New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Open-Competitive Examination Open to the Public

Assistant Examinations Editor & (Braille)/Examinations Editor

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 4, 2011, you must have:

For Number 25-456: a bachelor's degree including or supplemented by 18 semester credit hours in English* AND one year of professional experience where the primary responsibility of your position must have involved editing. This experience must include reviewing and revising factual written material for publication to achieve correctness and clarity of language AND ensuring that typed or printed materials are error free AND completing editorial work to meet established deadlines.

* You must have a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in English. Up to three semester credit hours in either journalism or communications may be substituted for English credits on a credit-for-credit basis to reach the 18 required semester credit hours.

For Number 25-457: a bachelor's degree including or supplemented by 12 semester credit hours in English AND one year of professional experience where the primary responsibility of your position must have involved editing. This experience must include reviewing and revising factual written material for publication to achieve correctness and clarity of language AND ensuring that typed or printed materials are error free AND completing editorial work to meet established deadlines. See note #4.

For Number 25-458: a bachelor's degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours in English** AND two years of professional experience where the primary responsibility of your position must have involved editing. This experience must include reviewing and revising factual written material for publication to achieve correctness and clarity of language AND ensuring that typed or printed materials are error free AND completing editorial work to meet established deadlines.

** You must have a minimum of 18 semester credit hours in English. Up to six semester credit hours in either journalism or communications may be substituted for English credits on a credit-for-credit basis to reach the 24 required semester credit hours.

Non-qualifying experience: examples include blogging, radio copy, or television copy.

Notes

1. Your degree 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 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 NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S4LSS.
2. A promotion examination is also being held for Examinations Editor. If you are eligible for appointment from a promotion list, you may not be appointed in your own agency from the list resulting from this examination open to the public.
3. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.
4. If you pass the examination for No. 25-457 Assistant Examinations Editor (Braille) you will be required to demonstrate your proficiency at reading Braille at a level that will ensure your ability to perform properly the duties of the position.
5. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
6. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the New York State Education Department in Albany only.

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Duties

As an Assistant Examinations Editor, you would perform work similar to, but less complex than, that of an Examinations Editor.

As an Assistant Examinations Editor (Braille), you would perform work similar to, but less complex than, that of an Examinations Editor. You would be responsible for editing all documentation written in Braille.

As an Examinations Editor, you would supervise staff and coordinate and monitor work of keyboard staff, proofreaders, and technical support staff in the design and editing of examination-related materials for reproduction and review by appropriate consultants and committees; edit Regents tests and related examination materials for clarity, grammar, and format; establish production schedules for tasks related to exam processing and monitor progress to meet stringent deadlines; and advise editorial clerks and subject matter specialists in matters of style and format according to stylistic conventions and agency editorial policies.

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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:	For Examination Numbers
	25-456	25-457	25-458
1. Grammar, usage, punctuation, and editing - These questions test for the ability to generate, prepare, and edit written documents. Some questions test for a knowledge of grammar, usage, punctuation, and sentence structure. Others test for the ability to edit sentences to produce correct, clear, concise copy.	X	X	X
2. Proofreading - These questions test for the ability to recognize errors in textual material. You will be presented with material in paragraph form and be asked to note typographical, formatting, spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation errors.	X	X	X
3. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.	X	X	X
4. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.			X

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.

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How To Apply

If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Additional Information

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.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

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 New York State Human Rights Law and 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 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at 518-457-8480.

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 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

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 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], 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.

Eligibility for Examination

To be eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S4/TB2 LSS-vla
Issued: 3/18/11

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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