2018 CITY OF PITTSBURGH CLERK INFORMATION BROCHURE Thank you for your interest in employment with the City of Pittsburgh. It is our hope that this brochure is helpful to you as you consider applying and testing for a Clerk position with the city. Revised June 2013
GENERAL INFORMATION The current employment announcement for the position of Clerk is posted for a two week period. Clerk includes Clerk 1 and Clerk 2. The Clerk 1 and 2 positions are included in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 2719 bargaining unit and will be filled in accordance with the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This Clerk Information Brochure includes the following key sections with definitions, procedural information and appropriate contacts for additional information. 1. Application Process..Pages 2-3 Application Process Application documents 2. Clerk Eligibility Process..Page 4 What is Civil Service eligibility? Standardized eligibility process 3. Civil Service Examinations..Pages 5-6 Scheduling Administration Scoring 4. Clerk Eligibility List.Page 7 5. Bid Process Current City Employees...Page 8
CLERK APPLICATION PROCESS Application Process: You must apply for the Clerk position online at the City of Pittsburgh s online employment center: http://www.pghjobs.net. There are three (3) steps to apply online. First, you must register on the online employment center. This will require a personal email address and a password. Second, you must input all of your Employment Profile Data (your education and work experiences). Third, you must apply for the position of Clerk by clicking on the Apply button online. If the City of Pittsburgh is not currently recruiting for the position of Clerk 1 & 2 you may submit an online Job Interest Card. Once the City begins recruiting for the position, you will be notified via email and may then go online to apply. Part of the application includes Supplemental Questions. The Application s Supplemental Questions ensure that you possess the minimum job qualifications for the Clerk 1 and 2 positions (See the section on the Employment Announcement titled Qualifying Requirements). The minimum qualifying requirements are determined by the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service through an official job analysis of each position. The Supplemental Questions include questions that relate specifically to the minimum requirements. You should view and print out the following online materials: the job announcement and the examination candidate preparation guide. If you have any questions during the online application process, you can call the Human Resources Department at 412-255-2710 for assistance. It is a good idea, if you are uncertain that your application was submitted, to call and verify its submission.
Application Documents As stated above you should be sure to print out: A Clerk position Employment Announcement Candidate Preparation Guide The Clerk employment announcement lists eligibility requirements, job duties and required abilities, working conditions and physical demands of the job, and an overview of the position benefits. The Clerk Examination Candidate Preparation Guide is a comprehensive document outlining the specifics of each examination portion and offering sample exam items. This guide also offers test taking strategies and tips. All of the online application data must be completed; otherwise you may be disqualified from further consideration for the Clerk position.
CLERK ELIGIBILITY PROCESS The Civil Service term eligibility refers to whether or not an individual meets the minimum qualifications for a position. A person who meets the requirements is eligible and a person who does not meet the requirements is ineligible. Standardized Eligibility Process For the position of Clerk, Civil Service staff determines an applicant s eligibility by reviewing the submitted application data. Based on work experience and/or educational background, applicants may be determined eligible for the Clerk 1 position, for both the Clerk 1 and 2 positions, or they may be determined ineligible based on a review of their data. Eligibility determinations (eligible or ineligible) are input into each applicant s record in the Human Resources and Civil Service applicant database. Eligible candidates will receive an Admission Letter via USPS Mail and also by email, and will be instructed to go online and schedule themselves for the Civil Service Clerk examination. Ineligible candidates will receive a letter stating that they are not eligible. The letter also includes information regarding the Civil Service ineligible appeal process. If you have questions related to the Clerk eligibility process, you may call the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service Applications Section at 412-255-2710.
CLERK CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS Civil Service examinations are developed and conducted to ensure that the most qualified candidates are hired by the City of Pittsburgh. The Clerk examination process includes an automated Microsoft Word assessment and a written General Clerical Aptitude Test (GCAT). The development of the Clerk examination is based on the position duties and knowledge/abilities listed on the employment announcement, and are a result of the official job analysis of the position. The examination is administered in a standard format by Department of Human Resources and Civil Service staff. Examination Scheduling Candidates who are determined to be eligible will be sent letters and an e mail stating they need to go online and schedule themselves for the exam. This is the official Admission Letter. The examinations are conducted in Room 445 of the City-County Building. The Clerk Admission Letter will have a blank space for the date and time of the scheduled examination. Once you schedule yourself for this examination you will fill in the information on your Admission Letter. This letter MUST be brought to the examination for admission.
Examination Administration Candidates will be admitted to the examination at the time they are scheduled. The first examination portion is the MS Word Assessment, followed by the GCAT. You must pass the assessment portion in order to take the written portion. The total time to complete all portions is approximately one (1) hour. The scoring of the Word Assessment will be immediate. Candidates who fail the Word Assessment portion of the exam will immediately be dismissed. The scoring of the GCAT will take place at a later date and score letters will be sent out accordingly. Examination Scoring Complete scoring information is included in the Clerk Examination Candidate Preparation Guide that is posted online. The automated Microsoft Word Assessment and the written GCAT portions of the examination are graded. Candidates must pass the written GCAT with a minimum score of 75%. Those who pass both portions of the examination, will receive a final score letter. If you have any questions related to the examination scheduling, administration, and/or scoring, call the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service at 412-255-2710.
CLERK ELIGIBILITY LIST The Clerk eligibility list is comprised of the names of those candidates who pass the examination. It is the official list that Human Resources and Civil Service must use to determine who the hiring department can interview and hire to fill a position. The eligibility list is sent by Human Resources and Civil Service to the hiring department. If you have taken and passed the Clerk examination, you may be contacted by the hiring department regarding further consideration for a position being filled. The Clerk eligibility list includes each candidate s name, final score and eligibility expiration date. The list also notes the date a candidate is appointed to the position, if applicable. Names on the eligibility list are in alphabetical order by last name. If you would like to view the Clerk eligibility list, you may do so at the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service employment counter on the 4 th floor of the City-County Building. Candidates who take and pass the Clerk examination may be considered for positions for up to two years after their name is placed on the eligibility list. The date that your name will be removed from the list is noted on the list. If you have any questions related to the eligibility list process, call the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service at 412-255-2710.
CLERK BID PROCESS - CURRENT EMPLOYEES According to the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 2719 bargaining unit agreement, current City employees have bid rights, or first consideration for Clerk position vacancies. When a Clerk position becomes available, the Human Resources and Civil Service staff post a Notice of Bid for two weeks. Current City of Pittsburgh employees who are eligible for the position may submit a bid form and their eligibility will be determined in accordance with American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 2719 bargaining unit contract provisions. The results of the bid are sent to the hiring department. If there are no eligible bidders for the job, then the Civil Service eligibility list is sent to the hiring department. If you have questions related to the Clerk bid process, call the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service at 412-255-2710.