Census bureau jobs will soon be available, to the tune of 1,000,000 positions in the next few months. If you can wait to start working until the spring when the jobs start, this is a great money-making opportunity for the unemployed. Census bureau jobs can also become a smart career move if you are interested in working for the government, as this federal position can give you a foot in the door for more opportunities. Perhaps you are underemployed, retired or just looking to make some extra money? Census bureau jobs offer flexible, temporary work that is close to home that can easily fit into your schedule. Census bureau jobs can work well for many kinds of people. So how do you apply to work for the 2010 census? Read on.
In an interview with U.S. News & World Report about how to best apply for census bureau jobs, Census Bureau chief Wendy Button outlines her advice:
Even though most jobs won't begin until next spring, and people won't be notified until February, Button urges people to apply early.
There are five type of census jobs-census takers, crew leaders, crew leader assistants, recruiting assistants, and census clerks. Most jobs will last several weeks. Applicants generally need to have a valid driver's license and, where public transportation is not available, use their own vehicles (mileage expenses will be paid). For census takers-the largest category of jobs offered-evening and weekend work is standard in order to find people at home.
You need to apply for a job through the census office closest to where you live. You can call (866) 861-2010 and, if you enter your ZIP code when prompted, your call will be routed to the nearest office. Or, you can obtain all the materials online. Begin the process by finding that office. There is an interactive map with office locations. If you put your cursor over a location, you can see its pay rate for census takers. Button says pay ranges from $10 to $25 an hour and is keyed to wages in local markets. Once you've located the local office, call and schedule an appointment to apply for a position and take a 28-question employment test.
Census bureau jobs will be offered to those who best meet these requirements:
1. High scores on the census bureau employment test.
2. Proper identification as defined on the I-9 form on the census bureau site.
3. The level of local demand for census workers in your community.
4. How flexible your potential working hours are.
5. You must be at least 18 years of age and able to pass a background check.
6. Being bilingual is a plus.
Button also recommends taking a practice version of the census bureau jobs employment test before taking the test in person. In addition, it is suggested that those interested in census jobs "complete the online employment application and bring it with [them] to the appointment, [which] you can print out and fill in by hand," or fill in online and then print. (U.S. News & World Report)
According to the Wall Street Journal, "The final number of hires will depend on how many U.S. residents return their census forms, which are mailed out early next year." So there is no way to tell what the demand in your area will be until that time. But if you are looking for extra or part-time work and have the flexibility, start now in your process of applying for census bureau jobs. You never know. You might get that census bureau job, a first step towards better things, while serving your country and community.
Read more about census bureau jobs on the U.S. Census Bureau site.
Comments: (5)
Add a comment
By: Tony on 12/03/2009 9:59AM
What is the hourly rate of pay? The articles doesn't mentioned anything about the hourly rate of pay.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Kalynn on 12/03/2009 6:38PM
The hourly rate varies from city to city and by position...pay can range from about $12 to $20. I applied today. There is a 30 minute test you have to take that focuses on organization, alphabetizing, math, map reading...very simple, don't get nervous in the service.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Alexis Stodghill on 12/03/2009 8:28PM
Hi, Tony,
The part of the article in italics says the pay is $10-$25 an hour depending on the job and the area.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Alex on 12/04/2009 10:11PM
The fascist requirement of signing up for selective service is fully intact.
Obama has escalated the wars he is an internationalist like every president before him this past 50 years and when they need you to die in afganistan...good thing you took that Census Job.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Bailey on 2/22/2010 10:09PM
When it was first announced the 2010 Census needed workers, the news spread like wild fire and people signed up in droves to apply and take the test, including myself.
The application and testing procedure is a total joke. On the one hand, when you schedule an interview, you are told that the test will take 30 minutes and then you are instructed to go on-line to fill out the job application. You are told to bring the completed app with you to speed the process along. But when you arrive at the designated testing facility, you are told by the facilitator that the process will take 2 hours. What?? One gal at my testing location pleaded that she was on her lunch hour and could not stay for two hours. The facilitator could have cared less. The applicant finally got up and left.
And the reason it takes two hours is because 85% of the people don’t bother to go on-line and complete the app. Before the facilitator will administer the test, they allow all the idiots who didn’t bring a completed app to fill one out. Factor in all the dumb questions, slow writers and the fact that the facilitator has to check everyone’s i.d. before the test can even begin and you’ve already killed over an hour.
After sitting around waiting for all the inepts (who shouldn’t be working as census takers to begin with)to complete the job app, the test finally starts. But not before everyone is instructed that if they complete the test before 30 minutes is up, they must remain seated. Seems that getting up and leaving might distract the other test takers. What??
All this for a lousy 3 week job? Typical government bureacracy! It’s not worth it folks.
Read The Truth About Census Jobs http://tinyurl.com/ydrg72j
Reply to this Comment | Report This