Answer: Exam announcements are available from the Department of Administrative Services (State Employment Examinations ). Announcements for examinations open to the public are also available at the Offices of the Connecticut State Job Centers.
Answer: Follow the instructions on the examination announcement carefully making certain that you submit all required materials and that you send or fax these materials to the proper location.
Most examinations require that you submit a State of Connecticut application form (CT-HR-12). Application forms must have all parts completed, detailing how you meet the minimum experience and training qualifications for each exam for which you apply. (Resumes may be attached, but cannot substitute for completing any part of the application form.) A separate application form must be submitted for each examination you are applying for.
Many examinations also require that you submit additional application or examination materials with your application form. These materials must be submitted with your application form and cannot be accepted at a later date. Read the examination announcement carefully.
The special Internet Application forms for the State Police Trooper Trainee, Correction Officer, Protective Services Trainee and State Marshal examinations are available only when the state is accepting application forms for these examinations.
Answer: Application forms are available from the Department of Administrative Services or at the Offices of the Connecticut State Job Centers.
APPLICATION FORM
Answer: The minimum qualifications for admittance into an examination are detailed on the examination announcement. You must meet all minimum qualifications by the closing date specified on the announcement. The minimum qualifications for an examination may include one or more of the following: General Experience, Special Experience and Special Requirements.
In assessing your experience, please make note of the following rules:
(1) To qualify, the required experience must have been the primary focus of your job.
(2) Time in part-time jobs will be prorated to its full-time (40 hours per week) equivalent.
(3) Credit is not given for overtime hours.
(4) Internships completed as part of an education program will not be counted towards meeting the General or Special experience if your education is considered as a Substitution.
(5) Volunteer experience may be credited, if the experience is documented and is the same type and level of experience as required. (Documentation must include the duties performed and the dates and hours worked.) Hours will be prorated to its full-time equivalent.
(6) Current non-status experience (i.e., provisional, temporary, emergency, temporary service in a higher class etc.) may not be counted toward meeting the minimum qualifications for classes for which the applicant is currently serving in this capacity. This experience can, however, be counted for meeting the minimum requirements for other job classes.
(7) Working out of class statements, signed by the agency head (agency commissioner or agency executive director) or agency human resources administrator must be submitted for state employees claiming to be performing duties outside of their official job classification.
The examination announcement may also contain a section entitled Substitutions Allowed. This section specifies education (such as college credits or degrees), if any, that may substitute for any of the experience requirements.
In assessing your education, please make note of the following rules:
(1) To qualify the education must be from an accredited college or university.
(2) Degrees received from colleges or universities outside of the US will be credited, as appropriate, if a transcript and letter of equivalency from an Accreditation organization is submitted with the application form.
(3) Education must be in the areas specified on the examination announcement, if degree or course areas are specified.
(4) If college credits substitute for experience, they will be substituted in the increments specified on the examination announcement. For example if 15 credit hours substitute for 6 months of experience, college credits will substitute for experience in 15 credit increments (i.e., 15, 30, 45, etc). Credit is not assigned in smaller increments or prorated.
(5) Degrees and/or courses must be completed by the closing date specified on the examination announcement. Courses must be completed and grades issued as recorded on college transcripts and degrees must be completed and conferred as reflected on diplomas.
(6) Substitutions for education cannot be given beyond the maximum specified on the exam announcement. For example, if the announcement states that a Bachelor’s degree can substitute for a maximum of four years of experience, a Master’s degree cannot substitute for additional years of education, unless explicitly stated on the exam announcement.
Answer: Yes, the State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and military veterans.
Answer: All applications are reviewed by Human Resource Specialists at the Department of Administrative Services to make certain that applicants meet the minimum experience and training requirements to be admitted into the examination they are applying for. Applicants meeting the experience and training requirements for a written test are sent an admittance letter, stating the test time and location, about two weeks prior to the exam date listed on the exam announcement. Applicants not meeting the stated experience and training requirements are sent a letter stating that they are ineligible to take the examination and explaining the reasons for this determination. An appeal process is available for applicants who feel that this determination is incorrect.
