NJ Civil Service Navigator

VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER

Code: 04242 Local Competitive

In New Jersey, Veterans Service Officer is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.

Qualifying turns on 2 years of relevant experience.

How to apply

  • Exam

    This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.

  • Exam

    Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.

Definition

Under direction, has charge of the work involved in providing educational, vocational, and personal guidance and information to veterans; does other related work.

Examples of work

  • Confers with veterans and their families on veterans' service problems.
  • Maintains community resource network for veterans' services.
  • Establishes and maintains contracts and liaison with national, state, and other local veterans' agencies bureaus.
  • Provides guidance to veterans seeking job information and refers them to suitable local employers.
  • Provides information concerning veterans' rights and benefits as provided in law; may research current state and federal laws regarding veterans' rights.
  • Distributes varied official forms, assists veterans and their families in preparing applications for veterans benefits, and in filing claims.
  • Prepares correspondence and reports of activities.
  • Establishes and maintains needed records and files.
  • Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in the gathering of information from clients and providing guidance, assistance or explanations of benefits and services.

License

Appointees 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, skills and abilities

  • Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
  • Knowledge of the techniques used to gather information.
  • Ability to read and interpret federal and state laws and regulations regarding veterans' rights, and apply them to specific cases.
  • Ability to provide assistance in the completion and filing of claims.
  • Ability to work harmoniously with veterans, their families, and other agencies, and individuals interested in veterans' problems.
  • Ability to collect and disseminate information of varied types concerning veterans' rights and benefits.
  • Ability to maintain records and files.
  • Ability to prepare reports and correspondence.
  • Ability 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 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 as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

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.