Exam Bulletin

Department of Social Services

Exam Code: EX-2262

Examination Plans Included:

  • OFFICE SERVICES SUPERVISOR (GENERAL) - Promotional

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

OFFICE SERVICES SUPERVISOR (GENERAL) : $3,543.00 - $4,651.00 per Month

View the OFFICE SERVICES SUPERVISOR (GENERAL) classification specification.

Application Instructions

The Office Services Supervisor I (General) examination package consists of an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and a Training and Experience examination. The link to the examination can be found under the Examination Information section on this bulletin.

This examination utilizes monthly cut-offs. Each cut-off date is anticipated to be on the last calendar day every month. Cut-off dates are subject to change, please see below for the most current cut-off dates.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 6/30/2024
  • 7/31/2024
  • 8/31/2024
  • 9/30/2024
  • 10/31/2024
  • 11/30/2024
  • 12/31/2024

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

Results will be sent by mail or electronically within 2 weeks following each cut-off date.

Who Should Apply:

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.

Promotional Examination(s):

  • OFFICE SERVICES SUPERVISOR (GENERAL) - Promotional

In addition to meeting the Minimum Qualifications, competition is limited to individuals who meet at least one of the following filing criteria:

  • 1. Have a permanent civil service appointment with a promotional testing department (see Testing Departments), or
  • 2. Are current or former employees of the legislature for 2 or more years as defined in Government Code 18990, or
  • 3. Are current or former non-elected exempt employees of the executive branch for 2 or more consecutive years as defined in Govt. Code 18992, or
  • 4. Are persons retired from the United States military honorably discharged from active duty with a service disability or honorably discharged from active duty as defined in Government Code 18991. Applicants must provide a copy of discharge papers (DD 214) for verification purposes at the time of application.

Under certain circumstances other employees may be allowed to compete under provisions of Rules 234, 235 and 235.2. California Code of Regulations Rules 233, 234, 235.2 and 237 contain provisions regarding civil service status and eligibility for promotional examinations.

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2262

For OFFICE SERVICES SUPERVISOR (GENERAL) , once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02262

How To Apply:

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.

You may apply by mail to:

  • Examinations Unit
    California Department of Social Services
    P. O. Box 944243 - MS 8-15-58
    Sacramento, CA 94244-2430

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

  • California Department of Social Services
    744 P Street MS 8-15-58
    Sacramento, CA 94244-2430
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit their State Examination Application and Training and Experience Assessment packets on time and to ensure the envelope is postmarked if applying by way of U.S. mail or contains proof of timely deposit with a parcel delivery or courier service. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the United States Postal Service (USPS), are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an examination application.
Application packets may be personally delivered between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except State holidays), to the Department of Social Services, HRSB - Examination Unit, Mail Station 8-15-58.

You may email your completed Examination Packet (STD 678 and T&E):

Examinations@dss.ca.gov

For e-mail submission, documents must be attached as a PDF file to your email, no other format will be accepted.

The State Examination Application (STD. 678) is available through your CalCareers Account or the internet at State Examination Application (Std. 678). Please be sure to include your current email address on your State Examination Application.

Special Testing Arrangements:

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.

Minimum Qualifications

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

00101141 - OFFICE SERVICES SUPERVISOR (GENERAL)

Either I:
One year of experience in California state service performing duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to Office Assistant, Range B.

Or II:
Two years of clerical experience performing duties pertinent to the specialty for which application is made.

All Levels:
In meeting the requirements under the II pattern, academic education above the twelfth grade may be substituted for one year of the required general experience on the basis of either (a) one year of general education being equivalent to three months of experience; or (b) one year of education of a business or commercial nature being equivalent to six months of experience.

Note: Applicants must submit a copy of their unofficial college transcripts along with the application package when using education to meet the entrance requirements for this examination.

Position Description

00101141 - OFFICE SERVICES SUPERVISOR (GENERAL)

This is the working supervisor level. Under general supervision, incumbents train new employees, supervise a small group engaged in difficult clerical work and personally perform the most complex work.  The scope of the duties supervised by incumbents in the general classes include: receptionist and secretarial support; typing and word processing support; mail and document receiving and distribution; filing and records management; document preparation and review; composition of letters, procedure manuals and reports; gathering and giving of information over the telephone or by personal contact; statistical, financial, and other record-keeping functions; cashiering; and ordering and maintaining supplies and equipment.

Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.

Office Services Supervisor I (General):
Ability to: Operate equipment required in the performance of the journey level duties of the specialty for which application is made. Examples include typewriter, dictaphone, calculating machine, or copying machine.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

The examination will consist of a Training and Experience Assessment (supplement report) weighted 100%. The link to the PDF examination is provided below.

The examination is designed to elicit specific information regarding each candidate’s training and experience relative to the classification. Responses to the examination will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria.

Applications will be reviewed by the Examinations Unit to determine if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their completed Training and Experience Assessment rated.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Supplemental ReportWith Application100%

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

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

Complete and submit the following items with your application. These will be scored and count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items will result in disqualification from the examination.

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:

Knowledge of:
1. Modern office methods, supplies and equipment.
2. Business English and correspondence.
3. Principles and techniques of effective supervision and training.
4. Department's Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives.
5. A supervisor's role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program and the processes available to meet Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.

Ability to:
1. Perform difficult clerical work, including ability to spell correctly, use good English and make arithmetical computations.
2. Follow oral and written directions.
3. Evaluate situations accurately and take effective action.
4. Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance.
5. Make clear and comprehensive reports and keep difficult records.
6. Meet and deal tactfully with the public.
7. Apply specific laws, rules, and office policies and procedures.
8. Prepare correspondence independently utilizing a wide knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and spelling.
9. Communicate effectively.
10. Plan, organize, direct, and supervise the work of others.
11. Promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Promotional eligible list for the OFFICE SERVICES SUPERVISOR (GENERAL) Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Social Services

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.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference is not granted for promotional examinations.

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

Testing Departments

  • Department of Social Services

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Social Services
Examinations Unit
P. O. Box 944243 - MS 8-15-58
Sacramento, CA 94244-2430
Phone: (916) 657-1762
Examinations@dss.ca.gov

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

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.

Department of Social Services 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.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)
Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)