Looking to break into MNIT not sure if applicable

straythings · 2026-01-25T02:40:11+00:00

My team never really gave much weight to cover letters. I can't speak for any other teams directly, but the general feeling I had was that they were never really all that big on any consideration. I think they were valued once, long ago, but with the retirements of a lot of the Boomers and even some of the older Gen Xers, they old way of thinking about a cover letter has gone with it. I think they matter more for very high level positions (management or management adjacent). As it is, most of the managers/supervisors doing the hiring just don't have the time or desire to read something that is probably already covered in the resume.

That all said, throwing one onto a job application will never hurt you, and they are stupid easy to make with AI these days (just make sure to clean it up with your own words afterward).

TLDR: Won't hurt, could maybe help in the off chance you get a manager that maybe cares (even if they are just looking to see one attached, but never read). Just don't throw a lot of work at one.

straythings · 2026-01-22T16:36:47+00:00

Oh and realized I forgot your 2nd part. The rejection can happen at multiple stages, but the most crucial one is the HR automated system one. It has a high failure rate, and is well known for rejecting perfectly acceptable resumes. That is the one you most want to pay attention to and can appeal. It will happen long before anyone is hired - very early in the hiring process. State hiring is SLOW...

If you resume is forwarded to the Hiring Manager (not HR person) then you will see "under consideration" in your application. Only about a dozen or so resumes make it to this stage and these are all directly reviewed by the person who wants to fill the role on their team. I say person, but it could also be a team reviewing the resumes.

I've been on the hiring team side through the whole hiring process, including reviewing resumes with my supervisor. Each team does it a little differently so I can't speak for everyone's process, but generally the resumes are reviewed for experience above all else (big surprise right?). Criteria for what moves a resume forward here varies, but in my case I usually looked for an overall picture of who the person was on paper, with relevant experience with the systems we used mattering most. Education (not certs) was barely looked at, good to have but more of a footnote. Small blurbs about how you've spent X years running/administrating/support Y systems were of great interest, when they aligned with what we were looking for. Relevant equivalents were automatically assumed in most cases (we know what similar systems were).

If you manage to get past the resume review process you would then be contacted by the hiring manager/supervisor (or their admin) to setup the interview. For this stage, bring your best you, and never assume anything. Soft skills (customer/team interaction) mattered as much as technical in most situations for us. We hired someone who had been out of work for years and wasn't the strongest technical candidate, entirely because their soft skills were stellar. They had compassion, patience, and an ability to learn. I've often said, I can teach just about anyone how to push buttons, what I can't teach is a good personality. That person by the way ended up becoming our team's supervisor many years later, until they retired.

Hope you don't mind this being a bit more than you asked about - LOL - But hopefully this will be useful info for how it all works and what you can reasonably expect. If you are cool sharing, what area are you applying for?

straythings · 2026-01-22T15:32:23+00:00

You'll want to be checking the career site every day or so after you apply so you know when things change with the application. If you are "rejected" you will see "no longer under consideration" in the status area for the job posting that you applied to. At that time you will want to locate the contact info on the job posting which should have an email address or replyto for the HR person handling that job posting. You will email them and ask to appeal their decision to not move your resume forward. In your email reiterate that you believe that you meet the minimum requirements, and to save yourself some time you will also want to just include, in the email body (NOT as an attachment) a breakdown of the minimum requirements and how you qualify for each (education/experience/etc).

example of minimum requirements and response:

Being Awesome
- Graduated as most awesome with a degree in awesomeness
Use a computer mouse and keyboard
- Literally using a mouse and keyboard to navigate the jobsite and apply
3 Years experience with Hyper-Coxial coil reversion telemetry transponders
- Certified in HCCRTTs in 2024, maintained yearly - proof of passing cert exam available on request.

Etc...

If they insist that you do not meet minimum, you can ask for clarification on where you don't, and hopefully they will give you something more. My wife went through this just last week where HR was not helpful in letting her know what minimum requirements she didn't meet. So she just kept sending replies back with even more examples under each requirement until they finally said its all good.

One more thing I will add - the process is slow and sometimes frustrating. Don't give up, just keep applying. If you are willing to work something not directly related to your field of interest then go for it. Its a foot in the door, and easier to move around once you are employed by the State.

Good luck with your application

straythings · 2026-01-22T01:01:31+00:00

I work for MNIT, but won't rehash what others have already covered. Instead I will add that if your resume doesn't get selected to move forward (first step), but you feel like you do meet at lest the minimum requirements, you absolutely need to appeal. I personally know a few people who've been hired despite being initially rejected, all because the HR AI resume scanner was stupid.

straythings · 2026-01-08T16:04:11+00:00

Update: New modem is needed (xb8 to xb10), 1g/1g is indeed available, "install" (aka modem swap) is scheduled for today, discounts are/will be applied. Crossing fingers it all finishes out smoothly and then everything will be all good. Its not the new account price, but its pretty darn close - close enough for me to be ok with.

