With the 2020 census that has just passed, you may have found an interest in working for the census bureau. With the population growth in the US, this government agency is always looking for new people.
A job with the census bureau can last a few weeks or, in the right position, years. But some of the key features of any position are weekly pay, flexible hours and paid training.
There are many options for jobs with census, so let’s take a look at what you need to know and how to apply for one of them.
Census Job Description
Depending on the role you take, the description of your job will vary. Some positions that are available at the census bureau include the following.
- Census Taker
- Census Field Supervisor
- Recruiting Assistant
- Clerk
- Office Operations Supervisor
No matter the job, the end description of what you do is to gather information by interviewing citizens. This information is then used to give a general population figure in order to allocate federal funds and representation properly.
What Do Census Worker’s Do?
Each of the census jobs listed above will have specific duties:
Census Interviewer
As a census taker, you will visit residents’ homes, interview them, and update addresses.
Field Supervisor
This position is directly above the census taker and monitors the progress and performance of the census taker to make sure the job is done right and completed on time.
Recruiter
Recruiting assistants set up meetings and presentations with community leaders, media companies, agencies, and other businesses to recruit locals for positions withing the census bureau.
Clerk
As a clerk, you will be stationed in the local office to execute office tasks to support the field workers. You will use computers to help support functions like payroll monitoring and submission, hiring, and personnel forms and applications, and many other office duties.
Office Operations Supervisor
This position is responsible for managing and assisting with any office functions required to help support the field operations. You will manage the clerks, take care of day to day office operations, create schedules, prepare and track assignments, data entry, and perform observations on how operations are flowing.
SALARY
Salary will be determined by the state you are working in and the position you hold. Typically the jobs fall in the salary range of $13 – $22 per hour.
Qualifications and EDUCATION Needed
In order to be eligible for one of the jobs above, you must have the following qualifications.
- Valid security number
- 18 or older
- A US citizen
- Valid email address
- Complete the application and online assessment
- Fluent in English and be able to read and write it as well
- Have a selective service registration (if you’re a male born after 1959)
- Pass a criminal background check
- Complete training
- Open availability preferred
- Valid driver’s license
- Have access to the internet
As for education for managerial positions, some experience in managing a small staff would be helpful. A degree in business management or other managerial fields of study is not necessary but is preferred if applying for a higher-level position. The Census Bureau will give any of the additional training upon hiring.
How to APPLY
In order to apply for any of the above jobs, you will first need to head over to the Census Bureau website and complete the online application. It is a quick process. Along with the application, you will be given an assessment questionnaire about your work and education experience.
By filling this out, you will be applying for all positions in your area. The assessment questionnaire will help the hiring managers determine if you are eligible for any supervisory positions.
One word of note: if you do the assessment in Spanish, you will be directed to take an English proficiency test as well.
If you want more information on how to apply for one of the census jobs, we looked at head over to the 2020 census page.
Summary
The census for this year may be done, but there is still a lot of work to be done. If you have been considering a career at the census bureau, we hope that the information above helps you make your decision.