February 17, 2010

Census jobs will start adding up this spring

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In the next two and a half weeks, expect to see a notice in the mail about the United States Census, the decennial project that takes stock of every man, woman and child in the country. This Constitutionally mandated head count is a mammoth task, but it's also a once-in-a-decade opportunity for job seekers to pick up some much-needed extra cash. At a time when unemployment is hovering at around 10 percent locally and nationally, the U.S. Census for 2010 is expected to provide temporary jobs for between 3,000 and 5,000 people in King County alone.

"We are currently recruiting for the 2010 Census and starting to hire now in small operations," said local recruiting coordinator Michaellyn Garcia. "This involves working with some of the larger institutions and group quarters, such as jails and nursing homes. We're now making a few advance visits and defining these group locations."

After March 15, when the census forms begin hitting mailboxes nationwide, the census effort will kick into high gear and last through the end of May, Garcia says. After a short period of training, most of the work will involve follow-up contacts with households, via phone and in person, that have not yet returned the forms. (Click here for today's list of some other positions the bureau is looking to fill ASAP.)

"We are encouraging people to apply now," Garcia says. "The sooner they can get in the pool, the better." Applicants must pass a background check, she says, and take an aptitude test that includes 28 multiple-choice questions on basic reading comprehension and math skills. Practice tests for field employees are also available on the local census Web site, and tests can be taken more than once.

While the jobs are obviously not a long-term solution for unemployment woes, the pay--$17.50 per hour for most positions, plus a standard federal mileage reimbursement for any car travel--is a good way to pay off some bills while you continue your job search. "We ask for a two-week minimum commitment, for at least 20 hours a week," says Deni Luna, of the Seattle Regional Census Center. "But for part of the process, we ask for as much as 40 hours for some positions."

The Census Bureau is looking for a wide cross-section of the working public to fill the census-taker positions. "We're looking for people from every community," Garcia says. "People know their own communities better than anyone else. We also encourage bilingual workers who can help with language barriers."

"About 15 percent of applicants are of retirement age and are looking for a way to augment their income," Luna adds. "Another large segment comes from students."

King County will coordinate its census efforts at three offices in Seattle, Bellevue and Federal Way. Other locations in the state include Everett, Olympia, Richland, Silverdale, Spokane and Tacoma.

Besides offering a decent temporary paycheck, the census jobs provide "a good opportunity to build resume experience," Garcia says. "It's also a chance for people to improve their immediate community. By getting a better count, they can help increase their representation in Congress and better determine how funds are allocated."

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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