ursangnome (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ursangnome) wrote2010-03-05 08:33 pm
ursangnome) wrote2010-03-05 08:33 pm
Entry tags:
Stand up and be counted!
Because otherwise I'll have to dig round in the bushes to find you.
So, it isn't exactly a major move in my career, or something, but the U.S. Census Bureau wants me to take training as a Census Crew Leader. This isn't a permanent position, nor is it guaranteed to be full-time work. But it is something. It isn't an experience most folks get, so I thought I would chronicle it here, as well as I can and still maintain anonymity for the folks in question.
So, what has happened so far...
Several weeks ago, I took the Census Taker's exam. It's a 28 question, multiple choice exam, that you have 30 minutes to take - standard "fill in the circle with a #2 pencil" stuff. The test covers a bit of reading comprehension, ability to follow written instructions, basic math skills (adding and multiplying decimal numbers), some simple reasoning and navigation (like, here's a map - what is the most direct route from A to B), alphabetizing, and a touch of "do you know what's reasonable in working in an office" type questions. In the application, there's also questions about whether you speak multiple languages, are a veteran (there's apparently a hefty bonus for being a veteran - I think if you can write your name, and are a veteran, you meet the minimum score to be a census taker), and if you have any supervisory experience.
The test was scored the same day, and I got a call that same afternoon: you got a perfect score - you're on our list to be a census taker, and we suggest you take the Census Supervisor exam. Around here, the Supervisor exam isn't given on a regular schedule - you put your name on the list, and when they have enough names, they schedule the test. I put my name on the list, and waited.
A couple weeks passed, with me calling every week. And no, they hadn't scheduled the exam. I'd not heard anything else, and I wasn't expecting to - the Census isn't really rolling yet, and they don't call up the takers until after they find out if you've sent back your mailing. But today, I got the call asking if I'd like to take the Crew Leader training.
I get paid for the training (four 8-hour days in mid-April). At the end of the training, my trainer will decide if I am fit to be a Crew Leader, if I get transferred to some other job, or get shuffled back down to Census taker, or if I'm really a psychopath that should not be allowed near important demographic data.
Being a Crew Leader, honestly, sounds like being a project manager, where the project is "get your local area censused". I get trained. Then I will probably have to administer training (prepackaged, pre-scripted training) to census takers. I'll also have to manage some of them, prepare materials for them, make sure the area gets fully covered, and so on, and then report all that up the ladder. Basically, what I do for software development, but instead for people who knock on doors and ask you a few questions.
It sounds simple enough to not be difficult, but like it can give me something to do for the 10 weeks or so. Written properly into my resume, it will probably look pretty good too - I don't sit on my butt, I look for opportunities, and I can change subject matter and learn new systems and tricks easily.
So, it isn't exactly a major move in my career, or something, but the U.S. Census Bureau wants me to take training as a Census Crew Leader. This isn't a permanent position, nor is it guaranteed to be full-time work. But it is something. It isn't an experience most folks get, so I thought I would chronicle it here, as well as I can and still maintain anonymity for the folks in question.
So, what has happened so far...
Several weeks ago, I took the Census Taker's exam. It's a 28 question, multiple choice exam, that you have 30 minutes to take - standard "fill in the circle with a #2 pencil" stuff. The test covers a bit of reading comprehension, ability to follow written instructions, basic math skills (adding and multiplying decimal numbers), some simple reasoning and navigation (like, here's a map - what is the most direct route from A to B), alphabetizing, and a touch of "do you know what's reasonable in working in an office" type questions. In the application, there's also questions about whether you speak multiple languages, are a veteran (there's apparently a hefty bonus for being a veteran - I think if you can write your name, and are a veteran, you meet the minimum score to be a census taker), and if you have any supervisory experience.
The test was scored the same day, and I got a call that same afternoon: you got a perfect score - you're on our list to be a census taker, and we suggest you take the Census Supervisor exam. Around here, the Supervisor exam isn't given on a regular schedule - you put your name on the list, and when they have enough names, they schedule the test. I put my name on the list, and waited.
A couple weeks passed, with me calling every week. And no, they hadn't scheduled the exam. I'd not heard anything else, and I wasn't expecting to - the Census isn't really rolling yet, and they don't call up the takers until after they find out if you've sent back your mailing. But today, I got the call asking if I'd like to take the Crew Leader training.
I get paid for the training (four 8-hour days in mid-April). At the end of the training, my trainer will decide if I am fit to be a Crew Leader, if I get transferred to some other job, or get shuffled back down to Census taker, or if I'm really a psychopath that should not be allowed near important demographic data.
Being a Crew Leader, honestly, sounds like being a project manager, where the project is "get your local area censused". I get trained. Then I will probably have to administer training (prepackaged, pre-scripted training) to census takers. I'll also have to manage some of them, prepare materials for them, make sure the area gets fully covered, and so on, and then report all that up the ladder. Basically, what I do for software development, but instead for people who knock on doors and ask you a few questions.
It sounds simple enough to not be difficult, but like it can give me something to do for the 10 weeks or so. Written properly into my resume, it will probably look pretty good too - I don't sit on my butt, I look for opportunities, and I can change subject matter and learn new systems and tricks easily.
no subject
Things to add to the to-do list :)
no subject
no subject