On The Job

In case you were wondering, The City Of Rye, usually has posted several openings in the Civil Service area. Although, a few people have asked what the City means by the term "positions." For instance, if they get one of these gigs, will they be fired for, say, "slouching"? Just to clear things up, "positions" is just a fancy word for a job. Although, if you and and a fellow employee try to attempt something from the Kama Sutra, you will probably be dismissed. 

Unless you explain it to your boss. So he and the wife can try it at home.

So, what else do you need to know?

The City of Rye operates an alcohol and drug-free workplace. Which is why I'm not even allowed to visit my friends there. True, there were a couple of workers who didn't understand this abstinence policy, but Rye was able to find them suitable employment with another employer. And these folks really do prefer being roadies for The Black Crowes. 

In most cases, you have to take a Civil Service exam in order to get a job with the City. Don't forget though, that postmen, are civil servants, too. So, your letter of acceptance may take a while. Still, after that guy in Cleveland gets your mail? He promises to call and tell you that you got the job.

"Some classes of positions do not require" that applicants take the Civil Service exam. And yet, other people, even once they've passed the test, continue to keep studying the instructional booklet. Don't believe me? Then get on line at the DMV. What else could be causing that hold-up? 

Now, not only must you pass the Civil Service test, your score must also be among the top three, in order to get the position you're interested in. Of course, then we get into that whole "position" question again. My mailman apparently checked off "sitting" and "reclining" when he came to the "position" section. And the scary thing is, Rye Brook okayed it. Which is one reason why the mail doesn't usually arrive till 6.

Most City of Rye, Full and Part-time job openings, are posted on departmental and "common area" bulletin boards. These postings usually mention duties, salary range and minimum qualifications. The duties and salary pretty much stay the same once you are hired. "Minimum qualifications," however, morphs into "minimum requirements." But that's pretty much the only change.

If you have any questions concerning the Civil Service, you need to contact the Westchester Department Of Human Resources. Don't forget, however, that they, too, are civil servants. So allow two months for a response. Which does make this a sort of a weird, Zen-paradoxical situation.

Now, not all of Rye's job opportunties are in this full-time field. Some of them are seasonal and are at places like the Boat Basin, the Rye Golf Club and similar locales. Although, lately, there have been rumors that the Golf Club has been employing caddies from the Civil Service. What else could explain that problem last week? When those guys took a mandatory two-hour break on the 9th hole? 

Still, an interesting job has recently been posted on the Rye web site. It is for a tree trimmer and pays between $45,957 and $64,663. They say it's not a Civil Service job, but I wonder. Any gig that pays that much for just for a few days at Christmas, putting tinsel on trees? It has got to be something the government cooked up. But I wonder if it's been taken already. It sounds like just my kind of thing.