Anyone ever work for the US Census?

[Dizneydaz]

I read about this on another post yesterday, checked out the website, took the practice test (missed one, stupid math error ), called for a test appointment, and am taking the test on Monday at local Library. Our county area pays min. of $15/hr. Next county over (O.C.) starts at $17.

Thanks to all for posting about this.

 

[vellamint]

How long did everyone have to wait to hear how they did on their tests? I know some are lucky and are told right there but our instructor didnt do that and it has been 3 weeks..........

How many of us have actually recieved calls and have been hired so far?

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I'm another taking the test tomorrow (Friday). There was one for today also, but I figured I needed a day to prepare.

Pay here in North NJ is $18/hr.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Thanks for the replies everyone. $10 -12 an hour seems to be the consensus. Not sure if I would want to go to people's doors. But I hate to go through the interview process and find out it only pays minimum wage.

How long did everyone have to wait to hear how they did on their tests? I know some are lucky and are told right there but our instructor didnt do that and it has been 3 weeks..........

How many of us have actually recieved calls and have been hired so far?

I would like to know this too. I filled out the application already. I already took the test and only missed 1. I was told that they would be hiring Feb 2009 for address verification. I was told that this would be about 5 weeks worth of work in 2009 and they they would contact me for 2010's position. I guess I will not be working for them in 2009 but who knows about next year.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

This site seems to have better info and will link you to your local office - that info includes pay rate (at least for me it did).

http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php

 

[Qtips4Mick]

Anyone hear anything new? I got a call last week, the congratulations etc and we will be hiring in late March or if you don't hear then we will call for 2010.

 

[DisneeMommee]

I received a follow up call yesterday about my training and to verify that I accepted the position. This time I asked a few more questions. I'm sure I will be able to answer more after training in a couple weeks. There are 12 regional offices throughout the United States. There will be some additional temporary offices set up in other areas. The areas vary by population, so it isn't a specific number of states, counties, etc. per office. The gentleman who called yesterday is a Crew Leader. He explained each Crew Leader in our area will have a Crew Leader assistant and 18 Census Takers under them. He also told me what to wear, lunch procedure (they are sending a list of area restaurants), verified my phone number, etc. He has not been through training yet, so he said he didn't know much more than I did. It sounded like our training will involve some people traveling quite a distance. I happen to live about 30 miles away, but it sounded like some of the people will be traveling much further. He said his training will be next week, the week before mine, then the Crew Leaders will be helping at our (Crew Leader Assistant) training. The week after my training, we will train our Census Takers and then the process of verifying addresses will run for about 10 weeks. He said he had never worked for the Census before, he took the test just like we did. I don't know if the entire country is working on the exact same schedule, or if it varies by area. Here's hoping the Census crew I'm a part of is a good bunch of hard working, nice people so we can all do a great job.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Hi there! I just took the test last Friday. It was not graded while we waited - was told we'd get a phone call. I also signed up to take the supervisor's test when it is available in my area.

Thanks to whomever posted this opportunity. We really need some additional cash right now!

OH! to anyone who hasn't taken it yet - when you are done and still have some time left, go back and re-check your answers!! I found 2 really dumb mistakes that way. I'm pretty sure I got a perfect score after fixing those. When those nerves start rattling, it's easy to misread or miscalculate even an easy question.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I took the test Monday. Basically we were told, in our area (So Cal, Riverside County), that all supervisors, Crew Leaders, and most Crew Leader Asst. had been hired. They will be hiring a few more Crew Assts. and 800 Enumerators. He told us that with all the applicants they had with perfect scores you would need 28 out of 28 to be hired. Luckily I was one of only a few (maybe the only one) who got 100% (there were 22 of us testing). He told us that the FBI would be doing a quick check which takes 6 days. Then, hopefully, I would get a call regarding training. Looks like training is very close by for me. I figure since he probably turned his info in on Tuesday, the best I can figure is it'll take the FBI until next Tuesday to complete check. Best I can hope for is a call on Wed. (and that would be best case scenario).

Additionally, if you are a Vet, you'll get priority on hiring.

He also told us that they were almost done with the testing. Last test will be on March 13th (our area only??). They've been testing/hiring since Nov. of 2008.

Like previous poster said, take the time to double check your answers. You get 30 mins. to take it and we weren't supposed to leave until time was up. I finished in about 20 and then reviewed my answers. Good thing, I found one where I had darkened the wrong circle. I fixed it and all was well. The whole process, filling out the I-9, get instructions, taking the test, took about 1 hour 45 mins.