Applicants who do not submit the required examination materials for an experience and training examination by the closing date of the examination will not be admitted into the examination and will not have the right to appeal this decision. The examination announcement provides detailed instructions for experience and training examinations.
Answer: If you applied for a written or oral test, you will receive an admittance letter about two weeks prior to the test date. (This letter serves as your scheduling letter for the examination.) If you do not receive a letter within a week of the test date, please contact 860-713-5205 or 800-528-7442 (extension 4446).
If you applied for an Experience and Training examination, you will not receive an admittance letter. The first letter, you receive will be your result letter, unless it is determined that you are not admitted into the examination in which case you will receive a letter of rejection
Answer: State of Connecticut employment examinations are developed in house by subject matter experts and testing experts. Test questions are not developed from specific reading materials. Refer to the section on the examination announcement that lists the Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities to determine the areas that are likely to be represented on the test. Use this list as a guide for your preparation. Written tests most often contain multiple-choice and/or essay questions. Please refer to the
Preparation Guide for Written Tests on the DAS website for more information on written tests and preparing for written tests.
You may also want to visit your local library for test preparation materials. Please keep in mind that these materials are not designed to prepare you for any one state employment examination.
Answer: Qualified individuals with a disability that require special testing accommodations under provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact Francine Dew at Statewide Human Resources Management. E-mail Francine at francine.dew@ct. gov. Or you mail call her 860-713-5289 (Fax No. 860-622-2838. Another number to call is 860-713-7463 (voice and TDD) ). Documentation will be required.
Answer: In most cases make-up examinations are permitted. If make-up examinations are not permitted, this will be stated on the examination announcement and/or on your scheduling letter. (Make-up examinations are sometimes not permitted because of the timing, sensitivity or content of the examination.)
Requests for make-up examinations, along with supporting documentation, must be received and approved prior to the test date unless the make-up examination is the result of an emergency situation that occurs the day of the examination. In the case of an emergency situation the day of the examination, a request for a make-up examination, with supporting documentation, must be received within two business days of the originally scheduled test date. DAS reserves the right to deny requests for make-up examinations that are not appropriately justified or that do not meet the above criteria.
Your request must include your name, application number (found on your scheduling letter), examination title, examination date, and e-mail address (if applicable), the reason for the make-up examination, and documentation if required. Requests for make-up examinations must be addressed to:
DAS, Statewide Human Resources Management
Staffing Services
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 404
Hartford, CT 06106
Fax: 860-622-4913
E-mail: Makeup.Exams@ct.gov
Make-up examinations are scheduled during the week. We no longer administer make up exams on Saturdays. All make-up examinations must be completed within two weeks of the scheduled test date. Only one make-up examination will be scheduled. If an applicant does not attend the scheduled make-up examination, no additional make-up tests will be scheduled.
Answer: Yes, supplemental testing will be provided upon request. Requests for supplemental testing must be received and approved prior to the test date. Your request must include your name, social security number, examination title, examination date, the reason for the supplemental testing, and documentation from your religious organization. (You will only need to provide documentation once. The computer will not schedule you for Saturday testing for future examinations.) Requests for supplemental testing for Saturday Religious Observers must be addressed to:
Robin Riddlesworth
DAS, Human Resources Management
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 404
Hartford, CT, 06106
Fax: 860-622-4913
E-mail: makeup.exams@ct.gov
Answer: In most cases you should receive your test results in the mail within three weeks of taking the test. Tests that contain essay questions usually take additional time to score.
Answer: In most cases you should receive your test results approximately four weeks after the closing date for the examination. A date is usually included on the examination announcement.
If the examination is on continuous recruitment and there is no closing date on the announcement, examinations are generally scored every 4 to 8 weeks.
Answer: Official examination scores that are numerical scores are reported in the form of whole numbers. All scores that include fractions or partial points are rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, 82.25 is reported as 82 and 82.75 is reported as 83. When an examination is comprised of multiple components (e.g., 50% written 50% oral), rounding does not occur until the final score is calculated. If an examination contains multiple hurdles and applicants are excluded from the process after each hurdle, rounding occurs after each hurdle.
