This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

• PERSONNEL SPECIALIST - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

1984

For PERSONNEL SPECIALIST, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-01984

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

1. Think logically, multitask, and apply laws, rules, regulations, and bargaining contract provisions concerning personnel transactions
2. Independently interpret and use reference material
3. Give and follow directions
4. Gather data
5. Design and prepare tables, spreadsheets, and charts
6. Advise employees of their rights
7. Consult with supervisors on alternative actions which they may take on various transaction situations
8. Communicate effectively
9. Operate a computer keyboard/terminal
10. Establish and maintain cooperative working relations with those contacted during the course of the work
11. Organize and prioritize work
12. Create/draft correspondence
13. Maintain personnel records

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the PERSONNEL SPECIALIST Classification will be established for:

• State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

• A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
• A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

1. Prioritizing and organizing workload to ensure assignments are completed by established time frames.
2. Verifying the completeness and accuracy of forms and/or documents.
3. Reading and interpreting technical information materials (e.g., policies and procedures, law, contracts, manuals, numerical data) necessary to complete personnel documents.
4. Reading and interpreting reference materials and/or numerical data in order to make decisions and provide information.
5. Conducting research to retrieve information and data for work assignments.
6. Performing mathematical computations (e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages) utilizing the basic functions of a calculator to complete assignments.
7. Applying basic math principles as they relate to personnel/payroll matters (e.g., calculations of salaries).
8. Gathering data to provide information and/or direction to others.
9. Collecting, organizing and compiling data and/or information into written documents (e.g., memoranda, letters, correspondence, reports).
10. Providing customer service in accordance with established expectations related to personnel services.
11. Responding to telephone and/or email inquiries to provide information and answer questions for internal and external customers.
12. Communicating with various internal/external staff to obtain information, guidance and/or clarification.
13. Defusing situations with difficult or upset individuals in the work place.
14. Communicating difficult concepts clearly and effectively (e.g., technical material).
15. Collecting attendance/time keeping documents or reports used to calculate pay.
16. Processing employee benefit enrollment forms (e.g., health, dental, vision, long-term disability, life insurance and/or COBRA) in compliance with work processes and procedures.
17. Providing employees with information on disability benefit options.
18. Preparing and responding to requests for employment verifications.
19. Calculating salary advances for employees in compliance with work processes and procedures.
20. Calculating salary for appointments (e.g., new hires, promotions).
21. Tracking and verifying that salary increases for employees are processed timely.
22. Processing, tracking, and/or collecting money owed by the employee to the employer.
23. Processing, tracking, and/or distributing salary garnishments to ensure compliance with court orders.
24. Preparing separation/final pay documents to determine final compensation, and appropriate benefits.
25. Using word processing software to prepare memoranda, correspondence, and other documents and materials.
26. Using electronic database (information storage and retrieval systems) programs to enter, organize, track, and retrieve information.

• State of California

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.