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Talent Acquisition Trainee

Leadership Associate (Target Class: HR Associate)

Recruitment # 251128-5989VR-001

Location Hartford, CT

Date Opened 12/2/2025 12:00:00 AM

Salary $68,569 - $98,421 annually* *(New hires to state service start at the minumum)

Job Type Open to the Public

Close Date 12/9/2025 11:59:00 PM

Go Back Apply View Benefits (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits)

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+ Introduction

Are you ready to kickstart your HR career in Talent Acquisition and make an impact?

Join the team that’s shaping the future of Public Sector talent in Connecticut!

Recent grads or current students who will be graduating with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree by December 31, 2025 are encouraged to apply!

At the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) (https://portal.ct.gov/das) , Talent Solutions division, our unit’s mission goes beyond talent acquisition. We develop careers, strengthen communities, and assist in building the future of Connecticut’s public workforce.

As a passionate group of Human Resources professionals, we believe in the power of storytelling, relationship-building, and strategic sourcing. Our team proudly supports over 30 state agencies, delivering innovative talent acquisition strategies and managing the State’s Applicant Tracking System, JobAps. By partnering closely with hiring managers and agency HR teams, we attract top-tier talent and strive to deliver a positive candidate experience.

Now, we’re looking for the next generation of HR professionals to join us as Talent Acquisition Trainees (Leadership Associates (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=5989VR&R1=undefined&R3=undefined) ). We need future-focused individuals who are ready to grow, learn, and develop meaningful change.

Position Highlights

+ Hybrid

+ Full Time, 40 hours per week

+ Monday – Friday

+ 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

+ Location: 450 Columbus Boulevard in Hartford, CT

+ Occasional travel is required for events, some of which may take place during evenings or weekends

The Role

As a Talent Acquisition Trainee (Leadership Associate) within Talent Solutions – Talent Acquisition, you’ll embark on a 1–2 year development journey. This program prepares you for a career as a Human Resources Associate.

While rotating through specialized pods within our team and learning from our remarkable colleagues, you’ll acquire hands-on experience in recruitment, mentorship, and training. You will build skills necessary for leadership in digital outreach and strategic talent planning.

Some goals of the development program will be:

+ Mastering the art of digital recruiting and employer branding.

+ Building and nurturing talent pipelines through outreach and sourcing.

+ Crafting compelling job postings that attract diverse, qualified candidates.

+ Shortlisting and certify candidates for our partner agencies.

+ Providing applicant support and to ensure a smooth hiring process.

+ Rotating through specialized pods within our team to gain a comprehensive view of recruitment.

+ Contributing to creative projects like business analytics, job fairs, recruitment videos, and marketing materials.

+ Representing Talent Solutions at career fairs and outreach events to engage and educate applicants about state employment.

We value collaboration, embrace diverse perspectives, and foster a culture of support and encouragement. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, we’d love to have you on our team!

What Sets Us Apart?

At DAS Talent Solutions, our people are our greatest strength. We’re a collaborative, caring team of HR professionals who:

+ Celebrate individual strengths and different perspectives

+ Thrive with teamwork, open communication, and shared success

+ Believe in lifting each other up and growing together

Whether you're brainstorming creative outreach strategies or navigating complex recruitment needs, you’ll be surrounded by great teammates who genuinely care—about the work, the mission, and each other.

If facing new challenges excites you and you like to keep busy, become part of a team reshaping public sector talent acquisition — start with us, stay with us, grow with us! Seize this opportunity to help us build tomorrow’s workforce!

Learn more about us by watching Alejandro’s Day in the Life (https://vimeo.com/1139312978/a3dd1f8bae?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) .

Centered Vimeo Video

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit (https://jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=KIT) for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

+ Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

+ Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.

+ Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.pdf) , resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.

+ Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.

+ Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing [email protected].

+ Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

+ Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

+ Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).

+ Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!

+ Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.

+ The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

+ Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Hayley Newhouse at hayley.newhouse ([email protected]) @ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency incumbents in this class participate in a formal development program designed to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to qualify for appointment to a designated managerial or professional confidential class assigned to the MP Pay Plan.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

+ Participates in a formal development program designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed in order to qualify for appointment and advancement to a designated managerial or professional/confidential class;

+ Performs/learns the duties of the designated function;

+ Performs/learns leadership skills and develops leadership traits;

+ Prepares program progress reports;

+ Attends managerial meetings germane to designated function;

+ Prepares and gives presentations;

+ Assists in major projects;

+ Participates in budget preparation and management;

+ Attends formal training courses;

+ May lead special projects;

+ Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

+ Considerable

+ oral and written communication skills;

+ interpersonal skills;

+ Considerable ability to

+ understand and apply state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;

+ analyze and solve problems;

+ effect and manage change;

+ plan for and implement excellent customer service;

+ learn a new knowledge base in functional area;

+ learn and apply policy and procedure;

+ Managerial aptitude.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated class at the completion of the development program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

+ Bachelor's degree or above

+ Experience or academic projects using LinkedIn for networking, outreach or professional communication

+ Experience or coursework using Microsoft Excel to organize, analyze and interpret large datasets of 500+ rows

+ Experience reading, analyzing and interpreting written materials such as multi-page policies, technical manuals, or academic texts to extract key information, develop solutions or summarize content accurately

+ Experience or coursework writing clear, engaging, and original content using proper grammar, punctuation and sentence structure

+ Experience using attention to detail and practicing organizational and time management skills in an environment with changing priorities

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

+ Prior to appointment to this class there must be an approved managerial or professional confidential designated class identified to which the incumbent will be appointed upon successful completion of an approved development program. Incumbents in this class must meet the experience and training requirements of the identified designated class at the end of the development program.

+ The work schedule for this classification is full-time. Incumbents must work a full-time forty (40) hours per week schedule.

+ Incumbents in this class will be eligible for reclassification to the designated class without competitive examination upon successful completion of the development program and satisfactory service. The length of the development program should be designed around the requirements of the designated class and the prior experience of the incumbent but in no case should be less than one (1) year or exceed three (3) calendar years in accordance with C.G.S. 5-234.

+ All appointments to this class shall be under terms of an approved development program and in accordance with a time schedule approved by the Department of Administrative Services.

+ No additional working test period shall be required upon successful completion of the development program.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online