Antoinette Abdul- Hakeem, CSC Docket No. 2022-2853

BackgroundAntoinette Abdul-Hakeem appeals the decision of the Division of Agency Services which found that she did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Keyboarding Clerk 2 (PM38723D), East Orange.

The subject examination announcement was issued with a closing date of February 22, 2022. The examination was open to employees in the competitive division who had an aggregate of one year of continuous permanent service as of the closing date in the title Keyboarding Clerk 1 or Keyboarding Clerk 1, Bilingual in Spanish and English and who met the announced requirement of one year of clerical experience operating an alphanumeric keyboard or typewriter to produce documents such as letters, memos, reports, charts, forms and other materials. Successful completion of a clerical training program with a minimum of 700 clerical training hours or 30 semester hour credits in secretarial science from an accredited college or university could be substituted for the experience requirement. The appellant was determined to be ineligible for below minimum requirements in experience. As there were no admitted candidates, the examination was cancelled on May 20, 2022.

On her application, the appellant listed one position, Switchboard Operator from September 2009 to November 2011. She did not provide a resume with her application. Official records indicate an additional employment history. These records indicate that the appellant was a provisional Keyboarding Clerk 2 from July 2021 to the February 2022 closing date; and a Keyboarding Clerk 1 from October 2011 to July 2021. As the appellant did not indicate any production of documents for the duties of the one position listed on her application, she was found to be lacking one year of applicable experience.

Appellant's argumentOn appeal, the appellant states that she has been working in the Division for ten years, that her ineligibility is unjustified and inequitable, and she deserves a promotion. She states that she was a Switchboard Operator, a Clerk, and has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She provides a resume which includes these positions. For her “Clerk” position, the appellant indicates that she resolves questions, inconsistencies and missing data; assists with locating records and retrieving data base information; prepares documents for scanning by removing staples and sorting them; stages documents for destruction; safeguards data accessibility by file management and organization; verifies data accuracy; maintains accuracy while entering data into designated fields; identifies and corrects data entry errors; and assists customers with applications.

CONCLUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.6(a) provides that applicants shall meet all requirements specified in the promotional examination announcement by the closing date.

AnalysisIn the instant matter, the appellant was denied eligibility as she did not preduce documents while in her position as Switchboard Operator, the one position she listed as her experience. On appeal, the appellant indicates that she has worked for the appointing authority for ten years as a “Clerk.” Official records indicate that she was in the titles Keyboarding Clerk 1 and Keyboarding Clerk 2. Nonetheless, a review of the duties she listed for her provisional position do not indicate that she produces documents such as letters, memos, reports, charts, forms and other materials. Rather, the focus of her position is data entry. As such, if the appointing authority wants the appellant to remain in her current position, the appellant should provide a duties questionnaire (enclosed) to Agency Services detailing the duties of the position, along with a completed examination application within 30 days of the issuance of this decision, so that an appropriate provisional title can be assigned, and a pre-qualification determination can be made. Should the appellant be found not eligible for the new provisional appointment, she should be returned to her underlying permanent title at that time. In the future, if Agency Services determines that the position is that of Keyboarding Clerk 2, a new examination can be announced.

An independent review of all material presented indicates that the decision of Agency Services that the appellant did not meet the announced requirements for eligibility by the closing date is amply supported by the record. The appellant provides no basis to disturb this decision. Thus, the appellant has failed to support her burden of proof in this matter.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this appeal be denied, and the matter of the classification of the appellant’s provisional position be referred to the Division of Agency Services for review.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review should be pursued in a judicial forum.