Residence Requirements:

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS:  CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY OR AN ERIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT* FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY OR AN ERIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT* AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. Preference may be given to successful candidates who have been residents of the municipality in which the appointment is to be made for one month preceding the date of the certification of the eligible list and who are residents of the municipality at the time of appointment.  Non-residents may be required to become a resident of the appointing municipality if local law so states.  * Candidates who reside in a school district which, for civil service purposes is administered by the Erie County Personnel Commissioner, but who are not legal residents of Erie County may apply for examination.  However they will be certified for appointment only in the school district in which they are legal residents. 

The eligible list resulting from this examination will also be used to fill present and future vacancies in Erie County Departments, Towns, Villages, School Districts and Special Districts. In each case, certification may be limited to legal residents of the jurisdiction in which the vacancy exists. The salary range for Erie County Departments is $25,022 - $30,769. Salaries vary among the other jurisdictions, municipalities and districts.

Under current New York State Law, candidates seeking employment with school districts in New York State will be required to undergo fingerprinting and a criminal history background check prior to appointment. A processing fee may be required.

Examples of Duties:

A Clerk Typist utilizes enhanced computer systems and equipment in the completion of assigned clerical tasks;

types forms, form letters, payrolls, bills, vouchers, records, reports, index cards and similar materials;

relieves telephone switchboard operator;

collects money and accounts for monies received;

answers telephone, takes messages, relays information directly or over intercommunication system;

assists in the preparation of payrolls and the maintenance of time cards;

sorts correspondence, vouchers, and similar materials;

makes and checks routine arithmetical computations;

files correspondence, memoranda, reports and other materials;

acts as receptionist, directing callers to the proper person or office; and gives information of a routine nature;

operates office machines;

indexes materials;

performs routine office work involved in the issuance of licenses and permits, in preparation of tax rolls, and in preparation, mailing and collection of tax and utility bills;

Utilizes enhanced computer systems and equipment in the completion of assigned clerical tasks. 

Qualifications:

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

Graduation from a standard senior high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma, including or supplemented by a course in typing.

Notes:

NOTES:  1.  Office clerical experience may be substituted for high school graduation on a year for year basis provided the candidate has successfully completed a typing course.  2.  Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting the experience requirements. 

A Guide to the Written Test for Entry-Level  Clerical/Steno/Typist Series is available at the New York State website: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm and the Erie County website under Civil Service Study Guides (http://www2.erie.gov/employment/index.php?q=civil-service-study-guides.) Candidates not having access to a computer or the internet may request copy of the test guide from the municipal civil service office conducting this examination using the contact information found elsewhere on this announcement.

Subjects of Examination:

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

1. ALPHABETIZING:  These questions are designed to test a candidate's ability to file material accurately in alphabetic order.
2. RECORDKEEPING:  These questions are designed to test a candidate's ability to perform common 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.
3. CLERICAL OPERATIONS, WITH LETTERS & NUMBERS:  These questions are designed to test a candidate's visual perception and basic clerical accuracy in working with alphanumeric characters. The candidate is required to read, compare, check, reorder, and count letters and numbers following specific directions for each question. Knowledge of the alphabet and the ability to count are required.
4. SPELLING:  These questions are designed to test the candidate's ability to spell words that office employees might encounter in their daily work.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES:  It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculator.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited.  You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $15.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.