VOLUNTEER SERVICES SERIES

The Seal of the New York State Department of Civil Service

NEW YORK STATE
Department of Civil Service Announces
Examination Open to All Qualified Individuals

Written Test To Be Held

MARCH 27, 2004

Applications MUST Be
Postmarked
No Later Than
FEBRUARY 23, 2004

archived statement

This is an Archived Announcement.
The application filing date has passed.

Examination Number and Title		Salary Grade	Salary	Non-Refundable Processing Fee
24-332	SUPERVISOR OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES	14	$32,659	$25
24-333	COORDINATOR OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES	18	$40,850	$25

Appointees in the New York City area (Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond [Staten Island], Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester Counties) will receive an additional $1,200 annual location pay differential/downstate adjustment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: On or before March 27, 2004, you must have had experience as described below administering an organized volunteer services program in which you had primary responsibility for the recruitment, training, orientation and supervision of volunteers.

For NUMBER 24-332: two years of experience
For NUMBER 24-333: three years of experience

Substitution: A bachelor's degree may be substituted for up to one year of experience.

NOTES:

Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information is also available here.You must pay the required evaluation fee.

Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.

New York State residence is not required.

You may file for these examinations by completing one OC-APP application form. Unless you are eligible for a fee waiver, the indicated processing fee must be submitted for each examination listed on your application.

THE POSITIONS: These positions exist in the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Division of Parole, and the Adirondack Park Agency.

DUTIES: As a Coordinator of Volunteer Services, you would plan, organize and direct the volunteer services for facilities and community-based programs. You would determine the need for volunteer services and recruit, train, refer and assist volunteers according to their abilities and interests. You would work in a community relations capacity to stimulate community interest by addressing various local organizations and civic leaders in order to inspire active participation in volunteer services. You would plan and develop activities such as concerts, celebrity visits and special projects.

As a Supervisor of Volunteer Services, you would assist a Coordinator in a large volunteer program or you would be assigned responsibility for a smaller program.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills and/or abilities in such areas as:

Educating and interacting with the public – These questions test for a knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individual citizens and/or community groups, to educate or inform them about topics of concern, to publicize or clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with others in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.

Establishing and directing a volunteer program – These questions test for the ability to develop and oversee a volunteer program. The questions will cover such topics as identifying the needs of the programs, clients, and/or volunteers; planning and evaluating effective volunteer programs; and recruiting sufficient and appropriate volunteers for specific needs.

Office record keeping – These questions test your ability to perform common office 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.

Preparing written material – These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order and then asked to choose from four suggestions the best order for the sentences.

Supervision of volunteers – These questions will cover such areas as recruiting, assigning, training, evaluating, and providing support for volunteers within a particular program, including resolution of conflicts among volunteers or between paid staff and volunteers.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

archived statement

This is an Archived Announcement.
The application filing date has passed.

HOW TO APPLY: Use FORM OC-APP, APPLICATION FOR NYS EXAMINATIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Forms are available (by mail or in person) at these offices of the New York State Department of Civil Service: Building 1, State Campus, Albany, NY 12239; the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027; and the Edward A. Rath Building, 95 Franklin Street, Room 625, Buffalo, NY 14202, or by E mailing us at: examinfo@cs.state.ny.us You may also obtain application forms by visiting the Civil Service Career Information Center, Suite 108, North Concourse, Empire State Plaza, Albany. This office cannot handle mail requests. State employees may obtain examination applications at their agency or facility personnel or business office.

ADMISSION TO EXAMINATION: Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call (518) 457 5483 if taking the test in Albany; (518) 457-6556 for New York City Test Center; (518) 457 7022 for all other Test Centers.

NEW YORK STATE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION: Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under "Religious Accommodation." We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS IN TESTING: In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at (518) 457-3416 or TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) (518) 457-8480.

MULTIPLE EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME DAY: With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call (518) 457-7022 no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the State examination center.

S1/TB2 JLH-kmn Issued: 1/9/04

S1/TB2 JLH-kmn
Issued: 1/9/04