Job Responsibilities
My major job responsibilities are backing up investigators with
bank letters and taxpayer notifications in relation to tax
liabilities in the State of New Jersey. An average of 50 letters
per day are sent out to banks and businesses/individuals and that
takes up four hours of a seven hour work day. With an hour for
lunch, the one hour is spent filing quaterly and monthly tax
returns online or by phone. One hour is spent researching
delinquent and deficient tax returns by means of canvassing and
pinpointing businesses based on their categorical subject matter.
The rest of the time would be an hour answering phones from
investigators and taxpayers as well as faxing, copying, and mail
control for the entire office consisting of thirty people.
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Job Requirements
The requirements for a position as a Technical Assistant are
sixty college credits and a background of filing, reviewing, and
analyzing government documents. My background resulted from four
years working for the IRS(Internal Revenue Service) which is the
Federal Government and my credits include Calculus, Business Law,
and Cost Accounting. Orientation classes last two weeks and
provide all information necessary for the workplace. There might
me a test administered of an oral or written nature to determine
how the candidate responds in a given situation. If you are
pleasant in nature and listen well, your conduct will pass this
test proving you worthy of handling what could have been an
unpleasant conversation. The State only hires individuals who are
ethical and reason with people in a courteous manner.
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Uppers
The people I work with and the environment are my favorite parts about my job.
The people are down to earth and many have become best friends with me at work.
This I feel is very important for a good work attitude and it results in a
healthy behavior because ethics and effort go hand in hand. The building I work
in has lawyers, accountants, and judges, so it's a professional environment which
motivates me to come to work well groomed and always feeling up to par.
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Downers
The worst part about the job is file transfer. There is a
shortage of space for all the files that we keep and they must be
transfered to Trenton, the Capitol, every year. So, it is
difficult to keep track of which ones to send because many times
investigators need to review a particular case whose warrant was
satisfied and that individual or company is back on track of not
paying their taxes. We are basically bill collectors and the
files grow enormously from year to year. Because of the turnover,
we need to constantly retract and transfer files. It's a part of
the job that can be physically exhausting from time to time.
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Lifestyle
The work hours are from 8:30am to 4:30 pm with an hour for lunch and two fifteen
minute breaks from Monday to Friday. I drive to work but there are trains such as
Patco Hi Speedline and the Riverline which New Jersey workers can take to save
gas. You must live in New Jersey to work for the State. There is a Union you can
join with many events and discounts on local gatherings. Health Benefits and a
Retirement plan by Prudential are all included.If you want to work weekends you
can do so to earn time but not money. You get 15 paid Vacation Days and 15 paid
Sick Days a year plus all Federal and State paid holidays. These Vacation Days
and Sick Days grow more from year to year with seniority. I like to wear a suit
and tie to work but it's not mandatory as long as you dress professionally.
Friday is casual.
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Compensation
There are thirty stock options through Prudential that is offered
through this position and the base salary starts at $30,000 per
year with guaranteed raises every six months. The retirement
program acts as a tax shelter and can be accessed with no
penalties after reaching fifty-five. Health Benefits include
dental, pharmaeutical, and doctor visits with a $10.00
deductable. The State hires from within and there is always
opportunity for advancement.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Job Seekers who are considering a position as a Technical
Assistant for the Division of Taxation will find it a pleasure to
work in a clean and friendly environment. The State provides
training in all aspects including Excel, Word Perfect, and
Display Models for in house seminars. There is a strong Workforce
Violence Policy which is enforced and everyone must attend the
seminar which is more than just an effective deterent.There will
always be positions like this for State workers in this and
other facets of the Treasury as well as other departments such as
Transportation and Environmental Protection.A website, NJDOP- New
Jersey Department of Personel provides information on this and
other open positions for the State.
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