Public Information Specialist 1/2

*Due to the size of the candidate population for this test date, you may be assigned to either Saturday, October 28, 2017 or Sunday, October 29, 2017 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.

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 October 28, 2017, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had three months of permanent competitive, non-competitive, or 55-b/55-c service as a:

For No. 37-942 & 37-943:

Either A. Public Information Specialist, or a Public Information Specialist (Spanish Language);

Or B. Multimedia Production Technician, Graphic Designer 1, or Photographer 2.

For No. 37-907:

Either A. Public Information Specialist 1, or a Public Information Specialist 1 (Spanish Language);

Or B. Graphic Designer 2, Multimedia Production Representative 1, Multimedia Production Program Specialist 1, Photographer 4, or Tax Publication Editor 1.

Only the title(s) listed is qualifying for this examination(s).

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before July 28, 2017, 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.

Eligibles who meet the “B” qualifications, and who are subsequently appointed to an “A” title, may request to have their name added to the “A” list, once they have completed the one year of service in the “A” title. The request should be submitted in writing to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239; Attention: S1: PIS1/2.

Order of Certification

The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

1. Promotion Unit "A" eligibles
2. Promotion Unit "All" eligibles
3. Department "A" eligibles
4. Department "All" eligibles
5. Interdepartmental "A" eligibles
6. Interdepartmental "All" eligibles

Notes

1. In accordance with Section 52.11 of the Civil Service Law, individuals serving permanently in the non competitive or labor class in a qualifying title (including those serving under Section 55-b/55-c) who otherwise meet the requirements for taking this examination are eligible to compete in this promotion examination.
2. This examination is being held on a promotion and open-competitive basis. If you are admitted to the promotion examination under anticipated eligibility (i.e., you do not have the required one year of Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List) and if you meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications, you may also be admitted to the open-competitive examination. To be admitted, you must apply for the open-competitive examination according to the instructions given on the open-competitive announcement. Once you meet the required one year of qualifying service for appointment from the promotion list, you will not be eligible for appointment from the open-competitive eligible list.
3. Language Proficiency: If you pass the examination for No. 37-943 Public Information Specialist 1 (Spanish Language), you will be required to demonstrate your 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. 37-943 Public Information Specialist 1 (Spanish Language), an application will automatically be submitted for you for No. 37-942 Public Information Specialist 1 at no additional cost.

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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
	37-942	37-943	37-907
1. Educating and interacting with the public - These questions test for the ability to communicate with others in a manner consistent with good public relations practices. Questions will cover such concepts as interviewing or gathering information from others; participating in meetings or work groups; and presenting information to citizens, community organizations, staff and the media.	X	X	X
2. Preparing public information materials - These questions test for the ability to prepare basic informational materials electronically and in print, for the public and the media, including such products as correspondence, brochures, and news releases. Questions may cover such topics as selecting content to effectively communicate with the intended audience, making decisions regarding page readability of text, and using graphics, photographs, headlines, or captions to enhance a message.	X	X	X
3. 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.	X	X	X
4. 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
5. Directing a public information program - These questions test for the ability to conduct a public information program for a department or agency. Questions may cover such topics as evaluating needs, planning publicity programs, developing relations with the community and media, and directing the activities of a public relations or marketing plan.			X

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 Public Information Specialist 1, or Public Information Specialist 1 (Spanish Language), you would work independently and perform the full range of public information activities for your agency. Such activities may include acting as spokesperson for an agency to the news media and to individuals who inquire regarding the agency’s activities. You may draft, edit and distribute informational material concerning your agency’s activities. You may conduct tours, prepare speeches and presentations, oversee your agency’s website content and social media channels to develop and execute digital campaigns to promote your agency’s public information objectives. You may supervise lower level employees including support, creative, and information technology staff.

As a Public Information Specialist 2, you would direct and evaluate a public information program or a major segment of a large program and consult with management both verbally and in writing on means of improving public information program effectiveness within your agency. You would perform all the duties of a Public Information Specialist 1 or Public Information Specialist 1 (Spanish Language). You may supervise lower level employees including support, creative and information technology staff by establishing work and production schedules, training and evaluating staff’s performance and suggesting and initiating changes or new techniques in the agency’s public information objectives to improve your agency’s overall public information effectiveness.

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.

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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.

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, call 518-474 6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627.

Multiple 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: http://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

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.

S1/TA1 MME-vla
Issued: 8/11/2017

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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