Part-time gov't work with U.S. Census is available

[February 11, 2010]  WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary, part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. These short-term jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses, such as mileage incurred while conducting census work. Best of all, census takers work right in their own communities.

Census taker jobs are excellent for people who want to work part-time, those who are between jobs or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community.

Every 10 years, the Census Bureau takes a snapshot of our population, determining how many people reside within the nation's borders, who they are and where they live. The results help determine your representation in government, as well as how federal funds are spent in your community on things like roads, parks, housing, schools and public safety. As a census taker, you'll play a vital role in making sure that everyone is counted.

It's easy to apply! Call your local census office and schedule an appointment to take the employment test. Use the U.S. Census Bureau's interactive map to find the local phone number of the nearest local census office.

http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/how-to-apply/local-office-map.php

You may also call their toll-free Jobs Line at 1-866-861-2010.

Census takers usually work in their own communities, going door-to-door, conducting brief personal interviews with neighbors, helping them to complete their census questionnaire.

As a census taker, you will:

• Locate households.

• Explain the purpose of the census.

• Conduct brief personal interviews with residents.

• Record responses on paper forms.

Work schedules for census takers typically include 20 to 40 hours of work per week. However, actual work hours per week and length of employment are subject to work availability, which is highly variable. A census taker's employment may end at any time due to lack of work. Also, you must be available to work when people are usually at home, such as in the evenings and on weekends.

The pay census takers receive is quite attractive, especially for temporary, part-time work. In addition, census takers are reimbursed for authorized work-related expenses, such as mileage.

As a census taker, you will be paid on a weekly basis, either by direct deposit or by mail. Each census taker receives up to four days of paid training. You will be paid for this training at your regular hourly rate.

You may qualify to be a census taker if:

• You are able to read, write and speak English.

• You are a U.S. citizen.

• You are a legal permanent resident, or you are a noncitizen with an appropriate work visa and you possess a bilingual skill for which there are no available qualified U.S. citizens.

• You are at least 18 years old.

• You have a valid Social Security number.

• You take a written test of basic skills.

• You have a valid driver's license.

• You pass a background check.

• You commit to four days of training. You will be paid for training days. Training can be held either during daytime hours or during evening and weekend hours.

If you are a male applicant born after Dec. 31, 1959, you must confirm that you are registered with the Selective Service System.

All census takers must be able to speak English, but people who have bilingual skills are needed in communities where a large number of residents primarily speak other languages. If you have the appropriate language skills and cultural knowledge to communicate well in your community, the Census Bureau encourages you to apply.

The employment test consists of 28 multiple-choice questions designed to measure the basic skills and abilities required to perform a variety of census jobs. These include clerical skills, reading, number skills, interpreting information, evaluating alternatives and organization skills. You will have 30 minutes to complete the test, and you may retake the test if you would like to improve your test score. If you wish to retake the test, you may do so on another day. You may only take the test once a day.

A practice test similar to the actual test is available at your local census office.

The Census Bureau performs criminal background checks and reviews criminal records as part of assessing applicants' past conduct and suitability for employment. Applicants generally will have the opportunity to correct inaccuracies discovered through the criminal background check and to provide relevant information why the applicant should be hired despite information acquired in law enforcement records.

Complete details are available at www.2010census.gov.

[Text from U.S. Census Bureau]