How can I tell if I have enough experience to meet the minimum qualifications?
The experience rating scale is located under the General Instructions to Applicants.
Experience will be rated as follows:
- 1-10 hours worked per week = ¼ time of full time experience;
- 11-20 hours worked per week = ½ time of full time experience;
- 21-30 hours worked per week = ¾ time of full time experience;
- 31-40 hours worked per week = full time.
On a paper application, when entering average number of hours worked per week, enter a single number that is the closest approximation and not a range.
I received my qualifying degree/higher education in a foreign country, what documentation do I need?
If the minimum qualifications on an announcement require a degree or course work and you have obtained this education in another country, please visit the NYS Dept of Civil Service Evaluations of Foreign Education web page for a listing of agencies that provide evaluations of foreign education for employment in the civil service of New York State:
Evaluation fees must be paid by the applicant.
Are study materials available?
We advise applicants to use the "scope of examination" section of the announcement as a guide for studying.
- If a study guide published by the NYS Department of Civil Service exists for a particular exam, this will be noted on the exam announcement directly underneath the scope, along with a link to it.
- The study guides published by the NYS Department of Civil Service provide sample questions and not exam content.
- They give examples of the format of the questions but do not address the range of subject matter you may see on the exam.
- Some additional materials may be available through public libraries, public employee unions and private publishers.
- We can make no recommendation on the quality or usefulness of such materials nor do we provide or publish any materials ourselves.
I filed for an exam. When should I expect contact from Watervliet Civil Service?
- Check your email regularly following application submission as we often need more information to complete the approval process.
- If you do not hear from us by email, you can expect to receive an appearance letter.
- Appearance letters are typically mailed to arrive at least three days prior to the Saturday on which the test is being held.
- If you have not received your letter by the Wednesday prior to the exam, call us at (518) 270-8300, Ext. 114).
- The appearance letter will indicate the time and location of the test and must be brought to the exam site along with a qualifying photo ID.
- Disqualification notices are usually sent out much sooner and may be in the form of an email.
- If you have been disqualified, follow the instructions on your notice if you believe you have additional, relevant information that may change your application status.
- If applying online, you will receive an auto-generated email indicating you have successfully submitted your application but that does not imply that you have been approved.
- Continue to check your email following application submission for requests for additional information from us and/or possible exam rescheduling/cancellation (weather emergencies, public health emergencies, etc.).
What are the exams like?
- Civil service exams may consist of
- a written test
- a performance test,
- an evaluation of education, training and experience or
- a combination of these.
- The exam announcement will indicate which type of test(s) will be given.
- Written tests typically consist only of multiple choice questions.
What is the difference between an open-competitive and promotional exam?
- Open-competitive exams can be taken by any individuals who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications cited on the exam announcement.
- Promotional exams are restricted to current employees of the participating agency or appointing authority who meet the service requirement as cited on the announcement.
- It is possible for current employees to take both the open-competitive and promotional version of a given exam, and appear on both lists if they pass.
- Promotional lists are often canvassed before open-competitive lists when both lists exist for a title.
What is a training and experience exam?
A training and experience exam is a method of testing whereby a candidate receives a test score based on the information contained in the application and/or a questionnaire completed by eligible candidates.
The score is calculated from weights given to various factors of education (training) and experience.
How can I review my exam?
Some exam questions may be open to review after the test is held.
- This is called "pre-rating review" and you must request this review at the test site when you finish your exam.
- Requests of this type made after you leave the exam cannot be approved.
- Pre-rating reviews are held the Saturday following the exam at a site determined by the NYS Department of Civil Service (which prepares and scores all written exams).
- You will be able to see the questions and the tentative answers but not your answer sheet.
- This is the forum in which to challenge what you may consider to be an inappropriate question and/or answer.
- Some exams are not open to review.
After you receive your score, you may request a computational review in which you will be able to review a copy of your answer sheet and the final answer key.
- This review is for verification of accuracy in scoring computation only—the test booklet will not be provided.
- Computational review is not permitted for certain exams or for candidates who are immediately reachable for appointment.
- Requests must be made no later than ten days from the date on your result letter to either mmarr@watervlietny.gov or (518) 270-3800 Ext. 112.
How long will it take to get my score?
Watervliet Civil Service has no control over the timing of exam scoring for written exams as that is usually handled in-house by the NYS Department of Civil Service after we send them the exam materials.
When we do receive the scores from NYS, we typically send result letters right away.
The amount of time between taking the exam and the sending of result letters has varied widely in the past and is typically a minimum of four to six months.
What happens if I change my address?
- Candidates are responsible for notifying our office, in writing, of a change of address.
- Do not depend on the postal service to forward your mail in sufficient time to respond to a canvass letter for a position.
- All correspondence returned as "undeliverable as addressed" will result in your name being removed from the eligible list.
- A change of address form can be downloaded on our web site and then mailed to this office or emailed to mmarr@watervlietny.gov or (518) 270-3800 Ext 112.
Will I get the job if I get the highest score?
If you are the top scorer, you might be considered for the job, but having a high score does not guarantee that you will be hired.
The canvass and interview may also be important parts of the selection process. If you are interested in a position, return your canvass letter promptly.
Keep in mind, being reachable on the list does not entitle you to an interview for a vacancy.
