Let's Talk About Working in Government | Erie County Dept of Health

Erie County employs over 5,000 people in stable jobs that provide important services and support for residents and visitors. People who work in government are called civil servants. Civil service jobs can provide steady income, job security, career advancement opportunities, good benefits, retirement, public student loan forgiveness, and more.

Civil Service Basics

The two main categories of civil service positions are classified or unclassified. Unclassified positions are typically elected officials or positions appointed by elected officials.

Classified positions are filled based on skills and ability rather than political party affiliation.

Types of Classified Positions

Competitive: A job that requires candidates meet minimum qualifications and have taken, passed, and are found “reachable” on a civil service examination eligible list. >See inside for more info.
Non-Competitive: A position that does not require a civil service exam. Minimum qualifications for these jobs are skills that are not practical to test for in an exam format. Examples: librarians, nurses aides, physicians and truck drivers.
Labor: A position that does not require a civil service exam. Minimum requirements and skills testing may be required based on the job. Examples: bus attendant, cleaner, groundskeeper, and sanitation worker.

How To Find Civil Service Job Announcements & Exam Information

View current opportunities & sign up to receive email notices for future exams:

Erie County Employment Opportunities (Includes towns and villages, public authorities, community colleges & school districts)
City of Buffalo Employment Opportunities
City of Lackawanna Employment Opportunities
Town of Amherst Employment Opportunities
New York State Department Of Civil Service
Federal Government Employment Opportunities (USAJOBS)

Talk The Talk

Civil service exams and job postings have their own language. Let's go through some of the basic terms on exam announcements and job postings.

Personnel

The department or part of an organization concerned with the hiring, training and assistance of employees. Personnel should not be confused with personal or personable. These terms have very different meanings.

Job Opportunities

Exam Announcements: Civil service exams currently accepting applications
Continuous Recruitment: Applications always being accepted with no deadline. There are no civil service exams for these jobs but other testing may be required. These are typically licensed health care professions.
Job Postings: Jobs that may or may not have civil service exams connected to them. Note "Exam Type" when viewing positions. A skills test or exam may be required at a future

Exam Types

Open to the Public or Open-Competitive: Open to any and all qualified individuals.
Promotional: Open only to all qualified individuals already working for that employer.

Exam Announcement Components

Exam announcements and exams are available in English only. Read the announcement carefully. See the following section for an explanation of the exam announcement.

Exam Application & Fees

Applications MUST be dropped off or postmarked by the correct day. Fees can be paid with check, money order or credit card. Credit cards are only accepted in person and there is an additional $1.50 fee. Notifications are sent in the mail and/or email 10 days before the exam.

Fee Waiver Form

You may be eligible to take Civil Service exams for free. Applicants for Erie County positions can request that exam application fees be waived if they are:

Unemployed and primarily responsible for a household.
Receiving public assistance [Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance].
Certified through the Job Training Partnership Act or Workforce Investment act through a state or local social service agency such as Buffalo Employment Training Center or ECC One Stop Center. See the following page for more information on Comprehensive Career Centers in Erie County.

Find the fee waiver form here.

Two Exams On The Same Day?

If you want to take exams in more than one jurisdiction on the same day, you must also submit a Cross-Filer form with your application. Find the form here.

Here are things to know once you have applied for a job or taken a test.

Test Results: The Department of Civil Service scores your exam. Scoring can take a long time. Your score, assuming you passed, determines how quickly the agency contacts you to fill a vacancy.
Eligible List: List of candidates who have taken and passed a civil service exam and rank among the top three or tied with the top three scores. This is the list the agency will use to fill the position.
Reachable: A candidate for a competitive position who meets the minimum qualifications, has taken, passed, and found eligible for the position is considered reachable.
Canvass: An email, phone call or letter asking if an eligible candidate would be willing to accept the appointment if it were offered. This is NOT a job offer.

Probationary Term: All individuals placed in competitive or non-competitive positions are required to satisfy a probation period. In Erie County, this period is six months long. During this time the candidate must show that they can achieve and maintain the standards of the job.
Permanent Employment: A job filled by a candidate deemed eligible for the position. Once you complete your probation period, your job is permanent. Permanent employees are protected by a Collective Bargaining Unit (union).
Provisional Employment: A job filled temporarily by a candidate, where no list of eligible candidates is available. This typically happens when there is a job open but no exam currently offered.

Sample Civil Service Exam Announcement

Civil Service Exam Announcements and Exams are offered in English language only.
Location: Where the job is located
Closing: The very last day exam applications will be accepted. Applications must be delivered in person or postmarked. There are no exceptions.
Residency Requirements: You will need to prove your residency at a later time.
Minimum Qualifications: If you submit an application and you do not meet the minimum qualifications, your application will be denied and your fee will not be refunded. If you aren't sure if you qualify, call and ask questions. If you think you have been wrongfully denied, you can file an appeal.
Transcripts: Transcripts are official documents, stating your grades and degree status, provided by your education institution. You may need to pay to receive a copy. Contact the school directly to find out more info.

