CUSTODIAN
OPEN-COMPETITIVE EXAM NO. 9961025
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL: EXAMINATION WILL BE HELD:
September 18, 2025 October 11, 2025
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS: Applications must be received by the City of Ithaca Human Resources Department no later than 4:30 PM EST on the last filing date indicated above. Applications must be submitted electronically through our online application program at https://ithaca-portal.mycivilservice.com. We do not accept paper applications, faxed applications, e-mailed applications or photocopies of applications.
APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED: A City of Ithaca application.
LOCATION/VACANCIES: The eligible list established as a result of this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the City of Ithaca and Ithaca City School District as they occur.
RESIDENCY: There are no residency requirements for this exam. Preference in certification may be given to candidates who are residents of the municipality in which appointment is to be made, provided that the candidate is a resident of such municipality at the time of examination and remains a resident of such municipality continuously thereafter, up to and including the dates of certification and appointment.
SALARY: Varies per jurisdiction.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves responsibility for the efficient and economical cleaning, operation and maintenance of a small school building or on a assigned shift of a larger school building. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Director of School Facilities and Operations III, Head Custodian, or School Principal with leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment in keeping buildings and facilities up to approved standards or cleanliness and operation. Working supervision may be exercised over the work of subordinate custodial staff, or the incumbent may be assigned overall responsibility for the entire custodial operation of a small school building. Does related work as required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: One year of experience in one or more of the following areas: building cleaning, maintenance or repair, building construction or in a building trade, i.e., plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc.
If you expect to complete the educational requirement within six (6) months of the date of examination, you can be admitted to this examination. If successful on the examination, you will not be certified for appointment until you have submitted proof of completion of the requirements to the Civil Service Commission. Proof must be submitted within eight months of the date of examination. Failure to do so will result in removal of your name from the eligible list.
Special Requirement for Appointment in the Ithaca City School District: Per Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designated by the Ithaca City School District as involving direct contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in disqualification.
SCOPE OF THE EXAMINATION: The written examination will cover knowledges, skills and/or abilities in such areas as:
- Cleaning tools and their uses
These questions test your knowledge of various cleaning tools and equipment commonly used by janitors and custodians on the job. You are shown drawings of various tools and equipment. You will be required to recognize the tools and know their proper uses in order to answer the questions correctly.
- Tools used for minor maintenance and repair
These questions test your knowledge of various tools and equipment. You are shown drawings of tools and equipment used in minor mechanical, electrical, plumbing and carpentry repair. You will be required to recognize the tools and know their proper uses in order to answer the questions correctly.
- Health and safety issues in custodial work
These questions test your knowledge of basic proper safety and health practices in areas of cleaning, building operation and maintenance and other areas relevant to custodians and janitors at the entrance level. You are presented with drawings showing situations of health and safety, which can be found in the work area. You are required to recognize any unhealthy, unsafe, or otherwise hazardous conditions and know how to correct them in order to answer the questions.
NOTE: Most Civil Service examinations do not require the use of a quiet, hand-held calculator or slide rule; however, candidates have the option of bringing a battery-operated or solar-powered calculator to the test room unless specifically notified that their use is prohibited. Devices with typewriter keyboards, spell checkers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries, or any similar devices are prohibited. Use of Calculators is allowed for this Exam.
RE-TEST POLICY: Candidates who fail the written examination, or who wish to retake the written examination to achieve a better score, may do so upon the submission of a new application. However, a six month waiting period for re-test will apply. In no event may any candidate take any combination of the Clerk, Keyboard Specialist, Library Clerk and/or Typist written examinations more than twice in any one year period.
DURATION OF ELIGIBLE LIST: Candidates who successfully pass the required examination will be certified onto the civil service eligible list for a period of one (1) year. Rank on the eligible list will be based on the candidate's written test score, with candidates' names being interfiled by written test score as examinations are given.
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION - CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES - MILITARY MEMBERS:
Applicants whose religious beliefs or military service prevent their taking examinations on the scheduled date and candidates with disabilities who require special accommodations to take the test should indicate the need for special arrangements on their application. Candidates who are called to military service after filing an application should send requests for an alternate test date to the City of Ithaca Human Resources/Civil Service Department before the test date.
Military Service Members: If you apply for an examination during the filing period but are on active military duty on the date the examination is scheduled, you may request a military makeup examination. Contact the City of Ithaca Human Resources/Civil Service Department for more information. If you are on active duty or discharged after the filing period has begun, you may apply for the examination up to ten days before the test date.SECTION 23.2 STATEMENT: This examination will be prepared and rated in accordance with Section 23(2) of the Civil Service Law. The provisions of New York State Civil Service Law, Rules and Regulations dealing with the preparation and rating of examinations will apply to this examination.
TIME AND PLACE OF THE EXAMINATION: Approved candidates will be notified by mail regarding the time and place of the examination. If notice of approval or disapproval is not received three (3) days prior to the exam date, please call the City of Ithaca Human Resources/Civil Service Department at (607) 274-6539.
MULTIPLE EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME DAY: If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date, so they can make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All examinations for positions in State government will be held at a State examination center.
VETERANS CREDIT: Veterans or disabled veterans who are eligible for additional credit must submit an application for veterans credit with their application for examination or at any time between the dates of their application for examination and the date of the establishment of the resulting eligible list. Applications for veterans credit are available from this office. Veterans credits can only be added to a passing score on the examination.
Effective January 1, 1998, the State Constitution was amended to permit a candidate currently in the armed forces to apply for and be conditionally granted veterans credit in examinations. Any candidate who applies for such credit must provide proof of military status to receive the conditional credit. No credit may be granted after the establishment of the list. It is the responsibility of the candidate to provide appropriate documentary proof of military service, and verification that the candidate received an honorable discharge or was released under honorable conditions in order to be certified at a score including veterans credits.
ADDITIONAL CREDIT FOR CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
- Falsification of any part of your employment application will result in disqualification.
- Applicants must answer every question on the application and make sure that the application is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will be disapproved.
- Candidates who wish to take more than one examination must submit an application for each examination. If you are cross-filing for another examination to be held on the same date, please indicate this on the application and specify the examination title and number, and the jurisdiction offering the other examination.
- Appointments from an eligible list must be made from the top three candidates willing to accept appointment. The duration of an eligible list may be fixed for a minimum period of one (1) year and a maximum period of four (4) years.
- It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the City of Ithaca Human Resources/Civil Service Department of any change in address. No attempt will be made to locate candidates who have moved.
Issued by: City of Ithaca Civil Service Commission
August 8, 2025
The City of Ithaca is committed to Equity and Inclusion. We encourage those with similar values to apply.
