NY Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (HELPS) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This page contains a collection of answers to the most common questions about the new NY HELPS program.
Program Overview
- What is the NY HELPS program?
- What job titles and occupations are included in the NY HELPS program?
- Where are these jobs located in New York State?
- How do I apply for a job in the NY HELPS program?
- If I am hired by an agency, will I serve a period of probation?
- I'm on a current eligible list for a title now part of the NY HELPS program, what are my employment options now?
- Do I need to take a state exam to apply for a NY HELPS job?
- I am a current NYS employee, am I eligible for the NY HELPS program?
After the NY HELPS program ends
- What happens after the NY HELPS program ends?
- Will I be able to transfer or take promotion examinations after the NY HELPS program ends?
The Online Application
Q. What is the NY HELPS program?
A. The NY HELPS program is a new initiative that makes getting a job easier than ever with New York State. The program temporarily waives the civil service exam requirements for thousands of vacant state job openings, streamlining the appointment process to allow State agencies to hire diverse, qualified permanent employees quickly.
NY HELPS expands upon a successful initiative started in 2023 called the Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement (HELP) program. This temporary HELP program was modeled after the Federal Direct Hire Program and was limited to certain health and safety titles.
The new NY HELPS program includes most job titles at nearly every state agency that are open to the public - titles that are known as open-competitive - and are available in locations throughout the Empire State.
The Department of Civil Service continues to work on implementing enhancements to selection and recruitment, including implementing long-term innovative and creative testing solutions for the future. While this important work proceeds, NY HELPS will help replenish the State workforce with talented and diverse candidates.
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Q. What job titles and occupations are included in the NY HELPS program?
A. Most job titles that have been traditionally filled via open-competitive examinations (i.e., open to the public) are included in the NY HELPS program. Individual agencies will post the required qualifications for vacant NY HELPS titles. This allows candidates to find the position in public service that best suits their skill set.
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Q. Where are these jobs located in New York State?
A. These jobs are in agencies, facilities, and universities located throughout New York State. There are no geographic limitations on the NY HELPS program.
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Q. How do I apply for a job in the NY HELPS program?
A. Job postings for NY HELPS program titles can be found at StateJobsNY
. To focus your search, please enter "NY HELPS" in the search field. The job posting will indicate whether the title is part of the NY HELPS program, as well as the minimum qualifications and who to contact to apply for the job.
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Q. If I am hired by an agency, will I serve a period of probation?
A. Yes, you will be hired "appointed" to your NY HELPS position as a permanent non-competitive employee and will need to serve a probationary period. Your appointment letter will detail the term of your probationary period, which varies among agencies.
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Q. I'm on a current eligible list for a title now part of the NY HELPS program, what are my employment options now?
A.NY HELPS increases employment options for all individuals, whether on an eligible list or not. If you are on an eligible list for a NY HELPS title you are still eligible for appointment from that eligible list, subject to the Rule of Three and any other requirements of the title. NY HELPS appointments may also be made to some titles with existing open-competitive eligible lists.
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Q. Do I need to take a state exam to apply for a NY HELPS job?
A. For job vacancies covered by the NY HELPS program, you will not need to take an exam for that specific title, now or in the future. You still would need to meet the minimum qualifications posted by the specific agency hiring for that specific job to be able to apply.
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Q. I am a current NYS employee, am I eligible for the NY HELPS program?
A. Yes, current State employees may apply for and be appointed via NY HELPS to vacant positions for which they meet the minimum qualifications. Please contact your agency Human Resources staff for more information.
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After the NY HELPS Program Ends
Q. What happens after the NY HELPS program ends?
A. NY HELPS titles are considered "non-competitive,"" meaning no written test is required for appointment. At the end of the NY HELPS program, the New York State Civil Service Commission will engage in a process to "cover-in" the non-competitive NY HELPS positions to the competitive class. Once this "cover-in" process is completed, individuals serving in permanent NY HELPS positions will be part of the competitive class, meaning you will be able to compete for promotional titles in the future.
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Q. Will I be able to transfer to other titles or take promotional examinations after the NY HELPS program ends?
A. Yes, individuals appointed via the NY HELPS program may participate in future promotion examinations. Additionally, individuals "covered in" to the competitive class can be considered for transfer from one agency to another.
Time served in a permanent non-competitive NY HELPS position will be credited toward service time requirements for transfer and appointment from promotion eligible lists once the individual is "covered in" to the competitive class.
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