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Original poster

Census Officer Recruitment

67 replies

Lochabernomore · 03/02/2021 15:47

Does anyone have experience of being a Census Officer?

I've applied and got through to the virtual interview part of the process, but I took a call yesterday that has already pissed me off from them. He didn't introduce himself, and launched straight into a conversation without asking if I was free to talk. I thought the usual recruiters ask if you're free to talk? He then proceeded to tell me that the Right to Work documents I'd submitted were wrong. It was my passport in my maiden name, I have since married and have also submitted my marriage certificate. None of the documents were wrong, just he didn't read them correctly.

Has anyone done it previously or have any experience in this?

OP posts:
Queenie8 · 03/02/2021 15:58

I did it last time, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

You may just have been unlucky with the person you spoke to.

Lunariagal · 03/02/2021 16:03

I did the census in 1991.
Never, ever again.

Seagullslanding · 03/02/2021 16:06

Hi...i haven't done this before but i am currently going through the recruitment process.

I take it you haven't yet had the Welcome event, be prepared that although you have uploaded your documents they will want to see these at the welcome event. they will also ask you to select 3 areas that you are happy to cover.

After the welcome event they will get you to complete the employment checks. They want address and career history along with references. The system is automated, as soon as you enter your reference information they will be emailed - even though you havent yet been offered a post.

My references immediately returned the forms, 2 days later they received emails stating that they hadn't been received. Although the references had been returned, they needed to be manually checked, the computer wasn't aware of this and sent out chase emails to them.

The computer rejected some of my info - i then received emails asking me to contact the helpdesk - every time it has taken over an hour to get through.

I haven't heard from them for a couple of days - so hopefully just waiting for my DBS to come through.

Theres a lot of frustrated people online, some have gone through the whole process only to be told that although succesful there isnt a role for them. A lot of people are upset as their referees have been contacted but they havent a role.

I've resigned myself to just seeing what happens - hopefully i'll get a position, if i dont then i'm not the only one.

Good luck.

yearinyearout · 03/02/2021 16:07

I applied, had the zoom call about the right to work documents but then read loads of terrible feedback online about how they get loads of people through all the stages, but then don't give them a job. They sent me loads more forms to fill in, and I just lost the will. I'm happy to fill all the relevant forms in if I'm definitely being considered but I didn't want to waste any more time.

umpteennamechanges · 03/02/2021 16:15

I had my welcome event today for an Area Manager role.

Ugh...the referencing part is already filling me with dread to be honest. I've been self employed for several years so not quite sure how that works?

Annoying that you might go through the whole process and not be offered a role but I imagine they 'over recruit' because they'll have a proportion of people who find something more permanent before starting with them and so drop out and need to be replaced.

WTFs · 03/02/2021 16:17

@Lunariagal Why never again? I have been thinking about applying but do wonder about the problem of abuse from people who really dont want to have to fill out a form!

HiveQueen · 03/02/2021 16:18

Can’t help but I’d did this in 1991. I loved it and it was good money for what you had to do. I only had 1 bad experience when I had to chase up a resident on the doorstep. I gave them a second form, they slammed the door on me and handed it back to me 2 minutes later in the sealed envelope. They obviously hadn’t completed it and became aggressive when I asked if they had. Can’t believe that is 20 years ago now.

WTFs · 03/02/2021 16:18

@Queenie8 Equally, can you say what you liked about it Queenie? Id love to know a bit more about it.

Seagullslanding · 03/02/2021 16:23

I was initially concerned about the possible abuse, i looked into it, apparently this year the census is digital. The amount of interaction is meant to be very minimal and at a distance due to Covid. yes there will be people who can't do it digitally and they will need to be given a form. From what i have read this year its mainly about encouraging people to take part - i may be wrong.

Modan · 03/02/2021 16:35

I applied for census manager. Sent through the whole process only to receive an email saying I had passed it all but due to the high numbers applying I am on a reserve list as there are no roles available.
Very frustrating as it's quite a time consuming process and all my referees responded and wasted their time too.

Lunariagal · 03/02/2021 17:08

@wtfs

It was tedious and never ending, and obviously all manual form filling. You had to hand the form into a person's hand, you couldn't post it through the letter box. So much tramping the streets.

Only properly screamed at once. The woman who was screaming that she hadn't time to do it could've done it in the time she spent yelling at me.

Local news ran an item about how all census details were up for sale (untrue). That made collecting interesting.

Person who thought I was selling something and shut the door in ky face.

Going into peoples houses to help them fill out the forms. Met some nice people, usually elderly, but very time consuming.

I hope technology has managed to make things easier.

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 03/02/2021 17:11

@HiveQueen 1991 was 30 years ago! Even worse

bestbefore · 03/02/2021 17:20

I can't believe they need so many people to help people fill in a form everyone needs to complete. What a colossal waste of money. Mind you, judging by some of the crazy comments on local FB pages about conspiracy theories over covid testing etc the census will either be a walk in the park or an utter non compliance event!

BigPaperBag · 03/02/2021 17:25

I never knew there was going to be a census.

LIZS · 03/02/2021 17:35

Following as ds is going through the process, currently at reference stage. His main issue has been that he does not drive and our local area , while 90% accessible by public transport, is part semi rural so has been labelled as driving essential. He has therefore agreed to a neighbouring area where driving is "desirable" but in reality is an urban area either walkable or easily covered by public transport. Unfortunately it seems whoever defined the recruitment parameters this has no local knowledge.

FlowEr262 · 03/02/2021 17:38

I did it last time, the actual role was fine. I really enjoyed it.

Stillinbedat10am · 03/02/2021 17:47

I did it in 2001 and it paid for a chunk of my wedding! I really enjoyed it although lugging all the paperwork around did not do much for my back.

I have applied again this time around and found the application process through Adecco far more arduous. I have submitted everything required and my DBS has come through but I am waiting to hear back from them now. Disappointing to hear of people who have gone through the whole process and not been offered a role, but time will tell I guess.

Stillinbedat10am · 03/02/2021 17:47

Oops. Not in 2001... I meant to type 2011. Where's that "edit" function when you need it??

CoronaIsWatching · 03/02/2021 17:51

I've never completed a census before, what will you have to do just log in to the website on the day ?

umpteennamechanges · 03/02/2021 17:56

@CoronaIsWatching

I've never completed a census before, what will you have to do just log in to the website on the day ?

Yes, census day is 21st March. I expect there will be a lot of publicity around it when we get closer to the time.

LIZS · 03/02/2021 17:59

@CoronaIsWatching

I've never completed a census before, what will you have to do just log in to the website on the day ?
It is normally a paper exercise. March 21st iirc
FlumpetCrumpet · 03/02/2021 18:02

What's does a census officer do? My memory of the last one is hazy but I thought I just filled in a form that came through the post, do they send people round in person in some areas or is it a data entry type thing?

LApprentiSorcier · 03/02/2021 18:03

My mum did it in 1991. She found it a bit tedious, I think. Lots of going back and forth to addresses on your patch where probably no one lives but they have to check.

MollyButton · 03/02/2021 18:05

It's all outsourced to Adecco. They probably have taken on extra staff to do the sift - the person interviewing is not necessarily the kind of person you would be working with/for.

Last time I got passed over for the Census proper but the worked on the Census Coverage survey.

The Census will be predominantly online this time, you will get all the info you need through the post and there are helplines to help you complete it. All info is confidential for 100 years, it is compulsory and some questions are compulsory (but some are optional).

MollyButton · 03/02/2021 18:07

Oh and the census officer helps people who have difficulties with the form (although they are trying to make it as accessible as possible), and chases up those addresses where there is no response.