US Census Bureau Interview Questions & Reviews
Overview |
| |
Salaries |
| |
Reviews |
| |
Interviews |
| |
Photos |
| |
Jobs |
| |
|
Updated May 21, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
|
Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 69 ratings 
“Easy” Interview
|
Interview Experience [?] Based on 69 ratings
|
US Census Bureau has 14,680 connections on Glassdoor
See Who You Know
| 1–10 of 69 US Census Bureau Interviews | Sort by |
Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Posted May 21, 2012
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Mar 2010 (took a day)
Group interview and skills test at local library. Test very easy - mostly to assess if you could read a map and some simple logic problems. I was the only one to score 100% in a group of 25 - 70% was passing. % individuals did not pass the test. Those who passed were asked for 2 forms of identification and were given a bridf synopsis of what to expect next. Received phone call two weeks later and asked to attend a paid administrative information briefing to take place the following week. There were 300 individuals at the briefing that also consisted of us filling out paperwork and getting fingerprinted - this process lasted all day! Afterwards wen went home and waited for a phone call that would give us our training dates and location.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview, a Skills Test and a Background Check.
More US Census Bureau Enumerator Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Posted Jan 21, 2012
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Mar 2010 in Gastonia, NC (took 2 days)
I went online to find out how to apply for the US Census jobs for 2010. I found a phone number to call and set up the skills test. Before I left the testing session, I was informed of my test score and told I would be contacted. I received a call a few days later and got the job. Training was fully paid, and the salary was set at $15.25/hour plus mileage for everyone. Prior experience was not requested. Training was thorough and exhaustive.
Negotiation Details
There was no negotiation of salary Pay was equal across the board for all enumerators (people going door-to-door to group residences such as nursing homes, etc, or to individual homes).
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a Skills Test and a Background Check.
More US Census Bureau Enumerator Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Posted Dec 7, 2011
|
3.0
Average Interview
|
Overall Neutral Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Mar 2010 (took a day)
The interview was an informational process describing what was involved in the job. There was no real questions to me regarding what I could offer. Prior to this interview a test was taken to determine if skills were in alignment with what they were looking for. Elements of the test included math, word association, map reading and filing. Test for management positions was challenging due to questions being posed that could only be answered if you were familiar with agency HR guidelines which may have been different from any you had experience with.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
There was no negotiation of anything for this job. Salaries were set based on government paygrades.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Skills Test.
More US Census Bureau Enumerator Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Field Representative at US Census Bureau
Posted Nov 5, 2011
|
2.0
Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Interviewed and No Offer
|
Interviewed May 2011 in Los Angeles, CA (took a day)
The interview consists of three phases:
1. Aptitude test. Multiple choice, 28 questions dealing with math and clerical skills. The Census Bureau has a practice test that you can download to prep for the real thing. Pretty easy.
2. Mock Interview: You make believe you are a census field representative, asking some typical questions and writing down the answers. I believe that this is just to see if you are capable of reading aloud in a coherent, intelligible manner.
3. Structured interview. The actual job interview. After the interviewer reads your resume and application, he gives you a score based on the bureau's requirements for the job. He then asks you a series of scripted questions.
I worked as a Census Enumerator during the 2000 and 2010 decennial census's, so I felt I understood the skill set they were looking for. Census workers get a lot of push back from uncooperative respondents, and the job requires a strong ego, persistence, persuasiveness and closing ability. If you've ever been successful in sales you should be able to handle it. However, many cannot and the Census Bureau has a high turnover of their field personnel.
Overall I thought I did well. Unfortunately for me and other job seekers, the Census Bureau's budget was recently slashed by 25%, and Congress is likely to cut it more before the year is out. That's likely to put a big dent in their hiring plans.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Skills Test and a Background Check.
More US Census Bureau Field Representative Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Posted Nov 4, 2011
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Apr 2010 in Honolulu, HI (took a day)
Asked if you could handle the type of work needed...interviewing people and taking down information in an accurate and timely manner. Also asked if you had a vehicle and if you would be able to walk if need be to conduct interviews.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
no negotiation...pay was stated during interview and you were asked if you accept or not.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
More US Census Bureau Enumerator Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Statistician at US Census Bureau
Posted Sep 3, 2011
|
3.0
Average Interview
|
Overall Neutral Experience
|
Interviewed and No Offer
|
Interviewed Jun 2011 in Washington, DC (took a day)
They asked 10 questions, fairly standard. They wanted to know about experience with large data sets, which I didn't have.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Field Representative at US Census Bureau
Posted Aug 7, 2011
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Neutral Experience
|
Received and Declined Offer
|
Interviewed Jul 2011 (took 5 months)
Initial contact pursuant to work in prior year's decentenial survey; phone contacts from employees named but without titles over 5 months; helpful to applicant to cultivate friendly and memorable conversations with spot contacts just mentioned; realize that prior security clearance, background check, training, work history, recent Census experience/achievements will be irrelevant as hiring process begins again from scratch; conscientious trainers but insufficient training time, unannounced self-study before training was a full week rather than a quick hour or two as expected; absence of training proctors was a serious handicap for trainers and trainees when PC's failed repeatedly, graying out, software glitches, etc.; second survey in second year opportunity paid less than earlier work but warranted more compensation due to sophistication of survey and difficulty of interview process.
Interview Questions
Reason for Declining
A Fortune 100 job offer promised better working conditions, a career path, likelihood of numerous choices to move from part- to full-time employment.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Background Check.
More US Census Bureau Field Representative Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Posted Jul 20, 2011
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Apr 2009 in San Jose, CA (took a day)
The ad gave a number to call to schedule to take the test. The test took about an hour and was not very hard. I scored very high. About a year later, I got a phone call asking if I was still interested in the position. I said yes, and was told where and when to attend the training sessions. Training took three days and was paid.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of an IQ/Intelligence Test and a Skills Test.
More US Census Bureau Enumerator Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Posted Jul 20, 2011
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Apr 2009 in Manassas, VA (took a day)
Initial interview was a phone interview with a set of standard questions. Then you had to attend a 1 week long training session, at the end of the training, you were given a test and a field test, if you passed you were offered work, if not you never received any work.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
There was no negotiations...
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a Skills Test and a Background Check.
More US Census Bureau Enumerator Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Enumerator at US Census Bureau
Posted Jul 4, 2011
|
2.0
Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Apr 2010 in Wahiawa, HI (took a day)
I think the actual application was a paper application. Then they called you in to this group testing thing, where they tested basic math skills, how well you would eventually be able to read maps, etc. It kind of reminded me of an SAT. Originally I didn't hear anything but I got a phone call later saying they had gone down the list and I guess I was in the middle because I know I got a good score, but I didn't put myself as available as I could have. (I didn't know you would eventually schedule your own hours anyway.) I think after the phone call was the HR process.
It was all pretty straightforward. There was a paid training session after the phone call which was a few days and not too far away. It was kind of tiring, but the good thing was the actual work after that wasn't as bad. There was a bunch of paperwork at the beginning of the session, then if I remember correctly a classroom-type format.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
It wasn't really a negotiable thing, I don't think many government jobs are. Set pay, no benefits, all laid out for you in the beginning.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Skills Test.
More US Census Bureau Enumerator Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
RSS Feed for US Census Bureau
Interviews
Embed
