New York State of Opportunity

Computre Operators

Chief Computer Operator

Multiple-choice Test To Be Held
March 23, 2024
You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday to take your test.
You cannot request or change your scheduled day.
Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked By
February 07, 2024

 

Exams Included on This Announcement
Exam Number Exam Title Open to Employees of Salary Salary Grade Non−Refundable Processing Fee (Waivers available)
31-040010 Chief Computer Operator Multiple Agencies $81,705 G-23 $0
31-065 Senior Computer Operator Multiple Agencies $53,262 G-14 $0
31-066 Supervising Computer Operator Multiple Agencies $63,108 G-18 $0

Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to a test site to take this examination. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.

Interdepartmental promotion examination open to all qualified employees of New York State.

For Promotion in State Departments, Facilities, and Agencies

1. Within Promotion Units 2. Within Entire Departments 3. To Other Departments

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before March 23, 2024, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as:

For Exam No. 31-065 Senior Computer Operator: Computer Operator.

For Exam No. 31-066 Supervising Computer Operator: Senior Computer Operator.

For Exam No. 31-040010 Chief Computer Operator: Supervising Computer Operator.

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before December 23, 2023, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List: After one year of service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

The majority of these positions require employees to work nights, weekends, and/or compressed work shifts.

The Positions: These positions exist in various state agencies and are located statewide.

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Duties

As a Senior Computer Operator, you would supervise staff that monitors and controls the operation of data center equipment, monitors mission-critical customer systems, and operates print equipment to provide 24/7 service to customer agencies in conformance with documented procedures. You would create and monitor batch job scheduling/calendar packages for open systems and mainframes. You would ensure official agency policies and procedures are observed and advise management of accomplishments and pending issues. Some positions require employees to work nights, weekends, holidays and/or compressed work shifts.

As a Supervising Computer Operator, you would supervise computer operations and activities on a shift; monitor and control the operation of data center equipment; and work with programmers on scheduling job runs. You would monitor mission-critical customer systems, and supervise the operation of print equipment to provide 24/7 service to customer agencies in conformance with documented procedures. Some positions require employees to work nights, weekends, holidays and/or compressed work shifts.

As a Chief Computer Operator, you would administratively supervise computer operations, print processing, and production control on a shift. You would oversee and monitor mission-critical customer systems and create or modify batch job schedules in order to provide 24/7 service to customer agencies in accordance with documented procedures. Some positions require employees to work nights, weekends, holidays and/or compressed work shifts.

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Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the multiple-choice test. The multiple-choice test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas: For Examination Numbers
31-06531-06631-040010
1. Operation of computer hardware and peripheral equipment -These questions test for technical knowledge and concepts relevant to information technology and the operation of a computer and associated peripheral equipment. Although the questions asked are not specific to any vendor or any model of computer, the questions on storage media and peripheral equipment cover such subjects as characteristics of tape and disk systems as storage media, basic data communications terms, and the operation of peripheral equipment. XXX
2. Work scheduling -These questions test for knowledge of the principles of computer work scheduling and for skill in applying them. Some of the questions you will be given are based on a generalized work scheduling situation that contains all of the information needed to answer the questions. XX
3. 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. XX
4. Reading and interpreting instructions relating to the execution of computer programs - These questions test for skill in following and applying written directions expressed as generalized operator instructions. You will be presented with generalized operating instructions and specific rules for applying them. All the information needed to answer the questions is presented in the test booklet; training on any particular computer system is not required. X
5. Data center operations - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing and controlling the operating activities of a computer center. They cover such areas as: data center methods and procedures; identifying and resolving operational problems; coordinating and maintaining schedules for the utilization of equipment; and monitoring and controlling operating systems, equipment, and the physical environment in the computer center.  XX
6. 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. XX
7. Administrative supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and their subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections. X

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' credits.

Credit For Seniority: Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

Admission To The Test: If approved for a multiple-choice test, you will receive an admission notice which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, 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.

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How To Apply

This announcement is for viewing purposes only.

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.

Religious Accommodation

Most multiple-choice 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 Accommodation Unit of the Department of Civil Service at Testaccommodation@cs.ny.gov.

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 multiple-choice 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 multiple-choice 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 multiple-choice test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this multiple-choice 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.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, 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

The use of cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices at your personal testing site or in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas, except as expressly authorized by the Department of Civil Service, could result in your disqualification.

S2/TA1 BLM-dah
Issued: 11/21/23

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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