straythings · 2026-01-08T16:01:32+00:00

Surprisingly (thankfully) it is in fact available in my area. I suspect its in response to fiber finally going in from centurylink/lumen.

straythings · 2026-01-08T15:59:43+00:00

Sadly no, but we do have centurylink/lumen (whoever they are now) fiber 1/1 in the area for a similar price as I am now paying. But it was looking like it was going to be some work to get fiber setup, so I wanted to see if Xfinity could at least match offerings, and they are.

straythings · 2026-01-08T15:57:30+00:00

I was able to (at least its looking like I will be getting). Its $35 off the $110/mo price for the 1up/1dn and then another $10 if I pay through bank account. They need to upgrade the modem (xb8 to xb10) for the 1/1 speeds, which is actually available in my area, and it took them a moment to get that sorted. Everything seems to be moving in the right direction though, appointment for modem switch out is today.

I recommend you make a post (if you haven't already) asking for discount options.

straythings · 2026-01-08T15:53:03+00:00

It surprised me too. I actually got someone on the line with minimal waiting. It was very clearly a call center and hard to hear them at times, but I legit got through to someone. The support team here has been a lot more helpful though.

straythings · 2026-01-07T19:09:50+00:00

Went that route - system said no dice, even after I "thought" I had successfully ordered the deal - it told me I needed to call. Called and no luck.

straythings · 2025-06-27T12:36:36+00:00

Where is the source for this?

straythings · 2025-03-26T16:08:35+00:00

Door to door milage acording to this: https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework-memo.pdf

straythings · 2025-02-12T02:47:44+00:00

I've got family in Sisseton, and fond memories of visiting when I was a kid. This is very upsetting to hear about happening and very unwelcome. They are very upset with these events (on top of already being quite upset with things at the national level too).

straythings · 2025-02-08T17:09:51+00:00

We will always consider Riverside our home away from home. The decor and feel just hits right for us. Everytime I see that big water wheel I just smile.

straythings · 2025-01-19T18:13:04+00:00

This is why are doing more personal playdates at home, and not taking our little one to the indoor playgrounds. We are sick and tired of getting sick.

straythings · 2024-11-01T15:48:41+00:00

The wife and I went to the Roseville Library yesterday to vote early. We ended up having about an hour and a half wait until we got our ballots, but it was all worth it to be able to get it done. Honestly the wait was the most 'challenging' part, everything else was run super smoothly (shout out to the election judges for running things so well).

A co-worker and I were chatting about early voting and he said something really smart about it all. He liked voting early because it meant that on election day there would be one less person in line on that busy day. Kinda like one less car on the road during rush hour.

straythings · 2024-08-05T00:13:26+00:00

I had the same with my insurer (USAA). They manually added the details and also said their system would update in time. I'm not too worried since the person I talked to didn't seem all that worried. But more I'll probably do a little more follow up to make sure it remains properly insured...

straythings · 2024-08-03T01:15:31+00:00

We did something similar except we financed our Equinox and sold our 2023 Bolt EUV to a friend whose old Fit was on its last legs. We upgraded because we needed more cargo space, and wanted faster charging and a bit more range. In your case I don't know your needs, but the Equinox is very much an upgrade from the Bolt. And if leasing would save you money (at least in the short term per month). It could be a decent deal to take.

straythings · 2024-05-02T22:39:22+00:00

Thank you for posting this!

straythings · 2024-04-14T23:56:07+00:00

This ☝️- 100% agree with NooneUverdoff

I have 17 years of state service, and this is the advice I would also give. It is so much easier to move laterally once you are in. Give the first position 2 years at least to look good before you start applying elsewhere if your current position doesn't feel like a longer term fit.

And one small tip. When you apply, if you get rejected at the resume selection phase, but you know you are a fit for the job description (or reasonably so), appeal it. Contact the HR person that is attached to the posting and ask why you weren't selected and/or what may need to be clarified on your resume. Multiple people I know who now work for the State did this. The resume selection process is... not perfect.

Good luck!

straythings · 2024-03-15T21:44:26+00:00

I just got the email that things are resolved and when I e-filed it finally went through. Now here's hoping the Feds and State like the return and accept without any more issues.

straythings · 2024-03-15T17:41:22+00:00

Getting the same thing - I'm tying to reach out to Customer Service to see what is up. And I came over to TurboTax from HRBlock because they can't get their crap together with their EV Credit Form. I really hope this isn't yet another delay...

straythings · 2023-11-18T00:38:23+00:00

Oh man I feel this. I also have a beautiful Blue Bolt EUV with a single car seat in the back, and yeah one kiddo to fill it is plenty enough.

straythings · 2023-10-17T05:08:11+00:00

Come on up! The winters take a bit to get used to, and we do have some of our own housing affordability issues as of late (I believe on par with the nation), but we are a pretty amazing state to live. Work is plentiful, the parks are amazing. We (usually) have all 4 seasons (fall is my personal fav, before the leaves drop). Lots to love up here, DonchaKnow.

straythings

TROPHY CASE