New York State of Opportunity

Investigator 1

Written Test To Be Held
April 21, 2018*
You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday.
Please refer to the information below.
Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked By
March 07, 2018

 

Exams Included on This Announcement
Exam Number Exam Title Salary Salary Grade Non−Refundable Processing Fee (Waivers available)
26-511 Investigator 1 $44,564 G-14 $35
26-512 Investigator 1 (Various Language Proficiencies) $44,564 G-14

*Due to the size of the candidate population for this test date, you may be assigned to either Saturday, April 21, 2018, or Sunday, April 22, 2018, to take your test. Your admission notice will tell you where and when you are scheduled to appear. You cannot request a day in advance or change your scheduled day.


IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before April 21, 2018, you must have:

Either 1. four years of qualifying experience;**

Or 2. an associate���s degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, police science, criminal justice administration, criminology, criminal investigation, police studies, public justice, forensic accounting, forensic psychology, forensic science, economic crime management, or homeland security AND two years of qualifying experience;**

Or 3. a bachelor���s degree or higher in criminal justice, law enforcement, police science, criminal justice administration, criminology, criminal investigation, police studies, public justice, forensic accounting, forensic psychology, forensic science, economic crime management, or homeland security.

**Qualifying Experience: Experience in a field investigative position conducting interviews of witnesses and others, taking written statements and affidavits, collecting and analyzing physical and documentary evidence, and preparing detailed written reports of investigative findings.

Types of Investigative experience that could be considered qualifying: Experience in such positions as police detective, insurance investigator, licensed and registered private investigator, federal investigator, state investigator, municipal investigator, child protective services investigator, in an investigative position involving trial preparations and detailed reports, or investigations within a branch of the Armed Services are examples which meet the Minimum Qualifications.

Non-Qualifying Investigative Experience includes but may not be limited to: Experience in routine police patrol work, security guard or related security position, tax collector, collector of delinquent accounts, credit checker, legal assistant/attorney, hotel or store detective, loss prevention officer, parole officer, correction officer, guard, inspector, or experience in adoption and/or foster care placement.

If you expect to meet the educational requirements by September 30, 2018, you can be admitted to the written test, but you cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirement to the Appointing Authority at the time of the employment interview. Failure to meet the educational requirements by September 30, 2018 may result in your removal from the eligible list.

Notes

  1. Your degree 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 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. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. 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, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2LSS.
  2. A transition examination is also being held for these positions at the Department of Tax and Finance and the State Insurance Fund. It is expected that appointments will be made as the result of these examinations open to the public.
  3. If you pass the examination for No. 26-512 Investigator 1 (Various Language Proficiencies), you will be required to demonstrate your Chinese, Korean, or Spanish language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform properly the duties of the position. Only enough candidates to fill current vacancies will be called to the proficiency test.
  4. If you submit an application for No. 26-512 Investigator 1 (Various Language Proficiencies), an application will automatically be submitted for you for No. 26-511 Investigator 1 at no additional cost.
  5. If you meet the Minimum Qualifications you may also be interested in competing for No. 26-492 Investigative Officer Trainee, No. 26-493 Investigative Officer Trainee (Various Language Proficiencies), No. 26-494 Investigative Officer Trainee (Beverage Control), No. 26-495 Investigative Officer Trainee (Beverage Control) (Various Language Proficiencies), No. 26-496 Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 (Motor Vehicle), No. 26-497 Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 (Motor Vehicle) (Various Language Proficiencies), No. 26-505 Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 (Law), No. 26-506 Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 (Narcotics), No. 26-498 Investigative Officer 1, No. 26-499 Investigative Officer 1 (Various Language Proficiencies), No. 26-500 Investigative Officer 1 (Beverage Control), No. 26-501 Investigative Officer 1 (Beverage Control) (Various Language Proficiencies), No. 26-502 Investigative Specialist 1 (Motor Vehicle), No. 26-503 Investigative Specialist 1 (Motor Vehicle) (Various Language Proficiencies), No. 26-507 Investigative Specialist 1, No. 26-508 Investigative Specialist 1 (Spanish Language), No. 26 509 Investigative Specialist 1 (Law), and No. 26-510 Investigative Specialist 1 (Narcotics) which written tests are also being held on April 21, 2018. The appropriate processing fee must be filed for each examination.
  6. Travel Requirements: Appointment to certain positions requires extensive travel within a designated area of assignment. Appointees to these positions may be required to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job. If the position requires that you operate a motor vehicle, you must possess a driver's license valid in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter. Field work and travel expenses are reimbursed on a fixed schedule. Overnight travel may be required.
  7. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
  8. New York State residence is not required.
  9. Background Investigation: Because of the nature of the positions there may be an investigative screening that may include a thorough character investigation. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.

The Positions

These positions exist in the State Insurance Fund, Division of Housing and Community Renewal, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of State, Department of Tax & Finance, Gaming Commission, the Bridge Authority, and Department of Financial Services statewide.

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Duties

As an Investigator 1 or Investigator 1 (Various Language Proficiencies), you would independently perform investigative activities to gather information and evidence and prepare written reports of findings. Positions are set up for a statewide program of limited scope but with a broad base of licensees, claimants or participants or for incumbents to carry out discrete investigations as directed by their supervisor. Investigations generally focus on single individuals or entities that are suspected of violating clearly defined rules, regulations or laws. You may also assist in assuring compliance with program requirements.

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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:

  1. 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. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
  2. Evaluating information and evidence - These questions test for the ability to evaluate and draw conclusions from information and evidence. Each question consists of a set of facts and a conclusion based on the facts. The candidate must decide if the conclusion is warranted by the facts.
  3. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.

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.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

TEST GUIDE: A Guide to the Written Test for the Investigator Series is available on the Department website at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/statetestguides.cfm.

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How To Apply

This announcement is for viewing purposes only.

If you do not receive a 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 employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, 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

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 provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

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, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your written test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions 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. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

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.

S2/TC1 LSS-vla
Issued: 02/02/2018

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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