Computer Support Specialist, O.C. #68-964

A  D  D  E  N  D  U  M 

COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST, O.C. #68-964

THE SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION HAVE BEEN CHANGED:

Remove:  Following Directions-These questions test your ability to follow physical/geographic directions using building maps and related written information. You will have to read and understand a set of directions and then use them on a simple map.

Add:  Reading and Interpreting Instructions Relating to the Execution of Computer Programs-These questions test for skill in following and applying written directions expressed as generalized operator instructions. You will be presented with generalized operating instructions and specific rules for applying them. All the information needed to answer the questions is presented in the test booklet; training on any particular computer system is not required.

GENESEE COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES

COUNTY BUILDING I, BATAVIA, NEWYORK

ANNOUNCES

AN OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR:

 COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST, O.C. #68-964

SALARY:  $18.67 per hour (2019) Genesee Community College.

VACANCY:  Genesee Community College has one (1) position currently held by a provisionally appointed employee, who may be appointed on a permanent basis if found reachable on a civil service list established as a result of this exam. This examination is also being held to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies, which may occur during the life of the eligible list.

An eligible may receive only one permanent appointment from this list. Once appointed, there will be a Probationary Period of 8 to 52-weeks based on performance of duties.

CANDIDATES MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF GENESEE, ERIE, LIVINGSTON, MONROE, NIAGARA, ORLEANS OR WYOMING COUNTY AT THE TIME OF EXAMINATION AND FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE EXAMINATION. ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF A CIVIL DIVISION MAY BE GIVEN PREFERENCE IN APPOINTMENT TO VACANCIES IN THEIR AREA OF RESIDENCY.

LAST FILING DATE----------NOVEMBER 6, 2019

EXAMINATION DATE----------DECEMBER 14, 2019

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet the following requirements on or before the date of the written exam:

Graduation from high school or possession of an appropriate equivalency diploma recognized by the NYS Department of Education, AND EITHER:

A.        A Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Data Processing or closely related field, [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT TO YOUR APPLICATION];          

OR:

B.        An Associate’s Degree from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Data Processing or closely related field, AND two (2) years of full-time, paid experience working in an office or agency which required computer operations support or related work such as analysis, technical support, implementation and delivery of information systems or financial record keeping, [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT AND INDICATE ALL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION];

OR:

C.        Four (4) years of full-time, paid experience working in an office or agency which required computer operations support or related work such as analysis, technical support, implementation and delivery of information systems, or  financial record keeping, [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE INDICATE ALL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION].

NOTE: Part-time paid experience will be pro-rated.

NOTE:  PHOTO ID WILL BE REQUIRED ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION.

CANDIDATES, PLEASE NOTE: It is vital that you submit, with your application, all information necessary to show your qualification for examination.  APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT SHOW TRAINING AND/OR EXPERIENCE TO MEET MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE DISAPPROVED, AND WE WILL NOT REFER TO OTHER APPLICATIONS ON FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NOTE – FILING FEES: (The acceptance of your application is dependent upon your following these instructions accurately):

A fee of $20.00 is required for each separately-numbered examination for which you apply.  The required fee must accompany your application.  The fee may be submitted in the form of either CASH or CREDIT CARD (if delivered in person), PERSONAL CHECK or MONEY ORDER, (if by mail).  Personal Checks and Money Orders must be payable to the GENESEE COUNTY TREASURER.  Please write the examination number(s) on your personal check or money order.  YOUR APPLICATION FEE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED if you do not meet the requirements for admission to the examination. Compare your qualifications carefully to the requirements stated on the announcement and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are receiving unemployment and are primarily responsible for the support of a household.  In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving   Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Family assistance or Safety Net Assistance), or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.  All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. In order for us to verify your eligibility for an application fee waiver, you must complete a “Request for Fee Waiver” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Last Filing Date as indicated on the Examination Announcement. The “Request for Fee Waiver” form can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Operates the computer and peripheral equipment including input of data and the removal of outputs as required by application systems;

Monitors the Help Desk and ongoing operations by observing the consoles and on-line terminals and determines whether the programs appear to be operating correctly;

Provides technical support and assistance to both mainframe and P.C. users within the scope of knowledge and authority, or forwards the call to the appropriate staff member;

Identifies system malfunctions and initiates corrective action within the scope of knowledge and authority, or seeks assistance from a supervisor when causes of problems are not apparent;

Confers with technical staff when errors require a change in instructions or sequence of operations;

