OFFICE SPECIALIST II
EXAM #DEC-08-38 (OC)
 

***APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED CONTINUOUSLY***

Click Here for Required Fees and General Information

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EXAM DATES:  THIS EXAM WILL BE SCHEDULED PERIODICALLY.  CANDIDATES WITH APPROVED APPLICATIONS FOR THIS EXAM WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MAIL OF THE NEXT SCHEDULED EXAM DATE. 

STARTING SALARY/RANGE:           Varies by Civil Division

VACANCIES:  The eligible list, established as a result of this examination, will be used to fill existing vacancies and any other appropriate vacancies which may occur in these titles under the jurisdiction of the Oneida County Commissioner of Personnel.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT:  NONE

When preference in certification is given to residents of a municipality pursuant to subdivision 4-a of Section 23 of the Civil Service Law, an eligible must have been a resident of such municipality for at least one month prior to the date of certification in order to be included in a certification as a resident of such municipality and must be a resident of such municipality at the time of appointment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma AND one (1) year of experience in the performance of office and clerical tasks.        

NOTE:   1.  Verifiable part-time experience as defined above will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time                        experience requirements.

 2.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the date of the examination.

             3.  Further verification may be requested from candidates to verify their academic qualifications.

DUTIES:  The incumbent in this class performs office and clerical tasks at a higher performance level than an Office Specialist I. The duties are performed under direct supervision with the work reviewed by immediate observation, cross checking, periodic or spot checks or by another step in a clerical process. The incumbent performs related work as required.

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION:  

The examination will consist of a weighted PC-administered test, as described under (A).   In order to be eligible for appointment, you must also pass a Qualifying Performance test, as described under (B).  You must pass the PC-administered test AND the Qualifying Performance test in order to be considered for appointment. You will not be called to the performance test unless you have passed the pc-administered test.  Your rank on the eligible list will be determined by your score on the pc-administered test only. 

(A)  PC-ADMINISTERED TEST:  You must pass this test in order to be considered for appointment.  The test will be administered on a personal computer (PC).  Candidates need no prior knowledge of computers in order to take the test.  The test uses a simple point-and-click system that is thoroughly explained through an animated instruction program.  Candidates will be given a sample test on which to practice before the actual test begins.    This test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:                               

1.         Spelling:  These questions test your ability to spell words that are used in written business communications

2.          Alphabetizing:  These questions test your ability to file material in alphabetical order.

3.          Record Keeping:  These questions evaluate your ability to perform common record keeping tasks.  The test consists of two or more “sets” of questions; each set concerning a different problem.  Typical record keeping problems might involve the organization or collation of data from several sources; scheduling; maintaining a record system using running balances; or completion of a table summarizing data using totals, subtotals, averages and percents.

4.         Clerical operations with letters and numbers:  These questions test your skills and abilities in clerical operations involving, comparing, checking and counting.  The questions require you to follow the specific directions given for each question which may involve alphabetizing, comparing, checking and counting given groups of letters and/or numbers.

CALCULATORS ARE RECOMMENDED:  Unless specifically prohibited, candidates are permitted to use QUIET, hand-held, solar- or battery-powered calculators ONLY.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, such as cell phones, computers or devices which can be hooked up to a computer, spell-checkers, personal digital assistants, address books, language translators, dictionaries and any similar devices are PROHIBITED.

NOTE:  A “Guide to Taking the Examination for the Clerical Series” is available on the New York State Department of Civil Service web site:  http://www.cs.state.ny.us/testing/localtestguides.cfm or at the Oneida County Department of Personnel’s Office, Oneida County Office Building , third floor.  You may also call (315) 798-5726 or write the Oneida County Department of Personnel, 800 Park Avenue , Utica , NY 13501 , to request a copy. 

(B)  QUALIFYING TYPING PERFORMANCE TEST:  Qualifying (pass/fail) performance test in typing at a minimum acceptable rate of 25 wpm corrected.  The test will be administered on a computer keyboard--no knowledge of computers or specific software is required. 

TYPING RETEST POLICY:  Candidates will be informed of their pass/fail at time of typing test.  Those who do not pass will be offered a re-test. 

TYPING PERFORMANCE TEST WAIVERS:  If a candidate has already qualified at the specified proficiency level for a typing test administered by Oneida County , NYS Dept. of Civil Service, NYS Dept. of Labor Job Service, or a local civil service agency within five (5) years of the date of the written test, the typing performance test may be waived.  A CANDIDATE REQUESTING A WAIVER, MUST SUBMIT VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE OF QUALIFYING AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION OR BY THE WRITTEN TEST DATE.  Information submitted must contain the title and location of the typing test, the test date, and the passing speed.  

ELIGIBLE LISTS:  Candidates who meet the qualifications, and pass this examination, will have their names placed on the Eligible List, in the order of final scores, regardless of the date on which they filed or took the test.  The names of qualified candidates will remain on the Eligible List for one year.  Appeal of ratings will not be allowed, as the opportunity for re-test exists.

TERMINATION OF THE PROGRAM:  Oneida County Department of Personnel reserves the right to terminate this special recruitment program at any time, and re-establish a program of periodic testing for this title.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING FOR MULTIPLE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS SCHEDULED 
ON THE SAME DATE

ONEIDA COUNTY EXAM ANNOUNCEMENTS CAN BE ACCESSED 
ON OUR WEBSITE: www.ocgov.net .

** ONEIDA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER **

Issued:    05/07/08

Paulette Z. Nickerson, LMSW
Commissioner of Personnel

Oneida County Personnel Department
Oneida County Office Building
800 Park Avenue
Utica, New York  13501
(315) 798-5726
(315) 798-6490 Fax
Email: personnel@ocgov.net

© 2003 Oneida County, New York, USA