"Applications Must Be Postmarked or Hand Delivered By [Date]": No exceptions are given for this. 95 Franklin St, Room 604, is open until 4:00 pm Monday - Friday
Subjects of Examination: These are the topics you will be tested on.
Test Guide: Test guides may be available at your public library or online for download or purchase
"It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or batter powered calculator": You might need a calculator! You cannot use a cel phone.
Veterans: Your status may add points to your score if they can verify it.
Special Arrangements: If your religious beliefs prevent you from taking examinations before sundown on a Saturday, or a physical handicap requires special examination facilities, inform the Erie County Department of Personnel at the earliest possible date before the test.

Resources

Student Loan Forgiveness

The United States Department of Education Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) forgives college debt after 10 years (120 months) of making qualified, income-based payments. This means that once you document all of your employment and complete the correct number of payments, your entire loan may be considered paid. Any William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan qualifies for PSLF. You must be employed full-time (30+ hours per week) and enroll in an income-based payment plan (IDR). These repayment plans are intended to keep your payment affordable. In some cases, your payment may be $0 per month and still qualify you for forgiveness. You CAN combine time spent at different qualifying employers. Learn more about the program.

Tools You Can Use

Our local library has resources to help you advance your career!

Visit Buffalo & Erie County Public Library's Youtube Channel to view videos covering:

Resume & Cover Letter Fundamentals
Applying for a Civil Service Exam in Erie County and/or New York State Fundamentals for a Successful Job Interview
Technology Training

Ask Any Librarian About

Job searching software
Civil Service Exam Study Guides
Resume writing
Applying for jobs online
Career planning
Setting up a LinkedIn profile
Passive income opportunities
Higher education
Vocational training

Erie County Government Resources

Personnel Department

Administers Civil Service Exams and maintains eligible lists for the county and municipalities.

Website: Civil Service Opportunities.

95 Franklin St., Room 604
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mon- Fri 8:30am-4:30pm

Main Line: 716-858-8484

Exam Line: 716-858-8729

Erie County Social Services Comprehensive Employment Division

Job placement and training services for temporary assistance and SNAP recipients.

Website: Comprehensive Employment Division | Social Services

290 Main Street
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202

Mon-Fri 8 am - 4 pm

716-858-7548

Erie County Multi-Abuse Assessment Team (MAAT)

Job Placement and Training for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders.

Website: Multi-Abuse Assessment Team [MAAT] | Social Services

158 Pearl St., Room 210
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202

Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:40 pm

716-858-1319

Erie County Equal Employment Opportunity

Investigates harassment complaints and monitors equal employment and affirmative action policy and procedures.

Website: Equal Employment Opportunity

716-858-7542

Erie County Senior Services - RSVP

Support for older adults seeking employment and volunteer opportunities.

Website: Retired Senior Volunteer Program | Dept for the Aging

716-858-7548

Erie County PIVOT Program

Wage support program designed to meet the hiring needs of local employers. PIVOT Program will pay the full-time wages of participants for up to six months while training on the job. Individuals are referred to PIVOT and matched to employers based on skills. PIVOT works with employers in a wide range of work environments.

New York State Resources

Employment Services System (NYESS)

Employment services and supports including a "ticket to work" program for people who receive SSDI and/or SSI payments.

44 Holland Ave. Basement
Albany, N.Y. 12229

Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm

518-474-2338

NYS PCO Exam

Professional career opportunities exam for New York State Government jobs.

Job seekers with a bachelor's degree from a qualifying institution can take the PCO examination for consideration of employment with New York State government. NYS uses this test to fill more than 150 different entry-level professional state jobs across a wide range of disciplines.

Website: Professional Career Opportunities Examination

NYS Department of Labor Career Centers

Website: Department of Labor Home Page | Department of Labor

Buffalo Career Center

284 Main St
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202

716-851-2600

Williamsville Career Center

1256 Hertel Ave
Buffalo, N.Y. 14216

716-634-9081

Workforce Buffalo Career Connections

Job-seeker services and training for adults and youth, including exam support.

Buffalo Employment and Training Center

Website: Workforce Buffalo Downtown Career Center | Workforce Buffalo

77 Goodell St.
Buffalo, NY 14203

Mon- Fri 9 am -5 pm

716-851-2600

SUNY Erie North Campus Career Center

Website: SUNY Erie Career Center

Gleasner Hall, Room 166
6205 Main St, Suite G166
Williamsville, N.Y. 14221

Mon-Fri 8 am - 4 pm

716-270-856-5627
Emal: onestop@ecc.edu

SUNY Erie South Campus Career Center

Website: SUNY Erie Career Center

South Campus
4041 Southwestern Blvd Rm 6201C
Orchard Park, N.Y. 14127

Mon-Tues & Thurs-Fri 8 am - 4 pm
Wednesdays 10 am - 6 pm

716-270-856-5627
Emal: onestop@ecc.edu

Center For Employment Opportunities

Career-building and workforce re-entry for individuals under criminal justice supervision.

170 Franklin St, Suite 300
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202

Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Dress For Success

Professional attire for job seekers.

Website: Dress for Success Buffalo

1256 Hertel Ave
Buffalo, N.Y. 14216

716-710-0092

Erie County Service Link Stop

Links to support services for anyone, focusing on individuals recently released and/or under criminal justice supervision.

120 West Eagle
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202

Mon - Fri 9 am - 3 pm

716-858-1757

TechBuffalo

TechBuffalo partners with local employers and educational institutions to build a workforce with the skills necessary to work in evolving data and tech fields. Programs include training and exam prep.