Census Officer Recruitment

[Lochabernomore]

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?

Trying to get into the Welcome Event proved impossible and after an hour on hold trying to ring Adecco I decided it wasn’t worth it.

@MollyButton

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.

Ah ok, sounds like the sort of thing that'd be fun to be involved in once just to see how it all works. I've always fancied having a go at counting votes at a polling station but I never think of it in time to look up how to go about it.

And yet some men have all sorts of documents in different names and this is accepted without question.

@BigPaperBag

I never knew there was going to be a census.

It's every 10 years in the first year of the decade. It's not a new thing!

I find it disproportionately exciting.

@DappledThings

Me too! Mainly because I do family history research so it's exciting to think of people in 100+ years researching us.

@FlumpetCrumpet keep an eye on council websites for electoral positions. Here in Wales we are due an election on 6th May. I normally do the verification/count, its usually dificult to get an actual polling station role as they have their 'regulars'.

This year i have already been contacted to see if i would consider going for a polling station role, there seems to be a concern as to whether there wil be the same number of applicants due to Covid.

All positions are usually advertised on the councils website.

[quote umpteennamechanges]@DappledThings

Me too! Mainly because I do family history research so it's exciting to think of people in 100+ years researching us.

[/quote]
Absolutely.

My DC are 3 and 5 so this will be their first entries and I just find that really exciting. I do love filling in a form as well. DC1 will need a new passport in April which is another form-filling task I'm excited about. No way of saying that without sounding sarcastic but I really mean it!

@LIZS

It's digital this year for the first time.

Obviously those unable to complete digitally will be helped to get a paper form to complete instead.

@umpteennamechanges How will it be delivered digitally, please? Will there be a website? I love filling in the census form My first that I remember was 1991.

@MechantGourmet

I believe every household will get a letter with a website link and a code specific to your household.

There are quite a lot of questions this year...the usual mandatory ones about who lives in the household and then a lot of optional ones.

I did it last time and enjoyed it. Was mostly helping people who were unable or unwilling to fill it in, organising translation etc.

I did it in 1991. Lots of trudging around streets and got into quite a potentially dangerous situation in a flat (naive). Only a few refusers but loved reading everyone's jobs, names etc. Presume you won't meet anyone this year?

Will still be door to door meeting people but obviously won't be quite the same as Officers won't be going inside homes.

As a family historian I'm excited to fill it in for the first time living in my own house rather than with my parents!

I did it in 2011, quite an eye opener about where I lived at the time. #runlikehell One comedy moment, sent to investigate a whole street of apparent refusers. Confronted with an empty space and construction hoardings, all the houses had been demolished! Also remember a chat with a mildly drunk chap who eventually said he couldn't read well enough to complete the form. Helped him with his friend assisting.

Otherwise didn't read the forms. Straight in envelopes! I remember having to wait until the postboxes were emptied before I could post the ones I had collected.

Tell that to today's kids...

I never knew there was going to be a census but it’s 2021

OP, I’m going through the process at the moment. It’s all a bit “Computer says no” and the Welcome Event is misnamed. It should be “Document verification interview”.

Interestingly, I was only asked to select one preference.

I’ve put down for 15 hours, the pay is low but I’m interested in genealogy and quite fancied the exercise and interaction.

Thank you @umpteennamechanges

I'm more excited that the 1921 census data will be released. I like researching family history so I get a whole load of new info.

Oh and the census officer helps people who have difficulties with the form (although they are trying to make it as accessible as possible)

The problem with that, though, is that, considering all the happily-compliant and web-using majority will already have done it without your assistance and self-selected 'out' of your services, almost all of them that you go to will potentially be 'difficult' addresses.

Depending on the area, I'm guessing that, whilst there will be plenty of willing but not very tech-savvy older folk (and/or those with arthritis or poor eyesight) who are very happy to give you the answers for you to write down on their behalf, you're likely to get a very large proportion of obstinate refuseniks, angry/aggressive people, people who can't (or pretend they can't) speak English (or Welsh), along with those who think they're 'absolutely hilarious' (Religion? "Reform Jedi Church of the Wookie!!!!"; Nationality? "Venusian!!!!"; Sex? "Oooh, yes please, if you're offering!!!!").

The problem with that, though, is...

Well yes, that’s what the job is.

@lovelemoncurd

I'm more excited that the 1921 census data will be released. I like researching family history so I get a whole load of new info.

This too! But January 2022 seems sooooo far away, I want it nowww!

The problem with that, though, is...

Well yes, that’s what the job is.

Yes, I suppose my point was quite self-explanatory, really! I was just thinking from the pov of the old pre-internet days, when all censuses would require a person to go to every home and stand at the doorway whilst the form was completed. You couldn't even do it by post, as it had to be a snapshot of who was where on that particular day. So I wasn't incorrect - just 20 years out of date!!

But correct in that it’d be a much easier task!

I've worked on the census 3 times before and thoroughly enjoyed it. The work is interesting and enables you to get out and about in areas you might not usually see. The recruitment process is dire though, contracted out to agencies, seems to get worse every time and takes forever. For a six week temporary contract the procedure is ridiculous.
I've applied again though, good luck with your application.

Given how many on furlough, students etc will have time on their hands and welcome a short term opportunity to earn some extra the process seems incredibly complicated. Min 2 character referees who can voucher for at least 5 years, work referee , no periods unaccounted for and so on.