This is a departmental promotional examination for the Department of Social Services.

1. Applicants must have a permanent civil service appointment with the Department of Social Services as of the final filing date, in order to participate in this examination; or
2. Must be a current or former employee of the Legislature for two or more years as defined in Government Code Section 18890; or
3. Must be a current or former non-elected exempt employee of the Executive Branch for two or more consecutive years as defined in Government Code Section 18992; or
4. Must be a person retired from the United States military, honorably discharged from active military duty with a service-connected disability, or honorably discharged from active duty as defined in Government Code Section 18991.

For applicants under items 2, 3, or 4, if promotional examinations are given by more than one department for the same classification, the applicant must select one department in which to compete. If applicable, submit a copy of the DD214 or other official discharge documents.

The State Examination Application (Form 678) must be submitted either by: 

File in Person                                            Mail
Department of Social Services                     Department of Social Services
Personnel Bureau, Examination Unit            Personnel Bureau, Examination Unit 
744 P Street, MS 8-15-59                            P.O. Box 944243
Sacramento, CA 95814                                Sacramento, CA 94244-2430



Please indicate examination title on your application. Applications received without an examination title will not be accepted and will be returned.

State Application (Form 678) can be obtained at Employment Development Department offices, or  can be download from the State Personnel Board website at:
http://www.spb.ca.gov/jobs/stateapp_adobe.htm

DO NOT SUMBIT APPLICATIONS TO THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD.

If you have a disability and need special testing arrangements, mark the appropriate box in Part 2 of the “Examination Application.” You will be contacted to make specific arrangements.

Accepted applicants are required to bring either a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification to each phase of the examination.

A departmental promotional eligible list will be established for the Department listed.  The list will be abolished 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

It is your responsibility to make sure you meet the education and/or experience requirements by the final file date. Your signature on your application indicates that you read, understood, and possess the basic qualifications required.

Qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" I, "or" II, etc. For example, candidates possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern I, and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern II, may be admitted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

EITHER I

One year of experience in the California state service performing duties comparable to an Associate Programmer Analyst (Specialist) or Associate Programmer Analyst (Supervisor).

OR II

Two years of progressively responsible experience in information technology systems study, design, and programming, which shall have included responsibility on a project for analyzing operational methods and developing computer programs to meet desired results. One year of experience in this pattern must include independent performance of programming and analysis work, lead of a programming team, or participation as a team member on projects of a very complex nature or broad scope.

 OR III  

Thirty semester units or 45 quarter units of graduate work in information technology-related coursework from a recognized college or university.

A Staff Programmer Analyst (Specialist), under general supervision, acts as a project leader on complex application, and/or on complex information technology system problems; and works independently as a technical specialist.

This examination will consist of a Qualifications Appraisal Interview.  The interview will include a number of predetermined job-related questions.  In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, a minimum rating of 70% must be attained.  COMPETITORS WHO DO NOT APPEAR FOR THE INTERVIEW WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. 

It is anticipated that interviews will be conducted in January or Februay of 2010.  Ordinarily, interviews are scheduled in Sacramento; however, locations of interviews may change as conditions warrant.

Knowledge of:   
1. Information technology system programming, equipment, and its capabilities.
2. Principles and techniques of studying work processes for new or revised 
    information technology system applications.
3. Principles of designing methods of processing information.
4. Technical report writing.
5. Statistical methods.
6. Principles of public administration, organization, and management.
7. Principles of personnel management.

Ability to:   
1. Write complex programs and develop detailed program specifications.
2. Analyze information and situations, reason logically and creatively, 
    identify problems, draw valid conclusions, and develop effective solutions.
3. Apply creative thinking in the design and development of methods of 
    processing information with information technology systems.
4. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those

    contacted in the course of the work.
5. Communicate effectively.
6. Prepare effective reports.

Veterans preference will not be granted in this examination.

Please click on the link below to review the official California State Personnel Board class specification:

http://spb.ca.gov/jobs/resources/jobspecs.htm