Answer: Veterans' Preference points are added to passing scores on Open Competitive examinations only. An applicant can receive a maximum of 5 points for Veterans' Preference or a maximum of 10 points for Disabled Veterans' Preference. Please refer to the State of Connecticut application form (CT-HR-12) for specific information on requesting Veterans’ Preference points and criteria for receiving such points. Please remember that in order to receive Veterans’ Preference points a copy of your DD214 must be submitted if it is not already on file at DAS.
To establish eligibility due to disability, the veteran must have been entitled to receive compensation for such disability. Proof of eligibility from the Veterans Administration must be dated not more than six months prior to the date of submission or death of the Veteran.
Other documents may be required depending on the Veterans’ status you are claiming.
A reprint of this Veterans’ Preference section of the State application form is reprinted below for your reference.
VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: Any veteran who served in the armed forces of the United States (i.e., United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force) during time of war and was honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active service may be eligible for Veterans’ credit. Time of war periods include: 12/7/41 to 12/31/47; 6/27/50 to 1/31/55; 7/1/58-11/1/58; 2/28/61 to 7/1/75; 9/29/82 to 3/30/84; 10/25/83 to 12/15/83; 2/1/87 to 7/23/87; 12/20/89 to 1/31/90; and 8/2/90 to the present.
Do you claim Veteran's Preference (5 points)? If yes, check one of the following.
A. As a veteran (as defined above) who is not eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States through the Veterans’ Administration.
B. As a spouse of such a veteran who is not eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States through the Veterans’ Administration and, who by reason of such veteran’s disability is unable to pursue gainful employment.
C. As an unmarried surviving spouse of such a veteran who is not eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States through the Veterans’ Administration.
D. You have been honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions from active service in the armed forces of the United States, and have served in a military action for which you received or were entitled to receive a campaign badge or expeditionary medal.
Do you claim Disabled Veteran's Preference (10 points)? If yes, check one of the following.
A. As a disabled veteran (as defined above) who is eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States through the Veterans’ Administration.
B. As a spouse of a disabled veteran who is eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States through the Veterans’ Administration, and who is unable to pursue gainful employment due to the veteran’s disability.
C. As an unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled Veteran who is eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States through the Veterans’ Administration.
IMPORTANT: Proof of right to Veteran’s Preference (DD214) and other relevant information must be submitted to DAS/Human Resources, Room 422, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106-1630 - (Fax 860-713-7470), if not already on file.
Note:
1) An applicant CANNOT receive points for both Veterans' Preference AND Disabled Veterans' Preference.
2) Veterans' credit/points shall be based upon examinations with a possible rating of 100 points. This means that the maximum score an applicant can receive on an examination is 100 points, including Veterans' credits.
3) Please refer to Section 5-224 of the Connecticut General Statute and Section 5-224-1 of the Regulations for additional information.
Answer: Section 5-221a of the Connecticut General Statutes provides for an appeal process if an applicant is rejected from an examination for not meeting the minimum qualifications for admittance into the examination. (Minimum qualifications for an examination are detailed on the examination announcement under sections titled: General Experience, Special Experience, and Special Requirements. Some examination announcements also include a section titled Substitutions.) Appeals must be in writing and must provide supplementary information on your qualifications as they relate to the minimum qualifications for admittance into the examination. The supplementary information should consist of past, relevant experience not indicated on your application or a clarification of duties performed in past and present jobs that were included on your application form, or any materials pertinent to the grounds for rejection. (Refer to your letter of rejection and the examination announcement when preparing supplementary information for your appeal.)
A state employee may be eligible to be given credit for work performed outside of their official job/classification title provided there is written verification provided by the agency head (agency commissioner or agency executive director) or agency human resources administrator. The “working out of class” letter must explain the exact nature and duration of the duties performed and the reason for their occurrence. “Working out of class” letters must be submitted with your letter of appeal.
