Thousands of Temporary Jobs Available Through the Census Bureau

Every ten years, the United States government takes a census of the population of the United States. This is no easy task considering there are between 200 and 300 million people within its borders. To fulfill this monumental task, the United States Census Bureau will need thousands of temporary part-time employees to collect, categorize and process tons of information. This need for people comes at a time when many people need work. For those who can qualify, this opportunity may come as a financial blessing during hard economic times. Good pay, flexible hours, close to home.

What's The Work?

There are a variety of jobs that will need to be filled. There will be a few office, data entry and supervisory positions regionally available and a larger number of enumerator (field data collector/census taker) positions nationwide. A census taker will average between 20 and 40 hours per week, with weekly pay. You are paid while you are in training and reimbursed for authorized expenses in association with the work.

What Skills Are Required?

You must be fluent in English and have basic math, logic and organizational skills. You must be able to explain information to others, ask questions and accurately record the answers. You must be willing to knock on doors and communicate face to face with members of the community. If you are unsure of your skill levels, there is a practice test that you can print and take to get a feel for your level of ability. If you are conversationally fluent in another language, that may be a plus. In most cases, a vehicle and valid driver's license are required. Key abilities require accuracy, the ability to keep information confidential and the ability to work independently.

Is This Work For You?

Only you can answer this question. This author strongly advises individuals considering this work to thoroughly investigate all the information available at the website including the video that allows you an opportunity to view the Census Bureau's mission, employment opportunities and culture.

How Do You Apply?

Go to the United States Census Bureau website at www.census.gov. Select the jobs@census link on left menu, then select 2010 Census Taker Employment Opportunities. On this page, you will see a menu table on the left. You can make a selection from this table including background information about the census and instructions on how to apply by contacting your local United States Census Bureau office or by calling their main number, 1-866-861-2010. You can also find information on required documentation. Within the Documents link, you will find links to the application, the I-9 form and the practice test.

Tips for Maximizing Your Acceptance

Take the practice test!!!!! It makes no sense at all to go and take the test blind. The practice test gives you a good set of examples of the type of questions that will be on the test. The test has an answer key. By taking the practice test, you can know what questions you answered correctly and what questions you missed. This gives you an opportunity to study the math or logic that you missed and you will be better prepared to take the real test. REMEMBER that the test is timed. You have 30 minutes to answer all the questions.

Print and complete the online application. You will be given an application to complete at the test site, before you take the test. By taking the time to complete the application in advance and bringing it with you to the testing, you will be sure that you have all the required information with you. This author would, however, recommend that you complete the application you are given at the testing location. It will be neater (because you have a second chance) and the test monitor will be going through the application line by line, explaining how to answer each question. This will help ensure that you don't forget to X a box or answer a question. An incomplete application is an automatic disqualification.

Use line 32 of the application to explain any potentially negative or vague information on the application. This line is for explanations and details, so if you have information that requires clarification, use this space. Negative information does not necessarily disqualify you for work, so do take the time to explain the circumstances.

Don't lie on the application and don't try to cheat on the test. This may sound silly to some, but if you tell even a white lie on your application or look over at someone's paper, while taking the test, you risk disqualification.

Be available. There is a place on the application where you indicate when you are available for work. The more availability you have the greater your potential for work. Be realistic with your availability, but don't indicate you can work more than is possible or go crazy putting on restrictions. Examples: 1) Don't indicate that you can only work on Friday from 2-4 and Monday from 8-1. 2) Don't indicate you are available all day Sunday, when you know that you will not miss going to church Sunday morning. Generally, they are looking for an availability of at least 20 hours per week. Most of the jobs will require late afternoon to evenings and weekends-when people are home. The individuals who are available every day of the week, any hours of the day and willing to work 40 hours will likely be the ones on the top of the pile.

Make an appointment for the test. Do not just call and get the test locations. The test locations vary by area and sometimes they are small and cannot accommodate large numbers of people. By making the appointment at a specific location, you are guaranteed a seat for the test. People who just show up run the risk of being turned away for lack of seating. If you have supervisory skill, ask for the testing locations of both the regular and the supervisory tests and schedule yourself for both. The more good test scores and the more skills, the more likely you are to get one of the jobs.

Go to the testing prepared. Bring all required identification and supporting documents. Bring a bottle of water. Dress for the weather, not all locations will be comfy cozy, because they are often donated sites such as unused recreation buildings. Air conditioning and heating may be inadequate. Layer clothes so you are ready for anything. During the test you may not have anything on the desktop and hats are NOT allowed in the testing room. Dress conservatively as you would for any important job interview. Leave the bling and the spandex at home. Be prepared to spend at least 2 hours at the testing site.

Answer the easy questions first. The standard test is multiple choice. Some of the questions on the test require skillful reading to answer correctly. If you read through the question and you are confused by it, skip it and move on to the next question. Once you have answered all the easier questions, go back and tackle the ones you skipped. If you still are unsure of the answer, make a logical choice from the answers offered. BE VERY CAREFUL when skipping questions. The answer sheet is the kind where you blacken the bubble of the right answer. If you put the answer to question 19 in the bubble space for questions 18...the answer will score as wrong.

Don't be late. If you arrive late, you are already telling people something about you-you are not necessarily reliable. You also run the risk of missing important information. Don't risk getting lost or not being able to find the test location. Go to an online mapping website, such as MapQuest and input the testing location address. Be sure you know how to get there and give yourself at least an extra 15 minutes of travel time. Better yet, make a test drive to the location to ensure there are no obstacles to you being on time.

Veterans get preferential treatment. If you are a veteran, there is a place on the application for you to say this and request additional points be added to your scoring. You must have the documentation, such as your DD-214, to support your request for the additional points.

Here are some general tips. Print neatly, color in bubbles completely, be accurate and ensure that you follow the instructions fully. Failing to read an entire question can lead to assumptions and wrong answers. Unreadable information may lead to automatic disqualification. Individuals scoring and evaluating the information you provide will NOT take the time to call you for clarification. If they can't understand it, your information is considered incomplete and your application hits the shredder.

In this climate of high unemployment, you will be competing for Census jobs with many highly qualified people. The tests are scored and the higher scores will get the jobs, so don't be cocky or lazy and think you can breeze through the test and miss 5 or 6 questions. If you miss that many, you probably will not get past the scoring to the job. You will be contacted and advised whether or not you passed the test. You will not be given a specific score. If you feel you did not do as well as you might have on the test, schedule yourself to take the test again. The highest score of all your tests will be the one that is counted.

If you need some work, here is an opportunity. Even though the work is temporary, it is an opportunity to make some decent money and another work record to add to your resume. Best of luck!