Administrative Assistant 1​/Trainee; NY HELPS

Job Title

Duties Description

Illustrative tasks:

• Answers telephone and gives information to callers, takes messages, and transfers calls to appropriate individuals.
• Greets visitors or callers and handles their inquiries; or directs them to the appropriate persons.
• Opens, reads, routes, and distributes incoming mail or other materials and answers routine inquiries.
• Tracks and coordinates assignments.
• Sets up and manages paper and electronic filing systems.
• Uses various information technology applications such as email, database, spreadsheets and word processing applications.
• Operates office equipment such as printers, scanners, and copiers; and arranges for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
• Creates, maintains, and enters information into spreadsheets and databases.
• Maintains scheduling and event calendars. Schedules and confirms appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors.
• Coordinates conferences, meetings, or special events, such as luncheons or graduation ceremonies. Makes travel arrangements for staff. Creates and/or submits travel expense reports for staff.
• Completes forms in accordance with agency procedures.
• Makes copies of various documents, places them in proper files, and distributes them to appropriate staff.
• Locates and attaches appropriate files to incoming correspondence requiring replies.
• Composes, types, and distributes meeting notes, correspondence, and reports.
• Provides services to customers, such as order placement or account information.
• Reviews work done by others to check for correct spelling and proper grammar, ensures that office format policies are followed, and recommends revisions.
• Searches for information using various sources including the internet.
• Manages projects or contributes to committee or team work.
• Mails various items including letters, reports, and promotional materials; and prepares packages and arranges for them to be shipped.
• Orders and distributes supplies.
• Creates conference or event materials such as flyers or invitations.
• Establishes work procedures or schedules and keeps track of the daily work of clerical staff.
• May supervise other clerical staff and provide training and orientation to new staff.
• May take meeting minutes, and/or prepare material from dictation.

Minimum Qualifications

This position is eligible for Administrative Assistant Trainee 1.

Administrative Assistant 1: permanent service as an Administrative Assistant 1 (formerly Secretary
1) or reachable on the appropriate eligible list, Secretary 1; or one year of service in a title eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of Civil Service law and completion of the four core administrative support courses and four elective administrative support courses, as designated by the agency.

Administrative Assistant Trainee 1: one year of permanent service in a title eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of Civil Service law.

For 70.1 transfers, a comprehensive list of titles approved for transfer to Administrative Assistant 1/Trainee is available here.

Keyboarding proficiency is a minimum requirement for appointment to Trainee 1. If you have not previously held a keyboarding position, you must pass the New York State Department of Civil Service Typing Performance Test.

For additional detail on required coursework, please see General Information Bulletin 19-07.

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

Minimum Qualifications for applicants not currently civil service eligible for the title:

Administrative Assistant Trainee 1 – Six months of experience in administrative support, which includes use of office software (e.g.,…