Census job interview

I remember for the 2016 interview it was more a general chit chat about the work history, education, availability to do the job, dealing with customers etc. They asked about dealing with difficult people and what you would do if they refused to take or complete the form. I can't recall any other probing questions.

No - you get that form filled out - don't be passive. Most non-filler-outers just don't answer the door so you can just keep plugging away until they cave. Most refusing to fill it out people actually do fill it out in my experience - even just to rid themselves of you bugging them with constantly! Use some example of how you made a hard sell in a job before.

If I went into further detail expect this will be deleted due to the no enumerators posting pinned post. The interview involves reading a map so definitely learn how to read a map properly. It was so long ago I don't recall much about the interview, just sound enthusiastic and not flaky and you should be fine. Most of the job is just being determined and having good planning to be honest. If you can show that at interview you'll be fine. :)

In my interview, I was asked to show them where my house was on a map. I was also asked about my attitude towards dogs.

If people refuse to complete the form, you ask why. You explain that it is a requirement to fill in the form. But you will be trained in on all of this, if you get the job.

Its a very difficult and badly paid job. But you will learn a lot of very transferable skills. And for every difficult person you meet, you will meet many more wonderful people. People who will look out for you and help you. Chatting to and developing a rapport with people will help you a lot as well. They may tell you when certain people will be at home, or will open the gates to gated apartment blocks for you.

The number of hours you do really depends on where you are allocated. Some places appear to be straightforward but others are very difficult. You should really be calling to places at different times of the day if you don't get a response the first time: Morning, afternoon and evening. Census Day 2016 was the 24th April. We were certainly working in March, possibly straight after St Patricks Day. And it finally finished at the end of May. There were days when I was doing 6 hours or so. Sometimes I would be in my location at 10.30am going around to houses. I would go home for a bit and be back there that evening, often up to 9pm. And even in between you'd often be getting calls from people in your area, because you are given a Census phone and telephone number. People would sometimes ask you to call to their house at a specific time. But things will be a lot different this year because of Covid. Lots of people are still working at home. Would I have been able to do it if I was working full-time? No, I don't think so. I was studying part-time at the time and had to miss some lectures because of it and even one day went straight from an exam to my area.

I had several apartment blocks and they were very difficult. This is where networking with residents came in handy. If you got into the complexes, you could go from door to door. Sometimes you may need to get a younger person to translate what you are saying from English into the language of the family. I also had people, who for various cultural reasons, were uncomfortable filling in the forms. My field supervisor was fabulous in this regard, using contacts to get buy in from certain people or access to apartment complexes from others. Networking with your own team and even others was so important.

Thanks for the replies. It is hard to find much information. I got an interview for the role but am unsure. Is it always your own very local area you are assigned to or would you be assigned where needed within reasonable distance? Also am wondering if you lose a lot in tax . I am only working part time but sounds quite time consuming.

Does anyone know after your interview how long until you are informed if you were successful for the position

There is (or was) a pretty comprehensive training session which covers all the above queries regarding forms and difficult people etc so don't worry about that.

The interview was easy iirc, few map questions, how you will manage time etc and willingness to wear ppe came up for me.

It's totally luck of the draw how well paid it is as you get the same fee per house and some houses are literally ten times the work of others. Most people I dealt with we're fine but you get the odd few difficult people or who don't understand what the census is.

You get a much increased amount forms house you discover within your area which isn't on the official list, I had one of these but someone in my team had a whole complex of apartments and.they made a fortune off them, they earned nearly twice what I did at the time (2011)

Hopefully we will hear today

No word yet anyway.

Yes me too :)

Me three :))

I would guess that they have extra people on the panel in case somebody turns down an offer?

Yes, that's what I got.

Yes I think everyone is on the panel and they draw down until all the roles are filled

I got the same email. Placed on a panel and will hear within 2 week's if offered a position. So for all of us on the panel it's no guarantee of receiving a job offer.

Didn’t realise there was going to be a panel.

Pretty difficult to make plans now. Considering there is to be training the 28th/1st and 2nd.

Didnt they also open up again only recently so assumed they didn’t have a big response first time around.

Think they will be calling a lot on the panels. As I’m sure a lot drop out. Don’t start etc. not like it’s a well paid position to begin with.

I did an interview, got the panel email yesterday and have a missed call from the local officer just now. Having read this post it's turned me off accepting (assuming that is what she was ringing me for). I work full time 40hrs a week with 20 days holidays a year. I don't think giving 4 days holidays to this is something i want to do.

^^^^

good for you, now buy a good pair of walking shoes

Yes same! Close to my house, nicr estates and no apartments, feel like I got a good section. Congrats to you

I didn't - thats a pity :(