All application rejection appeals with all supplementary information to be reviewed, including working out of class letters, must be received by DAS within 10 calendar days of the date you received your original rejection notice. Application appeals must be addressed to:
DAS, Statewide Human Resources Management
Examination Rejection Appeals
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 404
Hartford, CT, 06106
Fax: 860-622-2863
E-mail: ExamAppeals@CT.gov
An applicant may choose to go to an appeal hearing if s/he is not admitted into the examination after the first step in the appeal process. No new information/documents may be submitted after the original 10-day period explained above. The hearing officer is an independent human resources professional knowledgeable of the state classification and examination systems. The burden of proof at the appeal hearing is on the appellant to show that the rejection from admittance into the examination was arbitrary, unreasonable or contrary to law. Admittance into the examination previously is not, of itself, sufficient evidence for admittance into a current examination. The decision of the hearing officer is final and is binding on all parties.
Appeal hearings are scheduled to last approximately 30 minutes. Although the hearings are taped, they are generally informal in nature. Hearings are closed to the public unless the applicant requests that the hearing be open. The applicant may have a representative of his/her choice at the hearing, providing the representative has a professional interest in the hearing, such as a union representative, steward or attorney. (In no case can an incumbent in the direct line of supervision or any other individual that may have a conflict of interest serve as a direct representative of the applicant.) The hearing officer must be notified of the name and title of any representative prior to the day of the hearing. Please note that it is not necessary to have a representative at the hearing; most applicants do not choose to have a representative. Appeal hearings are not subject to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA).
The hearing officer is sent all application and appeal documents, received within the initial 10-day period explained above, for review prior to the hearing. At the beginning of the hearing the hearing officer reads a standard introductory statement about the procedures of the hearing and her role and responsibilities during and after the hearing. A representative from DAS then presents the minimum qualifications for admittance into the examination as stated on the examination announcement. S/he explains what experiences and education the applicant was given credit for and how the applicant’s qualifications fall short of the minimum qualifications necessary for admittance into the examination. The applicant (or the applicant’s representative) then has an opportunity to present how s/he feels that his/her education and experiences meets the minimum qualifications for admittance into the examination as stated on the examination announcement. The hearing officer may ask clarifying questions of both the DAS representative and the applicant.
Please note that the appeal process is for applicants that are rejected from an examination for not meeting the minimum qualifications for admittance into an examination. Applicants that are rejected for other reasons, such as those listed below, do not have the right to appeal:
1. application is late;
2. application is for a statewide promotional examination and the applicant is not a current state employee with permanent status in the classified service in accordance with Section 5-228 of the Connecticut General Statutes and the associate regulations and policies;
3. application is for an agency promotional examination and the applicant is not a current employee of the agency with six months service in the agency and does not have current permanent status in the classified service in accordance with Section 5-228 of the Connecticut General Statutes and the associate regulations and policies;
4. application package is incomplete and does not contain the required supplementary examination materials as stated on the examination announcement.
5. applicant is permanently employed in the job classification for which the examination is being administered.
Answer: Yes. Section 5-225 of the Connecticut General Statutes provides for a review process. More specifically this section states: “Within thirty days of receipt of the final earned rating, a person may inspect his papers, markings, background profiles and other items used in determining the final earned ratings, other than examination questions and other materials constituting the examination, subject to such regulations as may be issued by the Commissioner of Administrative Services.”
The purpose of an examination review is to verify the accuracy of the calculation of an applicant’s final examination score. The purpose is not to provide an applicant with questions, answers and scoring keys to prepare for future examinations.
In an examination review for a written multiple-choice examination, an applicant sees a breakdown of the different subject areas the examination covered (as outlined in the test outline included in the examination booklet) and the number of questions s/he answered correctly and incorrectly in each area. S/he also sees how the final score was calculated. Please note that prior to the examination review, the scanable answer sheet is hand-scored to verify the accuracy of the final score.
In an examination review for an Oral, Essay or Experience and Training examination, an applicant sees a summary of the scores s/he received on each of the questions or factor areas, a generic description of what each score means, and the weight of each question or factor. S/he also sees how the final score was calculated. Again, the calculation of the final score is checked for accuracy.