For those in our group who didn't wait for there scores (only about 10 did) he said they would be getting a call, but only if hired.

I'll update here as I hear more.

 

[Qtips4Mick]

Thanks for that update. My area has also discontinued testing as they had twice as many applicants as jobs! I hope for that second call! I was told towards the end of March, but if they are closing test sites it may be earlier. We need the extra cash also, just in case my DH is laid off. This is preemptive cushioning. If you see my ticker disappear you will know what happened.

I agree about using your extra time to check over your answers!

 

[disney1990]

Update: My DH and I both got calls from the Census today. We were both hired as Enumerators. We have a full week of paid training the week of March 23rd. They said that we will be working a minimum of 20 hours a week for 3 months verifying addresses. The pay is $18.50 an hour.

P.S. No we did not get perfect scores. I missed 2 questions and my DH missed 3 questions.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Update: My DH and I both got calls from the Census today. We were both hired as Enumerators. We have a full week of paid training the week of March 23rd. They said that we will be working a minimum of 20 hours a week for 3 months verifying addresses. The pay is $18.50 an hour.

P.S. No we did not get perfect scores. I missed 2 questions and my DH missed 3 questions.

Congrats! How long ago did you take the test. TIA

 

[disney1990]

Congrats! How long ago did you take the test. TIA

I took the test on February 20th - about 2-1/2 weeks ago.

 

[cntrygal]

i took the test back in jan and just got a call today, i go for training the begining of april then they told there would be eight weeks of work for now.

 

[disney1990]

Oh I forgot, I also get 55 cents per mile I drive -- even driving to training.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I took the test on February 20th - about 2-1/2 weeks ago.

Thanks. I took it only last Monday but hope to hear something soon. Cool about the 55 cents/mile as well.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I saw this post a while ago and forgot to post...

I was an enumerator for the last census. I worked the entire cycle. It consisted of four parts and each part had training. I could make my own hours from sun up to sun down and as many hours as I wanted while the work lasted for my unit. I was always paid for my mileage and a very good hourly rate. It was $12.00 ten years ago...

The first phase was walking neighborhoods with a book and map. My job was to verify that building still existed and how many families were in each house. You were told to verify if you thought more than 1 family lived in single house and could verify with neighbors. They would not be turned into the housing authorities. The gov't wanted to make sure that every family received a census form. I also had to take a picture a house that was torn down and or a new build. All paperwork was verified in large books while walking. No computers were needed or used by the enumerators.

The second phase was to hand deliver returned census forms. I can't remember if it could ONLY be hand delivered, but I think it did. So I would make many trips to some houses to make sure there was someone home. I don't believe I was allowed to use the mailboxes unless it was a rural area. Verification via a pencil and book.

The third phase was to bring a second census form to the house and ask if they needed help filling it out. This was also working with a pencil, no computer.

The last phase was getting the paranoid people to fill out the forms. Where we live this phase was not long as there were not too many. I had only one anti-government man and I called the non-emergency police dept who took a report and I handed the census form back incomplete (got as much info from neighbors as I could) along with the police report. Many of the no fills were people who did not speak English. I was able to talk with the children in the family. You only need to fill out a few questions to consider the form complete.


**Now here is the kicker. I have a very high work ethic. My group supervisor said I worked too fast compared to the other workers. He was constantly adding more hours and extra miles to my pay. He personally brought me back for each of the phases. This by far was the best job I have ever had. I even brought my DD with me if it was a good neighborhood. Please PM me if you have any questions.

 

[ncbyrne]

I worked for the census in Union County, NJ. I was hired ahead of the standard workers, as my job was to administer the test for hiring the actual census workers. After that phase, I worked on creating the maps that were given to the workers who went door to door. The job only lasted four months, but it was the most rewarding, fun work I have ever done. The people were great too, and I was sorry to see the office close. As for pay....it was just ok, nothing to write home about, but it did help pay the bills.

 

[Qtips4Mick]

Congratulations to those who were hired! I hope I hear this week!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Congratulations to those who were hired! I hope I hear this week!

Congratulations from me, as well. I called last week to the main office, in my state, and they told me that no one has been hired and they will not even begin to call until the middle of March. So I am crossing my fingers. I only missed 1 on the test so hopefull they will find a place for me. Good luck to everyone.