New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Examinations Open to All Qualified Individuals

Real Estate Specialist 2 (General Services)

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before May 10, 2008, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Office of General Services and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as a Real Estate Specialist 1, Land and Claims Adjuster 2, Land Surveyor, Leasing Agent 1, Real Property Examiner 2, or a Senior Building Space Analyst.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before February 10, 2008, 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 the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

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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. Real property acquisition, appraisal, negotiations, relocation, property management and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations - These questions test for knowledge of terms, principles and processes relating to the State of New York's ability to acquire and sell real property. They cover such subjects as the role of negotiators in real property acquisition; right of landowners and tenants when the State acquires property; factors influencing property value determinations and rent determinations; types and characteristics of leasing agreements; eligibility for relocation payments and calculation of payment amounts; and management of State property as an asset, including disposition. The information needed to answer some of these questions can be found in the Eminent Domain Procedure Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Public Lands Law and State Highway Law.
2. Principles and techniques of real property appraisal - These questions test for a knowledge of principles and practices used in the appraisal of agricultural, commercial, and residential real property including knowledge of the three approaches to value; sales comparison, income, and cost estimation.
   Special emphasis will be placed upon the ability to analyze market data and develop land schedules, market models, and income models for use in mass appraisal.
3. Understanding and interpreting tax maps and site plans - These questions test for the ability to read, analyze and perform computations based on various types of maps and plans, and may include tax maps, deed descriptions, site plans, survey maps and building layouts. All the information needed to answer the questions will be provided in the maps, plans, layouts or related written material. Calculators may be helpful in answering some of the questions.
4. 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.
5. Understanding and interpreting Real Property Tax Law - These questions test for the ability to read, interpret and apply the New York State Real Property Tax Law. You will be provided with brief reading selections based on or taken from the New York State Real Property Tax Law, followed by one or more questions. All the information needed to answer the questions is contained in the reading selections. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.
   The subject matter of the selections may not be specific to the titles for which we are testing. The purpose of these questions is only to test for the ability to read and interpret this type of material at an appropriate level of difficulty.
6. 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.

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

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.

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Duties

As a Real Estate Specialist 2 (General Services), you would supervise staff, including coordinating the work flow of a unit and/or provide oversight and direction to outside consultants. You may be responsible for an agency's statewide or regional program serving as the agency's expert for acquisition or disposition of real property, space planning services, lease negotiations, or relocation assistance. You would also be responsible for performing the more complicated real estate transactions.

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How To Apply

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.

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.

S2/TC1 DAG-tmc
Issued: 2/22/08

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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