Requests to schedule an examination review must be received within thirty days of being notified of test results. The request must include the applicant’s name, social security number, daytime phone number, examination title, and examination score. Requests for reviews must be addressed to:
Rita Rose
DAS, Statewide Human Resources Management
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 404
Hartford, CT, 06106
Fax: 860-622-2959
E-mail: rita.rose@ct.gov
Please note that applicants can only review the results of their own examination. They cannot review the papers or scoring of other applicants.
Answer: Section 5-225 of the Connecticut General Statutes allows an applicant to appeal his/her score on an examination provided s/he has reviewed his/her examination results in accordance with this section of the statutes. More specifically, this section states: “Within thirty days of inspecting his papers, a person may, in writing, appeal to the Commissioner of Administrative Services the accuracy of his final earned rating, as based on the original examination paper or responses.”
Your appeal must be in writing and must state the specific area(s) with which you disagree on the scoring of your examination or how the scoring of your examination is allegedly incorrect and shall set forth your arguments, citing the reasons, or authority where applicable, supporting this point of view. The appeal shall be limited to the accuracy of your score on the examination based on your original examination papers or responses.
Please note that applicants cannot appeal the mode or type of examination administered. Applicants may only appeal the scoring of their own examination. They may not appeal the scoring of other applications’ examinations.
Examination score appeals must be addressed to:
Dr. Pamela L. Libby
Director, Statewide Human Resources Management
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 404
Hartford, CT, 06106
Fax: 860-622-2965
E-mail: pamela.libby@ct.gov
When an appeal is received the scoring of that applicant’s examination is reviewed very carefully. The issues raised in the appeal are reviewed and investigated. The applicant’s original examination papers are reviewed, scores on individual questions and/or factors are checked for accuracy, and all calculations are rechecked. All appeals are responded to in writing within 30 days of the date they are received. If an error in scoring is found, the applicant’s scores are corrected and the candidate list is updated as appropriate.
Answer: Yes, unless the examination is on continuous recruitment. Most examination lists are valid for only one year. If the examination is being announced again, it means that the current list has or is about to expire.
Answer: In accordance with Section 5-215a of the Connecticut General Statutes, hiring agencies may consider for appointment any candidate that has received a passing score on an examination.
Answer: It is recommended that you check the job postings on the Department of Administrative Services’ website (www.das.state.ct.us) on a weekly basis to stay current of any job postings for the job title. Some agencies will contact candidates on an examination (candidate) list directly when they have a vacancy. It is becoming more common for agencies to post their vacant positions and require that interested and qualified applicants apply directly to the agency.
As not all agencies post their vacant positions on the DAS website, it is also recommended that you check the websites of the agencies you are interested in employment with. Links to most state agency employment pages are available from the DAS website.
Read job postings carefully as they contain information about the hiring agency and the specific position being recruited for (e.g., work location, work schedule, job responsibilities, position specific qualifications). Job postings also contain important information about the materials applicants must submit if qualified and interested in the position (e.g., application form, resume, cover letter, references, performance evaluations, licenses, certificates, college transcripts) and where and when these materials must be submitted. (Some of these materials may be requested at a later time if you are being considered further in the selection process.)
Applicants being considered further in the selection process for a position usually are required to participate in one or more employment interviews. Depending upon the position and the hiring agency, a medical/physical examination or background investigation may also be part of the selection process.
Before accepting employment with the State, applicants will be given a summary of the State Code of Ethics and the hiring agency’s ethics statement. Each new employee must sign a statement acknowledging receipt of such documents and agree to comply with the requirements of the state ethics laws. (You can find the Code of Ethics and other related documents on the DAS website.)
Please note that information about writing resumes and employment interviews is located on the DAS website as well as on the Connecticut Department of Labor’s website. In addition, there are many other websites and reference materials and books dedicated to writing effective resumes and preparing for interviews.
Answer: Your request must be made in writing and should include all old and new information as well as your name and examination title.
