PERSONNEL TRAINEE
DEFINITION:
Under close supervision of a Personnel Assistant 1 or other supervisory official, as a trainee and productive worker in a state department, institution, or agency, receives on-the-job training in government personnel practices and procedures and application; performs routine work that will provide practical personnel experience; does other related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Under supervision, as a trainee and productive worker:
Receives training in government personnel procedures and practices, and specific work processes and methods of the Civil Service Commission and assigned state department or agency.
Receives training in the principles and uses of: position classification, survey and analysis of positions, and groups of positions; collection, tabulation, and analysis of pay data; and collection and analysis of information required to initiate requests for new positions, reclassification of existing positions, and organizational changes.
Receives training in preparing various personnel actions, including use of personnel transaction forms.
Learns to make a tentative allocation of positions to title classes.
Learns to prepare and process classification and pay documents, sort and process forms, and render and record technical, procedural, and other decisions.
Learns to prepare accurate position descriptions and write class specifications.
Learns to research and assemble information for personnel-related studies and investigations.
Learns to machine score short answer tests; score free answer and short answer tests; prepare free answer and short answer test items and scoring keys; analyze test scores to determine distribution of the mean, median, or deviation of scores, item difficulty, and correlation of test scores with an independent criterion.
Learns to engage in recruitment efforts using modern techniques to promote state departments, institutions, or agencies.
Learn to assist in the recruitment and interview process for prospective employees; may learn to assist in managing employee retention initiatives.
Learns to conduct the new employee orientation program and assign employees to offices or workstations.
Learns to conduct exit interviews and review statistical data or other studies to determine reasons for employee turnover.
Learns to utilize applicant tracking systems (ATS) to streamline processes, manage candidate data, and track applicant progress through the hiring cycle.
Learns to interpret and analyze collected data to develop comprehensive reports that offer an in-depth understanding of the agency's workforce standing and trends.
Learns to tabulate service reports and ratings.
Learns to process applications for employment, reports or pay adjustments, reports of appointments, reclassifications, demotions, and separations.
Learns to process disciplinary actions, grievances, and workplace violence complaints; learns to communicate effectively with unions and management and handle ADA cases while engaging in the interactive process.
Learns to pre-audit and certify payrolls.
Studies department procedures and routines.
Prepares correspondence, survey reports, memoranda, analyses, position descriptions, and other written materials using predetermined forms.
Maintains records and files.
Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Four (4) years of professional experience relevant to the position.
NOTE: Please refer to the Advancement section located at the bottom of this title specification for a comprehensive list of approved journeyman titles connected to this trainee title. Experience must be related to the journeyman title associated with the position.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of organizational structures commonly found in business and government.
Knowledge of occupations commonly found in public and private sectors.
Knowledge of common public personnel methods and techniques and principles and practices of public administration.
Knowledge of problems encountered in collecting and interpreting data and precautions taken in drawing conclusions and recording facts.
Knowledge of assessing individual and group differences and physical and mental factors. Ability to learn the rules, regulations, policies, procedures, organizational structure and specific functions of incumbent’s assigned department, institution, or agency.
Ability to learn the Civil Service rules and regulations (N.J.S.A. 11A and N.J.A.C. 4A), Department of the Treasury requirements, applicable federal regulations, Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action, and classification and compensation policies and guidelines of the Civil Service Commission.
Ability to understand and carry out oral and written directions.
Ability to learn to organize assigned technical personnel work, analyze program areas and related problems, and develop effective work procedures.
Ability to conduct interviews.
Ability to work effectively with others.
Ability to perform basic mathematical and statistical calculations (e.g., medians, modes, quartiles, deviations, and correlations from data).
Ability to prepare detailed correspondence in the course of official duties.
Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports.
Ability to maintain records, reports, and files.
Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
ADVANCEMENT:
Appointees who successfully complete the twelve (12) month training period will be eligible for advancement to one of the following titles in accordance with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission procedures: Personnel Assistant 4, Personnel Assistant 4 Employee Relations, and Human Resource Consultant 1.
The inability of an employee in this title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to one of the titles listed above shall be considered as cause for separation.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
