City of Utica, Exams

VACANCIES: There is currently one (1) vacancy at the Utica City School District, Master Scheduling Office at Proctor High School (12 months per year). The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill this vacancy and any other vacancies as they occur in all agencies and special districts under the jurisdiction of the Utica Municipal Civil Service Commission.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT: Candidates must be legal residents of the City of Utica for at least four (4) months immediately preceding the date of the written examination.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

(A) Graduation from High School and two (2) years of experience in a clerical position involving typing; OR

(B) Graduation from High School or the possession of a High School Equivalency Diploma and completion of a course in typing.

NOTE: Experience in typing must be an integral part of the position. If it is determined that the typing experience is out-of-title, incidental, overlapping, enhanced or fabricated, it will not be used to qualify for appointment to this title.

DUTIES: This work involves performing routine clerical duties or assisting in the performance of more difficult or responsible clerical work requiring full-time or substantial part-time operation of a typewriter or keyboard. The work is performed under direct supervision with detailed instructions given for new or difficult assignments. The duties of a Typist are similar to those of a Clerk except that a Typist must have the ability to type at an acceptable rate of speed. Does related work as required.

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: There will be a written exam which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written exam will test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. SPELLING: These questions test for the ability to spell words that are used in written business communications.

2. ALPHABETIZING: These questions test your ability to file material in alphabetical order.

3. CLERICAL OPERATIONS WITH LETTERS AND NUMBERS: These questions test your skills and abilities in clerical operations involving alphabetizing, comparing, checking and counting. The questions require you to follow specific directions given for each question which may involve alphabetizing comparing, checking and counting given groups of letters and/or numbers.

PERFORMANCE TEST: Candidates who receive a passing score on the written test must also qualify on a typing performance test at 35 words per minute. You must pass both the written test and performance tests to be considered for appointment. Since the performance test is qualifying (pass/fail), if you pass the performance test your final score for the exam will be the score that you achieve on the written test. Candidates may be invited to the performance test in the order of the scores they achieve on the written test. The City of Utica reserves the right to give the performance test to only as many candidates as are needed to fill available vacancies.

The performance test is a test of keying speed and accuracy. It utilizes a standard keyboard and is given on computers. The computer program requires no prior knowledge of software.

The test is five minutes long and is preceded by a three-minute practice session. The text passage is printed in a test booklet. Candidates enter (�key� or �type�) as much of that passage as they can during the time available.

In order to pass the test, candidates must enter the text at a rate of at least 35 words per minute.

WAIVER POLICY: The performance test may be waived for candidates who have passed a typing performance test at a rate of at least 35 words per minute. That test must have been administered by the Utica Civil Service Commission, the New York State Department of Civil Service, the New York state Department of Labor or any local municipal civil service agency within the State of New York. Candidates must have passed the performance test within two years of the written examination. Such candidate must provide verification from the agency that administered the test, including the agency name and address, test date and the passing rate of speed.

RE-TEST POLICY: Candidates will be offered one attempt to pass the performance test. Candidates who fail in their first attempt will be permitted to take a retest within a few minutes after the initial testing. Only one retest will be permitted. After the results are determined, the eligible list will be established.

A GUIDE TO TAKING THE EXAMINATION FOR ENTRY LEVEL CLERICAL IS ATTACHED TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. IF THE GUIDE IS NOT ATTACHED, COPIES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE UTICA CIVIL SERVICE OFFICE, CITY HALL, 1 KENNEDY PLAZA, UTICA.

IMPORTANT: READ GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

CALCULATORS ARE PERMITTED: Unless specifically prohibited, candidates are permitted to use QUIET, hand-held, solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, such as computers, spell checkers, personal digital assistants, address books, language translators, dictionaries and any similar devises are PROHIBITED.

Issued: October 27, 2008

Group 1