County of San Mateo, CA
Office Assistant I/II (Open and Promotional)
County of San Mateo, CA, San Mateo, CA, United States
Salary : $49,337.60 - $70,928.00 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Various
Job Number: E335AF
Department: Human Resources Department
Opening Date: 01/27/2025
Closing Date: 2/17/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 37
Description
Office Assistants I/II are employed by most County departments and provide a variety of routine to moderately difficult office support tasks such as typing, word processing, filing, recordkeeping, photocopying, and receptionist services. They receive and screen visitors and telephone calls; take messages; type routine correspondence, reports, and other documents; proofread typed material for accuracy, completeness, and correct English usage; enter, edit, and retrieve a variety of information; research and collect data from several sources; gather material for meetings, prepare agendas and type minutes of meetings; make travel arrangements for others; order office supplies; receive, sort, and forward mail to office staff; and serve as a back-up for clerical co-workers who are absent from the office.
The salary ranges for the two classifications are listed below. Hiring managers determine the starting salaries based on job finalists' relevant experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
SALARY:
Office Assistant I classification: $4,111.47 - $5,141.07 Monthly Office Assistant II classification: $4,730.27 - $5,910.67 Monthly
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Qualifications
Education and Experience: A typical way to qualify is:
Office Assistant I: Any combination of education and experience that provides the required clerical knowledge, skills and abilities.
Office Assistant II: At least one year of clerical or office support experience in a business office.
Special Requirements: Some positions may require the ability to type at a rate of 40 net words per minute from printed copy. Some positions may also require the applicant to obtain and maintain a security clearance as a condition of employment.
Knowledge of: Standard business office practices, procedures and equipment; business letter writing and the standard format for typed materials; basic business data processing principles and the use of word processing or personal computing equipment; correct English usage including spelling, grammar and punctuation; business arithmetic; and basic recordkeeping principles and practices.
Skill/Ability to: Perform detailed office support work accurately; compose routine correspondence from brief instructions; operate standard office equipment including a computer; use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines; prioritize work and coordinate several activities; organize and maintain files and records; make accurate arithmetic calculations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work; and understand and carry out oral and written directions.
Application/Examination
Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, and extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.
The examination will consist of a standard, multiple-choice Civil Service Computer-Based Written Examination (weight:100%).
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply
~TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE~
Final Filing Date: Monday, February 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST
Computer-based Examination: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST
About the CountySan Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities. The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Jennifer Wilson-Reyes (11012023) (Office Assistant I/II - E334, E335)
Please visit for a complete listing of all benefits for this classification.
Benefits are offered to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. All benefits are subject to change.
NOTE: Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 may be subject to new Pension Reform retirement laws.
As an additional benefit, the County offers extensive training and development programs designed to improve skills and enhance career opportunities. Most programs are offered on County time at no cost to you.
County employees are also covered by the federal Social Security system and earn benefits for retirement based on salary and time worked.
01
Considering your current and previous work experience, select one response that best describes how long you have performed general clerical or office assistant duties.
02
Considering your previous work experience, select all task(s) you have performed . (Check all that apply.) Please note: Your response may be subject to verification and you may be tested on your response(s).
03
Describe how you organize your clerical duties and activities to ensure you meet all deadlines while maintaining accuracy and completeness in your work.
04
Some positions require the ability to speak, read and write in both Spanish and English. Are you fluent in both languages? (A "no" response will not disqualify you from this process.)
05
County of San Mateo departments sometimes need extra-help workers in addition to permanent employees. Extra Help positions offer temporary part-time or temporary full-time employment for 1040 hours (which equates to working full-time for approximately six months). However, employment might end sooner depending on the needs of the hiring departments. Extra Help positions are paid on an hourly rate basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra-help workers are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the extra-help assignment. Are you interested in extra-help employment? (A "No" answer to this question will not affect your application for permanent employment.)
Required Question
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Various
Job Number: E335AF
Department: Human Resources Department
Opening Date: 01/27/2025
Closing Date: 2/17/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 37
Description
Office Assistants I/II are employed by most County departments and provide a variety of routine to moderately difficult office support tasks such as typing, word processing, filing, recordkeeping, photocopying, and receptionist services. They receive and screen visitors and telephone calls; take messages; type routine correspondence, reports, and other documents; proofread typed material for accuracy, completeness, and correct English usage; enter, edit, and retrieve a variety of information; research and collect data from several sources; gather material for meetings, prepare agendas and type minutes of meetings; make travel arrangements for others; order office supplies; receive, sort, and forward mail to office staff; and serve as a back-up for clerical co-workers who are absent from the office.
