Dear Reader:
The following document was created from the MTAS website (www.mtas.tennessee.edu). This website is maintained daily by MTAS staff and seeks to represent the most current information regarding issues relative to Tennessee municipal government.
We hope this information will be useful to you; reference to it will assist you with many of the questions that will arise in your tenure with municipal government. However, the Tennessee Code Annotated and other relevant laws or regulations should always be consulted before any action is taken based upon the contents of this document.
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments regarding this information or any other MTAS website material.
Sincerely,
The University of Tennessee
Municipal Technical Advisory Service
1610 University Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921-6741
865-974-0411 phone
865-974-0423 fax
www.mtas.tennessee.edu
CLERICAL / ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TESTING SURVEY
1. Does your organization conduct pre-employment test as part of your selection process for clerical/administrative support candidates?
City/Agency
|
Yes/No
|
Brentwood
|
No
|
Jackson
|
No
|
Hendersonville
|
Yes
|
Knoxville
|
Yes
|
White House
|
Yes
|
Athens
|
Yes
|
Farragut
|
Yes
|
Chattanooga
|
Yes
|
Martin
|
No
|
Columbia
|
Yes
|
Lawrenceburg
|
Yes
|
Sevierville
|
No
|
Tullahoma
|
No
|
Pigeon Forge
|
Yes
|
If no, please briefly explain why not?
City/Agency
|
Why Not
|
Brentwood
|
Use prior experience and reference checks
|
Tullahoma
|
Small clerical staff and no significant turnover. Would be interested in survey results to consider testing for future openings.
|
If yes, please respond to the following:
City/
Organization |
Job Title(s)
|
Test(s) Administered
|
Minimum Score(s) Required
|
Knoxville | Office Assistant I & II | Written Exam & Typing Exam | 70% correct on written; 35 wpm typing |
Principle Secretary | Written Exam & Typing Exam | 70% correct on written; 35 wpm typing | |
Data Entry Operator | Written Exam & Typing Exam | 70% correct on written; 35 wpm typing | |
City Court Assistant | Written Exam & Typing Exam | 70% correct on written; 35 wpm typing | |
White House | Billing Clerk | Grammar, Computations, spreadsheets, computer usage | |
Police Clerk | Grammar, Computations, spreadsheets, computer usage | ||
Secretary | Grammar, Computations, spreadsheets, computer usage | ||
Athens | Department Secretaries | Microsoft Word, Excel, Customer Service | 70 |
CM Admin Asst. | Microsoft Word, Excel, Customer Service | 70 | |
Farragut | Admin Assistant | Word, Excel, PowerPoint | No minimum; Score is used as one part of total interview score |
Chattanooga | Admin Support Specialist | Clerical written; keyboarding | 40 WPM keyboarding w/90% accuracy |
Admin Support Assistant 1 & 2 | Clerical written; keyboarding | 40 WPM keyboarding w/90% accuracy | |
Customer Service Representative 1 | Data Entry | 4500 KPH; 90% accuracy | |
Tax Specialist 1 & 2 | Data Entry | 4500 KPH; 90% accuracy | |
Accounting Technician 1 | Acct Principles written; data entry | 4500 KPH; 90% accuracy | |
Payroll Assistant 1 | Clerical written; data entry | 4500 KPH; 90% accuracy | |
Court Operations Asst. | Clerical written; data entry and keyboarding | 4500 KPH; 90% accuracy | |
Personnel Asst. | Clerical written; data entry and keyboarding | 4500 KPH; 90% accuracy | |
Columbia | Administrative Secretary | Grammar, Spelling, Math, Microsoft Office | 70% |
Police Records Clerk | Grammar, Spelling, Math, Microsoft Office | 70% | |
Accounting Clerk | Grammar, Spelling, Math, Microsoft Office | 70% | |
Executive Secretary | Grammar, Spelling, Math, Microsoft Office | 70% | |
Court Clerk | Grammar, Spelling, Math, Microsoft Office | 70% | |
Lawrenceburg | Admin Assistant | National Career Readiness Certificate, Typing Test for Speed, Word & Excel Proficiency |
75 – 100 25 WPM 70 – 100 |
Pigeon Forge | All Clerical | Typing, Computer Usage (Memo’s, Memorandums, and letters | Depend on Dept and type of testing being done |
2. Who administers the above test(s)? (check one)
City/Organizations |
Staff
|
Outsource Agency
|
Others |
Hendersonville |
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Knoxville |
Yes
|
||
White House |
Yes
|
||
Athens |
Yes
|
||
Farragut |
Yes
|
||
Chattanooga |
Yes
|
||
Columbia |
Yes
|
||
Lawrenceburg |
Yes
|
||
Pigeon Forge |
Yes
|
Yes
|
3. Does your organization create a qualified candidates’ pool list from your clerical/administrative support test results?
City/Organization
|
Yes/No
|
Hendersonville
|
Yes
|
Knoxville
|
Yes
|
White House
|
No
|
Athens
|
Yes
|
Farragut
|
No
|
Chattanooga
|
Yes
|
Columbia
|
Yes
|
Lawrenceburg
|
Yes
|
Pigeon Forge
|
No
|
Additional Comments
City/Organization | Additional Comments |
Hendersonville | We use job specific testing. It may be drafting a letter that relates to that function; preparing bank deposits; excel spreadsheets….whatever is actually done on the job. We use typing tests and base those scores on nature of the work. |
Farragut | We only test applicants who are interviewed |
Chattanooga | Also test Permit Clerk, keyboarding test only, passing same as above |
Lawrenceburg | We have Admin Asst. in every department but have not hired anyone in a very long time. These answers reflect how we intend to hire in the future |
Contact Information:
Contact Person | City Name | Phone Number | Population | No. FT Employees |
Mike Worsham | Brentwood | 615.371.0060 | 35,000 | 250 |
Lynn B. Henning | Jackson | 731.425.8252 | 65,000 | 671 |
Kaye Palmer | Hendersonville | 615.264.5314 | 50,000 | 300 |
Matthew Bradburn | Knoxville | 865.215.3052 | 178,874 | 1550 |
Cheryl Lewis Smith | White House | 615.616.1008 | 10,000 | 90 |
Rita Brown | Athens | 423.744.2703 | 13,458 | 108 |
Janet Curry | Farragut | 865.966.7057 | 21,000 | 46 |
Susan Dubose | Chattanooga | 423.757.4856 | 170,136 | 2280 |
Celeste Taylor | Martin | 731.587.3126 | 11,515 | 147 |
Connie Etzkin | Columbia | 931.560.1565 | 34,681 | 387 |
Doug Edwards | Lawrenceburg | 931.762.4459X222 | 15,000 | 126 |
Kristi Inman | Sevierville | 865.868.0908 | 11,757 | 275 |
Casta Brice | Tullahoma | 931.455.2648 | 18,655 | 142 |
Kathy Valentine | Pigeon Forge | 865.429.7307 | 5,875 | 260 |
Links:
[1] https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/kb-authors/stokes-richard
[2] https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/system/files/knowledgebase/original/Survey%20Results%20-%20CLERICAL%20test%20survey%202012.pdf
DISCLAIMER: The letters and publications written by the MTAS consultants were written based upon the law at the time and/or a specific sets of facts. The laws referenced in the letters and publications may have changed and/or the technical advice provided may not be applicable to your city or circumstances. Always consult with your city attorney or an MTAS consultant before taking any action based on information contained in this website.
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