Address your requests to:
Robin Riddlesworth
DAS, Human Resources Management
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 422
Hartford, CT, 06106
Fax: 860-622-2950
E-mail: robin.riddlesworth@ct.gov
Answer: No. Examinations are not required for unclassified or non-competitive positions or for positions that have a mandatory requirement of an advanced degree or professional certification or licensure. Examinations are required, however, for most positions in the Executive Branch. For questions about specific job titles refer to the job posting and the official job specification.
Answer: A continuous recruitment examination is an examination where applications are accepted on an on-going basis. For experience and training examinations, scoring is usually completed every four to twelve weeks. Examination announcements often contain a series of closing and grading dates. For written examinations, the examination announcement will contain a series of scheduled test dates and the closing date for each test date. Continuous recruitment examinations are used for job titles where there is a lot of hiring activity or for job titles that are very specialized and there may be a limited number of qualified applicants.
Answer: Most examination lists are valid for one year. Lists may be extended for up to two additional years. The decision to extend an examination list is made by the Department of Administrative Services. Continuous recruitment lists may be valid for up to five years.
Answer: Unless an examination is announced as a continuous recruitment examination, only one examination list can be valid for a job title at any one time. This means that when new applicants are desired, a new examination must be announced and the old list must be allowed to expire. In order to be eligible to be considered for appointment to a vacant position, an applicant must be on a current examination list.
Answer: In case of inclement weather on the scheduled day of your examination, please call 860-713-5205 or 800-528-7442 (if outside the Hartford area). If exams are canceled, the cancellation message will be found under the special messages option. Listen carefully to the recording as it will contain the new scheduled date of the examination. A new scheduling letter will not be issued. You can also visit the DAS website for Special Notices .
Answer: Applicants must always bring their scheduling letter and current photo identification (with signature) with them to a test. Your scheduling letter will tell you what other materials, if any, you should bring with you (e.g., pencils and pens). Do not bring any materials other than those you are instructed to bring.
Applicants are NOT permitted to bring any of the following materials with them into the testing room: books, manuals, notes, pads, envelopes, folders, briefcases, backpacks, carrying bags, or watches with memory capability, electronic paging devices, recording or filming devices, radios, computers, calculators, PDA’s, cellular phones, or other mechanical or electronic devices. Leave these materials at home or in your car.
Answer: No. State employees are permitted to take examinations during their workday provided they submit a copy of their scheduling letter to their supervisor and receive authorization to do so. (For payroll purposes the time should be coded as WX for State Examination.) For some examinations, applicants have a choice of test dates and times. In these cases, State employees should choose a date and time that does not conflict with their work schedule.
Ample travel time is permitted, however, State employees are not eligible for mileage reimbursement to travel to/from an examination.
Answer: No. These materials should be completed outside of your work hours.
Answer: No. As an Experience and Training examination is an unscheduled examination, the materials should be completed outside of your work hours.
Answer: No. State employees are permitted to attend job interviews for State of Connecticut jobs during their workday provided they receive approval for the time from their supervisor. (For payroll purposes the time should be coded as WI for State Job Interview.) Employees should try to schedule their interviews outside of their work hours, if possible. If this is not possible, employees should try to schedule their interviews at a time that allows them to reduce the amount of time away from their job.
Ample travel time is permitted, however, State employees are not eligible for mileage reimbursement to travel to/from a State job interview.
Answer: No. State employees are permitted to attend examination reviews during their workday provided they receive approval for the time from their supervisor. It should be noted that most examination reviews take only 15 minutes. (For payroll purposes the time should be coded as WX for State Examination.) Employees should try to schedule their examination reviews outside of their work hours if possible. If this is not possible, employees should try to schedule their exam reviews at a time that allows them to reduce the amount of time away from their job.
Ample travel time is permitted, however, State employees are not eligible for mileage reimbursement to travel to/from an examination review.
Answer: No. State employees are permitted to attend application rejection appeal hearings during their workday provided they receive approval for the time from their supervisor. It should be noted that most appeal hearings take 30 minutes. (For payroll purposes the time should be coded as WX for State Examination.)
Ample travel time is permitted, however, State employees are not eligible for mileage reimbursement to travel to/from an appeal hearing.
