Glassdoor is your free inside look at US Census Bureau interview questions and advice. All 84 interview reviews posted anonymously by US Census Bureau employees and interview candidates.
US Census Bureau Interview Questions & Reviews
Getting the Interview 84 Interviews
Interview Experience 77 Ratings
Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Apr 27, 2013
Interview Details – The hiring process for an enumerator with the US Census Bureau starts with a basic test. Basic math, grammar, reading maps. Once that test is submitted, a candidate will likely be contact via phone for a short interview. Depending on availability, the candidate is hired and invited to a training session in their area.
Interview Question – I do not recall the questions. The main issue dealt with availability. Answer Question
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Office Operations Supervisor at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Concord, CA Dec 2009 – Reviewed Apr 14, 2013
Interview Details – A couple of years before the census begins, you have to register to take an aptitude test. You can also submit special applications for management jobs. The candidates are selected by computer, and then by interview. It is pretty easy to be hired if they call you, so long as you respond to the call within a few hours. You have to pass a detailed background check. Once you are hired in, you can apply for promotions.
Interview Question – I think the questions are all fairly predictable, no trick questions that I can recall. Initially, hired as a clerk, the interview was minimal. For the promotion to supervisor, there was an interview with four managers. Again, no trick questions. If you know how to supervise people, the questions and your answers will make it clear. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – Salaries are set by law.
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Intern at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Suitland, MD Apr 2009 – Reviewed Mar 24, 2013
Interview Details – Applied, was accepted instantly, got a single phone call and answered a couple of simple questions on HTML. Overall it couldn't have been more than 30 minutes long and let to an immediate offer which I then proceeded to accept, since this was the only place I applied to that summer.
Interview Question – Can't recall. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiation phase, standard GS-2.
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Office Clerk at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Mar 3, 2013
Interview Details – No interview - signed up for and took a test at the local employment office. Applied only for an office job as I didn't have a license at the time (required for enumerators). Got a perfect score on the test, which was fairly easy. Got a call back about an enumerator job, which I couldn't do. It was several months before they untangled the problem and offered me the office job I applied for.
Interview Question – Asked about sorting/storing stuff, no clue how the office was set up so I went with the more logical option. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiation available.
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Assistant Crew Leader at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Feb 28, 2013
Interview Details – The hiring was based off the results of a standardized test which primarily focused on analytic/organizational thinking. You must score well on this test to proceed in the hiring process. The top candidates from the testing area are then scheduled for training (upon successful background check / employment eligibility). It is in your favor to remain active and engaged during the training.
Interview Question – How would you most efficiently complete this block? Answer Question
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Field Operations Supervisor at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Feb 22, 2013
Interview Details – Originally, testing takes place for every Census Bureau employee. This, along with the background and fingerprinting information allows for the hiring based on scores. There is no actual interview for the first entry into the Bureau for the Decennial Census.
Interview Question – How would you deal with a junior employee who was not doing what they were expected to, and that they were falsifying their time sheets. View Answer
Negotiation Details – No negotiations were available...
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Statistical Clerk at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Feb 11, 2013
Interview Details – filled out the application online, and then I got my hiring packet about a month later.
Interview Question – no interview conducted. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – none since there wasn't an interview process
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Field Operations Supervisor at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Rego Park, NY Mar 2010 – Reviewed Jan 11, 2013
Interview Details – Need to take the test first, if you score high on the test then they will pick you for the interview. Plain common interview questions, most important to see if you willing to wear different hats and do anything and be flexible with time.
Interview Question – not much hard questions Answer Question
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Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Hillsboro, OR Mar 2010 – Reviewed Dec 27, 2012
Interview Details – To first be considered as a candidate, you attend a group meeting of whoever is interested in working for that years census. It is informational followed by submitting an application and a test to test skills you will need for the job. Test should be relatively easy for most people. If you are selected for the job, you will receive a call a week or so later from a local crew leader to tell you. Then you attend a several evening training sessions with that crew leader and the other enumerators. Work then commences and you have daily, in-person check ins with your crew leader (at their house or public place) to turn in your completed work for the day and pay sheet. If you do a good job in the main phase of enumerating, you may be selected by your crew member to move on to the last phase of the Census where the most difficult households are tried again.
Interview Question – None really. I had no job experience but was able to pass the test. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – There is no salary negotiation. It is hourly with reimbursement for miles driven.
Helpful Interview?
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Enumerator/Special Cases Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in San Diego, CA – Reviewed Dec 12, 2012
Interview Details – Test was worth studying for. Interviewing process was objective and unemotional as would be expected from a government job.
Interview Question – none. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiation, you are placed where needed.
Helpful Interview?
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