I previously made a video on how training went and my thoughts on it. This video explains my experience with being out in the field and actually doing the job.
Great video! I, too, am an enumerator. Been out in the field for the last two months or so. Been to some homes and apartments in various neighborhoods. Some decent. Some sketchy. As you said, can be frustrating at times. Say, when potential respondents refuse to speak to you, or there is restricted access. Sometimes it just takes a little patience or cleverness. When it comes to gated properties, may take 10 minutes or so before someone comes out and opens the door for you. Or, it may require seeking a secondary entrance at a cross street or through a parking structure/car driveway. When I encounter difficulty with slipping the NOV underneath the door, I, too, fold it up lengthwise a few times. I then use a little force and push it through. Most of the time, it is thick carpeting on the other side of the door. Usually the NOV will go in. When it comes to Spanish-speaking respondents, don't forget the Spanish language feature on your Census phone. Used that several times, including two days ago. Since I don't speak Spanish, with the exception of a few basic words or greetings, the language feature helped a lot. Allowed me to complete my interviews. Also, the Info Sheets have Spanish on one side. Some respondents are open to you briefly sharing on a topic that they are familiar with or interested in. (i.e. sports) Builds comfort and rapport. Always have your Census phone charged and connected to a portable battery/power bank. If possible, have an adapter that does fast charging. Learned that the hard way. My Census phone died one day when I was out in the field! Though the Census phone was fully charged before I went out, it quickly died after several hours of use. The Apple adapter that came with the phone did not do fast charging. Lastly, be a little assertive when it comes to speaking to neighbors, property managers, security personnel, leasing professionals, etc. May require a little extra effort to get them to serve as proxies and answer as many of the interview questions as possible.
Can you do a video demonstrating your steps with with a household you come in contact with? I been hired as a surveior which I know is a bit different but a video on how you approach someone and a demonstration of your speech to them would be really helpful. Another is i live in a very rural area which winter is really cold. I dont see alot of proxys out for me to ask. What do you do in a case where there is no proxys out? Is that case going to be never clossed? As my part would i have failed my job duties?
I can see if I can make a video on that. As for no proxies...I would try calling every phone number on the case. You may even have to do some detective work with looking up addresses and see if you can find a realtor or something. When it gets down to that, it’s really hard.
Have you been in the field? If so, how is your experience? I’ve been hired as a surveyor as well. I have experience in investigative skip tracing (which is essentially what this job is), but I’ve never worked for the Census. How do you like it, so far?
Yeah I did, and it was good experience that paid well. It was only a temporary thing, about 2 months if that. It’s your duty as a U.S citizen however to participate in the census every 10 years.
Plead the fifth to all questions, and ask census worker to show you in the U.S Constitution where the Government gets it authorization to demand our cooperation.? If you still think the Census is a good idea after watching this video. Just ask the japanese americans about the internment camps they were forced into durning ww2 without committing any crimes other than being japanese americans. And the Government used the "Census" to help find them
Great video! I, too, am an enumerator. Been out in the field for the last two months or so. Been to some homes and apartments in various neighborhoods. Some decent. Some sketchy. As you said, can be frustrating at times. Say, when potential respondents refuse to speak to you, or there is restricted access. Sometimes it just takes a little patience or cleverness. When it comes to gated properties, may take 10 minutes or so before someone comes out and opens the door for you. Or, it may require seeking a secondary entrance at a cross street or through a parking structure/car driveway. When I encounter difficulty with slipping the NOV underneath the door, I, too, fold it up lengthwise a few times. I then use a little force and push it through. Most of the time, it is thick carpeting on the other side of the door. Usually the NOV will go in. When it comes to Spanish-speaking respondents, don't forget the Spanish language feature on your Census phone. Used that several times, including two days ago. Since I don't speak Spanish, with the exception of a few basic words or greetings, the language feature helped a lot. Allowed me to complete my interviews. Also, the Info Sheets have Spanish on one side. Some respondents are open to you briefly sharing on a topic that they are familiar with or interested in. (i.e. sports) Builds comfort and rapport. Always have your Census phone charged and connected to a portable battery/power bank. If possible, have an adapter that does fast charging. Learned that the hard way. My Census phone died one day when I was out in the field! Though the Census phone was fully charged before I went out, it quickly died after several hours of use. The Apple adapter that came with the phone did not do fast charging. Lastly, be a little assertive when it comes to speaking to neighbors, property managers, security personnel, leasing professionals, etc. May require a little extra effort to get them to serve as proxies and answer as many of the interview questions as possible.
Can you do a video demonstrating your steps with with a household you come in contact with? I been hired as a surveior which I know is a bit different but a video on how you approach someone and a demonstration of your speech to them would be really helpful. Another is i live in a very rural area which winter is really cold. I dont see alot of proxys out for me to ask. What do you do in a case where there is no proxys out? Is that case going to be never clossed? As my part would i have failed my job duties?
I can see if I can make a video on that.
As for no proxies...I would try calling every phone number on the case. You may even have to do some detective work with looking up addresses and see if you can find a realtor or something. When it gets down to that, it’s really hard.
Have you been in the field? If so, how is your experience? I’ve been hired as a surveyor as well. I have experience in investigative skip tracing (which is essentially what this job is), but I’ve never worked for the Census. How do you like it, so far?
I was an enumerator in 2020 and I applied for Field Rep. It was pretty cool.
I enjoyed the experience for sure
I wan enumerator in 2000.
Lol you chose the job. People don't want to have to give you their time. You need a different job.
Yeah I did, and it was good experience that paid well. It was only a temporary thing, about 2 months if that. It’s your duty as a U.S citizen however to participate in the census every 10 years.
Plead the fifth to all questions, and ask census worker to show you in the U.S Constitution where the Government gets it authorization to demand our cooperation.? If you still think the Census is a good idea after watching this video. Just ask the japanese americans about the internment camps they were forced into durning ww2 without committing any crimes other than being japanese americans. And the Government used the "Census" to help find them
www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/census-constitution.html