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Skills-Based Hiring FAQs

Below are the answers to questions received during the agency review of Using Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for Skills-based Hiring (SBH) Technical Guidance. 

Q: Will the job classification MQ language be updated?  (We typically copy the language from these MQs into our job postings, but they are currently written with education requirements first followed by an experience substitution, whereas the new technical guidance provides experience first followed by an education substitution.)
 

A: The SBH MQ rewrite was completed in April 2024. This project updated over 500 minimum qualifications to show experience first in alignment with the EO. The new MQs can be found on the DHR Minimum Qualification site and in the NEOGOV(CO-Jobs) templates. 

Q: What is the guidance on how to pro-rate a life skill? 

A: The Application Screening Technical Guide has been developed to describe application screening for classified positions within the state personnel system. 

However, at this time, there are no specific examples of the proration of life skills to years of experience. The team has taken this under advisement to review and will provide an update on this information.  More to come!
 

Q: Is there a specific example of a template job announcement in the technical guidance?

A: This has been added to the Using MQs for Skills-based Hiring Technical Guidance, section VII Use Case Example of the CO-Jobs/NEOGOV Template. 

Q: Will guidance be issued for substitutions? (Is it still four years for a bachelor's degree, six for a master’s degree, and seven for a Ph.D.? Some agencies only give five for a master’s degree.)

A: The Application Screening Technical Guide has been developed to describe application screening for classified positions within the state personnel system. 
However, at this time, there are no specific examples of the proration of life skills to years of experience. The team has taken this under advisement to review and will provide an update on this information.  More to come!
 

Q: Is there a specific example of a template job announcement in the technical guidance?

A: This has been added to the Using MQs for Skills-based Hiring Technical Guidance, section VII Use Case Example of the CO-Jobs/NEOGOV Template. 

Q: Will guidance be issued for substitutions? (Is it still four years for a bachelor's degree, six for a master’s degree, and seven for a Ph.D.? Some agencies only give five for a master’s degree.)

A: Currently, DHR has provided the Experience and Education Calculator tool on the State HR Portal, to assist with this calculation.

  • Associate degree: 2 years
  • Bachelor’s degree: 4 years
  • Master’s degree: additional 2 years
  • Ph.D.:    additional 1 year 
  • Juris Doctor (JD) degree: additional 1 year 
Q: What happens if agencies make a mistake? Is this something that an applicant can appeal? (It sounds like the onus is on the departments to identify job classifications that are appropriate for SBH.) 

This program does not give additional rights on appeals, however, if an appeal is filed regarding an applicant not meeting MQs, it will be reviewed using the current process under the Rule, Part B. Section I. Filing Appeals with the Director.

Q: Is there clarification on special qualifications? (Typically, special qualifications are specified after MQs and identified as such.)

A: This will continue to follow Rule 1-72. Special Qualifications. “Position specific requirements that add to but do not substitute for existing minimum qualifications. Special Qualifications shall not supersede nor diminish an existing minimum qualification.” Therefore, you are correct in your understanding of this process. MQ review in this instance would be: 

  1. Experience;
  2. Substitutions using education; then 
  3. Review of any special qualifications.
     
Q: Can CO-JOBS/NEOGOV templates eligible for the skills-based path be updated with the proposed skills-based MQ format? 

A: The SBH MQ rewrite was completed in April 2024. This project updated over 500 minimum qualifications to show experience first in alignment with the EO. The new MQs can be found on the DHR Minimum Qualification site and in the NEOGOV(CO-Jobs) templates.

Q: Is there a possibility or a process to expand or include:

Substitutions for positions marked as skills-based hire eligible even further to allow a general and/or military experience substitution for education; or Language that could say a general experience that included research and report writing to substitute for education?  (We have many military members and non-military applicants with no degrees, but often very transferable skills related to the job.) 

A: We agree that any of these (general, military, language) are skills-based experiences and should be allowable if directly related to the job analysis. See the Job Analysis Technical Guide for more information.