that as you gain experience in your current position, over time you become eligible for higher positions in your classification. For example, if you’re a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, you are eligible to be hired as an Engineer I. Once you have two years’ experience as an Engineer I, you are then eligible to be hired as an Engineer II. Positions in Baltimore County typically end at IV. You can then become eligible for senior leadership positions such as Deputy Director of a department. This same career path can be applied to most positions in Baltimore County. Baltimore County is investing in its employees by implementing a succession plan. We are currently in the beginning stages of the succession plan, but this will lead to more opportunities for employees that are eager to move up and become future leaders. The succession plan will include even more employee training than we already offer, stretch job assignments where employees can work part-time in another division to increase their skills in a real work environment, and a mentorship program where employees can learn from senior leaders about their career path and how they developed into their current role.

Why did you originally choose to work for Baltimore County?

I chose to work for Baltimore County because I always wanted to work in Human Resources and work for the government. When the opportunity came and I was able to work for Baltimore County’s Office of Human Resources, I knew it was the perfect combination I was looking for in my career. Before I started with Baltimore County, I worked in operations for a transportation company for four years. It took some time to transition from working for a nationwide Fortune 500Company, to working for the local government. What made the transition easier was the people I work with both in my department and throughout the county. The benefits were also a major upgrade when I left the private sector for the public sector, and one of the reasons I always wanted to work for the government. Baltimore County offers a pension plan, deferred compensation, affordable health insurance, dental, vision, employee assistance program, and educational assistance. As an employee you also receive vacation days, sick days, personal days, and paid holidays.

Do you have any examples or remember a specific time that you loved working with your team?

I can honestly say I enjoy coming to work every day, and a major part of that is the people I work with. In our department specifically, we are always interacting with the public. As a team, we get to present at job fairs, community events, and administer tests for public safety positions. This requires some late nights and weekends where you get to spend more time with your team members. You build a camaraderie with everyone that makes work enjoyable.

If you remember anything specific, can you talk about your interviewing/hiring process when you started at Baltimore County?

I actually started out as a non-merit (part-time) employee. I made a career change and left my past profession where I was moving up the ladder, for a position I was hoping would be a better fit for me. My career change has been everything I was hoping it would be. The reason I like to mention I started as a non-merit employee is that sometimes that can scare some applicants and keep them from applying. I was a non-merit employee, but I worked 34 hours per week, compared to my merit (full-time) co-workers that worked 35 hours per week. The only major difference between a non-merit employee and a merit employee is that merit employees receive six personal days per year, while non-merit employees do not receive any personal days. However, non-merit employees still receive vacation days, sick days, and paid holidays. I applied for the position and within a few weeks I received a phone call from the hiring manager to schedule an interview. My interview was in person with the division chief and another senior employee at their office. They asked me questions that specifically related to what I had done previously in both work and school, and how I would translate that knowledge to the specific position for which I was applying. I received a phone call a couple of weeks after the interview and was offered the position, which I accepted immediately. I have since been promoted and am now a merit employee. It is not uncommon for employees to start out as non-merit and then promote to a merit position.

Why do you hire UMBC students?

We hire UMBC students because we know they graduate with the knowledge and skills that enable them to contribute immediately. It’s a great advantage that we have a nationally recognized University in our own backyard. We believe that the values students learn through their time at UMBC will translate to what we our building at Baltimore County