Schenectady County Government’s goal is to create a workforce that is committed to public service and quality performance. Schenectady County government is committed to creating a strong, diverse and inclusive workforce ready to serve the residents of Schenectady County. The Schenectady County Human Resources Department strives to provide a comprehensive range of supports to our employees, to all levels of County government and to the municipalities that we serve. The Department assists with benefit and policy administration; acts as the liaison on human resource matters; ensures county compliance with applicable state and federal laws; and provides employee professional development.
Under the leadership of the Schenectady County Civil Service Commission, the department also provides local civil service functions to all local government jurisdictions within Schenectady County. This includes conducting civil service exams, establishing and maintaining eligible civil service lists, and ensuring compliance with New York State Civil Service Law.
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Take the steps towards a rewarding career in public service. Schenectady County employees work hard everyday delivering essential services and maintaining public infrastructure. Schenectady County is seeking passionate and hardworking candidates with a strong desire to help others to fill several Civil Service vacancies.
Register for an open exam, apply for a job, or sign up to receive career notifications.
- Civil Service Commission
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The Schenectady County Civil Service Commission meets the third Tuesday of every month, unless that Monday is a Holiday and the meeting is then held that Thursday.
Civil Service Commission Meeting
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 1:00PM620 State Street
2nd Floor
Schenectady, NY 12305
2024 Meetings:
November Commission Meeting Minutes
October Commission Meeting Minutes
September Commission Meeting Minutes
August Commission Meeting Minutes
July Commission Meeting Minutes
June Commission Meeting Minutes
May Commission Meeting Minutes
April Commission Meeting Minutes
March Commission Meeting Minutes
February Commission Meeting Minutes
January Commission Meeting Minutes2023 Meetings:
December Commission Meeting Minutes
November Commission Meeting Minutes
October Commission Meeting Minutes
September Commission Meeting Minutes
August Commission Meeting Minutes
July Commission Meeting Minutes
June Commission Meeting Minutes
The New York State Civil Service system was developed to ensure that the best and brightest employees are brought into public service. The Schenectady County Department of Civil Service was established, per Article V, Section 6, of the New York State Constitution, to ensure that appointments and promotions in the civil service of the state and all of the civil divisions shall be made according to merit and fitness; and, as far as practicable, shall be in the competitive class.
The Schenectady County Civil Service Commission is responsible for five major areas of Civil Service administration. These are 1) adoption of civil service rules; 2) the classification of positions, 3) the administration of an examination program, 4) the maintenance of employee records, and 5) the enforcement of Civil Service Law through the payroll and certification process. The Schenectady County Civil Service Commission and this department serve all of the municipal jurisdictions throughout Schenectady County including the Towns of Glenville, Rotterdam, Niskayuna, Princetown, and Duanesburg; the City of Schenectady, the Villages of Delanson and Scotia, all of the school districts throughout the County and other public entities such as the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority.
Thank you for taking time to visit our webpage and I invite you to contact our office with any questions you may have!
Civil Service Commission Members
Judy Dagostino, Chairperson
B. Don Ackerman
Richard G. Nebolini
- FAQ
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How are test scores on a written civil service test determined?
First, the raw score is determined which is generally the number of questions the candidate answers correctly. After the results are analyzed, a band score table is constructed for the test. The band score table is then applied to the raw score to determine the final score. Typically, a band score covers a range of scores and bands are reported in five point increments. This method of scoring is called band scoring.
Example: A range of raw scores from 45 to 47 are assigned a band score of 80.
If you received a raw score of either 45, 46 or 47, your final score would be 80.
Some candidates are entitled to veterans' credits. In accordance with the New York State Constitution, these credits are added to the final scores of passing candidates. Veterans' credits cannot be added to failed scores. On open competitive examinations, which are those open to the general public, qualified non-disabled veterans receive 5 points and disabled veterans receive 10 points.
Why are tests band scored?
Band scoring provides a more realistic assessment of a candidate's performance on written tests than point-by-point scoring. It takes into account that no test can measure a candidate's abilities with perfect confidence or assess all the abilities relevant to a given job. Also, increasing the use of band scoring on civil service tests considerably opens the field of candidates who can be considered for appointment.
How can I have the same score as someone else and be ranked differently?
Municipal civil service rules provide that candidates on an eligible list be ranked. For information on the method used to rank candidates with the same score, candidates should consult the agency responsible for administering the examination.
Who can be considered for appointment from a civil service list?
Everyone ranked above or tied with the third candidate on the eligible list can be considered for appointment. This is sometimes referred to as the Rule of Three.
In accordance with Civil Service Law, appointing authorities may elect to give preference in appointment to residents of their jurisdiction. In these instances, a list of resident eligibles is considered first for appointment. The Rule of Three is applied to this resident list.
How could I get the same failing score on two different tests?
Using the band scoring method, all failing scores are reported as "60." For instance, say a test has 90 questions, and the minimum passing score is set at 54 raw score points. If you answered less than 54 questions correctly, your final score would be reported as "60."