Administrative Assistant Trainee 1

You must review important information on the New York State Department of Civil Service COVID-19 policy that applies to all candidates sitting for in-person Civil Service examinations being administered at a New York State test center. You can access our full policy on the Department of Civil Service website.

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 advancement 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 November 5, 2022, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had three months permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as an office assistant, clerical, or keyboarding title allocated to Grade 6 or higher. Only the titles listed are qualifying. Qualifying titles are at, https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/announcements/38701titles.cfm.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before August 5, 2022, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

IMPORTANT: Candidates who FIRST pass the written test, prior to being considered for appointment, may be required to pass a keyboarding test that demonstrates your ability to enter text using an alpha numeric computer keyboard, at a rate of at least 30 words per minute with at least 96% accuracy.

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.

Traineeship: To be advanced to the full performance level of this title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training at the Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Trainee 2. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2 you will advance to the full level of this title without further examination.

Advanced Placement/Appointment Level: You must inform the interviewing agency of any additional qualifications at your interview. If selected by the interviewing agency you may, at the agency's discretion, be appointed to a higher level.

For possible advanced placement to Administrative Assistant Trainee 2 (includes Language Parenthetics) you must possess:

Reachability on an appropriate eligible list AND proof of passing a keyboarding proficiency test (if moving out of a non-typing title) AND documentation of agency-approved completion of the four core administrative support courses or their equivalency: Microsoft Word Basics, Customer Service, the Organized Office Worker, and Successful Business Writing. Discussion and questions regarding Advanced Placement and the traineeship should be directed to the hiring agency at the time of an interview as each agency will have its own policy on advanced placement and acceptable administrative support courses.

For possible advanced placement to Administrative Assistant 1 (includes Language Parenthetics) you must possess:

Reachability on an appropriate eligible list AND proof of passing a keyboarding proficiency test (if moving out of a non-typing title) AND documentation of agency-approved completion of the four core administrative support courses or their equivalency: Microsoft Word Basics, Customer Service, the Organized Office Worker, and Successful Business Writing; AND successful completion of four elective administrative support courses. Discussion and questions regarding Advanced Placement and the traineeship should be directed to the hiring agency at the time of an interview as each agency will have its own policy on advanced placement and acceptable administrative support courses.

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

1. Language Proficiency: If you pass the examination and apply to a title which requires language proficiency, you must demonstrate your language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform the duties of the position properly. The proficiency test will only be given to enough candidates to fill current vacancies.

2. Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: In some agencies, the names of all prospective employees will:

   • be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL), maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s);
   • be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). You must report all convictions. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal law;

   And may:

   • be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment.

   You are responsible for payment of all required fees.

3. Medicaid and Medicare: To be eligible for appointment and maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). You may be barred from appointment or your employment may be terminated at any time if you are listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program).

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Duties

As an Administrative Assistant Trainee you would be trained to ensure the efficient operation of an office by performing a wide range of administrative tasks related to correspondence, files, and calendar management; work coordination; customer service; fielding of questions; information gathering; and compilation of reports. Under close supervision, you would establish office procedures; design filing systems; implement policies and procedures; maintain efficient work flow; resolve day to-day operational problems; respond to phone calls; sort mail; organize, expedite and follow up on projects; and coordinate information flow by acting as liaison among executives, staff, other employees and the public.

As an Administrative Assistant 1 you would serve as the principal administrative support position in an office; organize and coordinate administrative activities; and direct the information flow. Under the supervision of higher-level staff, you would perform many support tasks, but the level of involvement is limited by the tasks being performed or by the size and scope of the program supported. You usually work for administrators, technical, or program staff who generally give some direction in setting priorities and answering questions. You may supervise other clerical staff and provide training and orientation to new staff.

Notes:

1. If you submit an application for a Language Parenthetic, an application will automatically be submitted for you for the English Language at no additional cost.
2. You will not be scored for any examination for which you did not apply.

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Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the written test. The written test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:

1. Name and number checking - These questions test for the ability to distinguish between sets of words, letters, and/or numbers that are almost exactly alike. Material is usually presented in two or three columns, and you will have to determine how the entry in the first column compares with the entry in the second column and possibly the third. You will be instructed to mark your answers according to a designated code provided in the directions.
2. Operations with letters and numbers - These questions test for skills and abilities in operations involving alphabetizing, comparing, checking and counting. The questions require you to follow the specific directions given for each question which may involve alphabetizing, comparing, checking and counting given groups of letters and/or numbers.
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.

Test Guide: A Guide to the Written Test for the Administrative Assistant Trainee 1 Series is available on the Department website at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

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.

Note: The Department of Civil Service may administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets.

Admission To The Test: If approved for a written 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

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. Any past due application processing fees must be paid in full prior to submitting an application. Please email FeeUnitMail@cs.ny.gov regarding inquiries about any past due 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.

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, 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.

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.

S1/TB2 MXT-dah
Issued: 8/19/22

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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