Answer: State of Connecticut employment examinations are developed in house by subject matter experts and testing experts. Test questions are not developed from specific reading materials. Refer to the section on the examination announcement that lists the Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities to determine the areas that are likely to be represented on the test. Use this list as a guide for your preparation. Oral tests are different from employment interviews. Please refer to the Preparation Guide for Oral Tests on the DAS website for more information on oral tests and preparing for oral tests.
You may also want to visit your local library for test preparation materials. Please keep in mind that these materials are not designed to prepare you for any one state employment examination.
Answer: Current state employees (in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches) and individuals that are not employed by the state that meet all the Experience and Training requirements as detailed on the examination announcement may apply to examinations announced as “Open to the Public”.
Answer: Applicants for statewide promotional examinations must meet ALL four of the following criteria:
· Be a current state employee.
· Have permanent status in the classified service.(*)
· Have six months current or former state service.(**)
· Meet all the Experience and Training requirements as detailed on the examination announcement.
(*) It should be noted that state employees who are currently employed in the unclassified service may be eligible to participate in statewide promotional examinations if they have previous permanent status in the classified service and have current status as a state employee and meet all of the other criteria listed above. (Service must have been continuous.) It should be noted that all employees in the Judicial and Legislative Departments are in the unclassified service and many employees at the state colleges and universities are in the unclassified service. Employees in other state agencies may also be in the unclassified service. (Please refer to Section 5-198 of the Connecticut General Statutes for a list of positions exempt from the classified service. Please also refer to your job specification for this information.)
(**) Former service is only applicable in cases where a current state employee with permanent status has returned to state service after rescinding his resignation in accordance with Section 5-248(f) of the Connecticut General Statutes or has returned to state service under his re-employment or SEBAC rights after a layoff.
Answer: Applicants for agency promotional examinations must meet ALL four of the following criteria:
· Be a current employee of the state agency for which the exam is being announced
· Have permanent status in the classified service (*)
· Have six months current or former service at the state agency for which the exam is being announced
· Meet all the Experience and Training requirements as detailed on the examination announcement.
(*) It should be noted that state employees who are currently employed in the unclassified service may be eligible to participate in agency promotional examinations if they have previous permanent status in the classified service and have current status as a state employee and meet all of the other criteria listed above. (Service must have been continuous.) It should be noted that all employees in the Judicial and Legislative Departments are in the unclassified service and many employees at the state colleges and universities are in the unclassified service. Employees in other state agencies may also be in the unclassified service. (Please refer to Section 5-198 of the Connecticut General Statutes for a list of positions exempt from the classified service. Please also refer to your job specification for this information.)
Answer: Yes. All state employees and officials are required to abide by a Code of Ethics. Before accepting employment with the State, applicants will be given a summary of the State Code of Ethics and the hiring agency’s ethics statement. Each new employee must sign a statement acknowledging receipt of such documents and agree to comply with the requirements of the state ethics laws. You can find the Ethics Policy and other related documents on the DAS website.
Answer: No. For most jobs in state service new employees must start at the salary at the bottom of the salary range. Employees move through the salary range based on annual increases as outlined in collective bargaining agreements or annual performance reviews for managers. Current state employees may be placed above the minimum of the salary range depending on their current job title and salary.
Answer: If calculators are permitted, they will be provided at the test site. For reasons of test standardization and test security, applicants are not permitted to bring/use their own calculators.
Answer: No, by statute, all State of Connecticut employment examinations are free.
Answer: There is no formal dress code, however, the following are recommendations for different types of examinations.
Oral test - business or business casual
Written tests- casual or business casual (Written tests are conducted in state office buildings so appropriate, non-revealing, attire is required)
Physical fitness tests - sneakers, exercise/sports clothes, and appropraite exercise/sports undergarments. (Physical fitness tests are conducted at state office buildings so appropriate, non-revealing, attire is required. Shorts should be an appropriate length and tops should be long enough to tuck into your shorts or pants.) For safety reasons, jewelry, hats and long fingernails should be avoided.