The salary ranges for the two classifications are listed below. Hiring managers determine the starting salaries based on job finalists' relevant experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
SALARY:
Office Assistant I classification: $4,111.47 - $5,141.07 Monthly Office Assistant II classification: $4,730.27 - $5,910.67 Monthly
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Act as receptionist and receive and screen visitors and telephone calls and take messages; provide factual information regarding County or unit activities and functions which may require some interpretation of rules, policies and/or procedures.
- Type correspondence, reports, forms and specialized documents related to the functions of the organizational unit to which assigned from drafts, notes, dictated tapes, or brief instructions, using a typewriter or word processor; may compose standard correspondence from brief instructions.
- Proofread and check typed and other materials for accuracy, completeness, compliance with departmental policies, and correct English usage, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Enter, edit, and retrieve data and prepare periodic or special reports from an on-line or personal computer system following established formats and menus.
- Prepare and update a variety of reports and record which may require the use of arithmetic calculations and consolidating materials from several sources.
- Maintain records and processes forms, such as work orders, purchase requisitions and others specific to the organizational unit; may make arithmetic or basic statistical calculations.
- Establish and maintain office files; research and compile information from such files; purge files as required.
- Review computer-produced and typed reports for accuracy, research exemptions and make corrections as required.
- May compile materials for meetings, prepare agendas and attend such meetings to take summary notes as required.
- Operate standard office equipment, including word processors, personal or on-line computers, facsimile equipment and central telephones.
- Perform such office support activities as opening and distributing mail, processing outgoing mail, erasing dictation tapes, making travel arrangements and preparing purchase requisitions.
- Provide off hours support as required.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience: A typical way to qualify is:
Office Assistant I: Any combination of education and experience that provides the required clerical knowledge, skills and abilities.
Office Assistant II: At least one year of clerical or office support experience in a business office.
Special Requirements: Some positions may require the ability to type at a rate of 40 net words per minute from printed copy. Some positions may also require the applicant to obtain and maintain a security clearance as a condition of employment.
Knowledge of: Standard business office practices, procedures and equipment; business letter writing and the standard format for typed materials; basic business data processing principles and the use of word processing or personal computing equipment; correct English usage including spelling, grammar and punctuation; business arithmetic; and basic recordkeeping principles and practices.
Skill/Ability to: Perform detailed office support work accurately; compose routine correspondence from brief instructions; operate standard office equipment including a computer; use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines; prioritize work and coordinate several activities; organize and maintain files and records; make accurate arithmetic calculations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work; and understand and carry out oral and written directions.
Application/Examination
Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, and extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.
The examination will consist of a standard, multiple-choice Civil Service Computer-Based Written Examination (weight:100%).
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply
~TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE~
Final Filing Date: Monday, February 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST
Computer-based Examination: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST
About the CountySan Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities. The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Jennifer Wilson-Reyes (11012023) (Office Assistant I/II - E334, E335)
Please visit for a complete listing of all benefits for this classification.
Benefits are offered to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. All benefits are subject to change.
NOTE: Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 may be subject to new Pension Reform retirement laws.
As an additional benefit, the County offers extensive training and development programs designed to improve skills and enhance career opportunities. Most programs are offered on County time at no cost to you.
County employees are also covered by the federal Social Security system and earn benefits for retirement based on salary and time worked.
01
Considering your current and previous work experience, select one response that best describes how long you have performed general clerical or office assistant duties.
- 3 years or more
- More than 2 years and up to 3 years
- 1 year and up to 2 years
- Less than 1 year
- Never, but willing to learn
02
Considering your previous work experience, select all task(s) you have performed . (Check all that apply.) Please note: Your response may be subject to verification and you may be tested on your response(s).
- Typing
- Word Processing
- Filing
- Recordkeeping
- Photocoping
- Greeting and Screening Visitors and/or Customers
- Telephone calls; taking messages
- Proofread Type Materials
- Ordering Office Supplies
- Gather Material for Meetings
- Order Office Supplies
- Receive, Sort, and Forward Mail to Office Staff
- None of the above, but willing to learn
03
Describe how you organize your clerical duties and activities to ensure you meet all deadlines while maintaining accuracy and completeness in your work.
04
Some positions require the ability to speak, read and write in both Spanish and English. Are you fluent in both languages? (A "no" response will not disqualify you from this process.)
- Yes
- No
05
County of San Mateo departments sometimes need extra-help workers in addition to permanent employees. Extra Help positions offer temporary part-time or temporary full-time employment for 1040 hours (which equates to working full-time for approximately six months). However, employment might end sooner depending on the needs of the hiring departments. Extra Help positions are paid on an hourly rate basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra-help workers are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the extra-help assignment. Are you interested in extra-help employment? (A "No" answer to this question will not affect your application for permanent employment.)
- Yes
- No
Required Question