Maintains data production logs, reports, statistics or other usage operations in regard to Help Desk functions and departmental inventory;

May act as the first point of contact for staff, users, vendors or other outside agencies;

May resolve difficult customer service inquiries, or problems;

Compiles, prepares, reviews or analyzes a wide variety of complex financial and statistical reports;

Reviews, monitors and assists in the preparation of the department’s annual operating budget to insure the maintenance of necessary financial controls;

Is responsible for the interaction with vendors, including receipt and accounting of invoices, proposals, requisitions and related tasks;

Research information, organize and compile results, prepare detailed summaries and track progress of projects, payments, expenditures and reimbursements;

Assist with administration and coordination of special events, activities, training, programs, and or projects;

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:

1.  Preparing Written Material

2.  Following Directions

3.  Operation of Computer Hardware and Peripheral Equipment

4.  Principles of Providing User Support

CANDIDATES ARE ALLOWED TO USE QUIET, HAND-HELD, SOLAR OR BATTERY POWERED CALCULATORS.  CELL PHONES OR DEVICES WITH TYPEWRITER KEYBOARDS ARE PROHIBITED.

EXPANDED SUB-TEST DESCRIPTION: 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.

Following Directions-These questions test your ability to follow physical/geographic directions using building maps and related written information. You will have to read and understand a set of directions and then use them on a simple map.

Operation of Computer Hardware and Peripheral Equipment-These questions test for technical knowledge and concepts relevant to information technology and the operation of a computer and associated peripheral equipment. Although the questions asked are not specific to any vendor or any model of computer, the questions on storage media and peripheral equipment cover such subjects as characteristics of tape and disk systems as storage media, basic data communications terms, and the operation of peripheral equipment.

Principles of Providing User Support-These questions test for knowledge and skill in working in a user support situation. They cover such subjects as how to communicate effectively with users requesting help; how to deal with different types of situations; troubleshooting techniques; and how to gather, organize and make available technical information needed to provide support.

Test Guide:
The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

CROSS-FILING: If you have applied for other local government or state examinations, call or write to each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations.  You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examinations.  The “Cross-filer Form” for Genesee County can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

NOTE: Religious Accommodations, Persons with Disabilities or Active Military: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on your application. An explanation of your need for special testing accommodations must be attached to your application.  If due to disability – medical documentation must be provided.

ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS:Any member of the armed forces of the United States who has duly filed an application to compete in a scheduled competitive examination but was deprived of the opportunity to compete in the examination due to active military duty could be provided with a special military make-up examination. Current members of the Armed Forces may apply for Veteran’s credits by filing an “Application for Veteran’s Credits” (Form VC-1).  The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us. Proof of military status must also be presented and verified in order for consideration of granting of “conditional” Veteran’s credit.  Acceptable proof may include a military I.D. card, military orders, or other official military document that substantiates active military service at time of exam.  This documentation and VC-1 Form must be received prior to the establishment of the Eligible List for this examination.  The “conditional” status of the additional credits will remain until proof is provided indicating that the service was in time of war and that the veteran received an honorable discharge, or was released under honorable circumstances.

VETERANS: Additional credits are available to veterans who meet certain established requirements.  Veterans who have not exhausted their credits should make application for their use, if desired.  A COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR VETERANS CREDITS (FORM VC-1) AND a COPY OF SEPARATION PAPERS (FORM DD-214) MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST FOR THIS EXAMINATION IS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ADDITIONAL CREDITS.  DISABLED VETERANS MUST SUBMIT, IN ADDITION, A COPY OF FORM VC-3 (AUTHORIZATION FOR DISABILITY RECORD). The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit must provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility within thirty (30) days of the examination date. No credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS: College graduates with student loans may be eligible to have part of their loan paid for after being employed in a full-time position at Genesee County. Additional information is available at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/public-service-loan-forgiveness.pdf.

PLACE TO FILE: To get an application, come in or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Genesee County Human Resources, County Building I, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or download from website: www.co.genesee.ny.us. Phone 344-2550, Ext. 2223.

Applications mailed to us must be postmarked with a date no later than the last filing date indicated on this announcement.

All correspondence will be sent only to the address provided on the application for examination. It is your responsibility to inform the Genesee County Human Resources office of any change of address. Correspondence returned for incorrect address will not be forwarded.  All address changes must be submitted to the Genesee County Human Resources office in writing.

APPLICANTS: Please contact this office three days prior to examination if you have not been notified by us, as to your eligibility to participate in this examination.