EXAM NUMBER 2008-A

LAST DATE FOR                                                                          EXAM DATE

MARCH 14, 2008                                                                         APRIL 5, 2008

***APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED OR POSTMARKED BY THE LAST FILING DATE***

$10.00 NON-REFUNDABLE FILING FEE MUST ACCOMPANY EACH APPLICATION

MONEY ORDERS ONLY - NO CASH, NO PERSONAL CHECKS

STARTING SALARY/RANGE:                                           $12.41 per hour plus benefits                Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Fire

VACANCIES:  There is currently one (1) vacancy in the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Fire.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill this vacancy and other vacancies as they occur in all agencies and special districts under the jurisdiction of the Utica Municipal Civil Service Commission.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:    Graduation from High School OR possession of a High School Equivalency Diploma and two (2) years of clerical experience.

DUTIES: This is a moderately difficult clerical work involving responsibility for the performance of a variety of clerical tasks which require a general understanding of specific laws, organizational rules, procedures and policies.  Incumbents may direct and review the work of a small number of lower-level clerical employees, although any supervision exercised is of a limited nature. This class is distinguished from Clerk by the greater complexity of tasks, the program knowledge required, the responsibility for acting as lead worker, and the exercise of independent judgment in selecting the best of a number of prescribed alternatives regarding clerical operations.  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.                  GRAMMAR, USAGE, PUNCTUATION: The grammar and usage questions test for the ability to apply the basic rules of grammar and usage.  The punctuation questions test for a knowledge of the correct placement of punctuation marks in sentences.

3.         KEYBOARDING PRACTICES: These questions test for a knowledge of preferred practices in such areas as letter format, capitalization, hyphenation, plurals, possessives, word division, word and figure style for numbers, and common proofreading marks.  In addition, you will be given a passage to proofread and asked questions about how to correct the errors in the passage.

4.         OFFICE RECORD KEEPING: These questions evaluate your ability to perform common office record keeping tasks.  The test consists of two or more “sets” of questions, each set concerning a different problem.  Typical record keeping problems might involve the organization or collation of data from several sources; scheduling; maintaining a record system using running balances; or completion of a table summarizing data using totals, subtotals, averages and percents.    

5.                  OFFICE PRACTICES: These questions test for a knowledge of generally agreed upon practices governing the handling of situations which stenographers, typists, and secretaries encounter in their work, as well as a knowledge of efficient and effective methods used to accomplish office tasks.  The questions will cover such topics as planning work flow; setting priorities; dealing effectively with staff, visitors, and callers; filing and retrieving information; safeguarding confidentiality;  using office equipment; and making procedural decisions and recommendations which contribute to a well managed office.

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.

A Guide to Taking the Examination for Senior Clerk is available on the New York State Department of Civil Service website at: www.cs.state.ny.us/msd/map.html or at the City of Utica Civil Service office.  Call or write to City of Utica, Civil Service, 1 Kennedy Plaza, Utica, NY 13502, (315) 792-0225 to obtain a copy.

IMPORTANT: READ GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.