Census gig a great way to earn cash

Notes from the Newsroom

We were surprised to hear this week that there are still 90 positions open for the Lake County Census work slated to take place this spring. It’s tough out there now – with a lot of people struggling to find work – we were sure these jobs would go fast. But, even with the circumstances there are still dozens of positions open. Luckily there are two more census job fairs being held this week for people to take advantage of some extra cash.

Below, reporter Sasha Goldstein gives his account of the test that is included in the process:

LAKE COUNTY — I haven’t taken a real test of any kind in almost a year, the last time being during my senior year of college.

I haven’t been completely unprepared for a test in even longer, so when U.S. Census Bureau recruiter Etta Moore invited me to take a practice test that mimics the exam all potential census workers take, my first reaction was to say no. Tests and I do not get along, much less a timed test that includes math problems. When I realized that my embarrassment on my score would be mine alone, I relented and sat in and took my practice test while the other four potential census workers took the real thing. In the end, I scored 25 out of 28 questions; one I didn’t get to until time expired, and the other two were in the six-question section titled “number skills” (of course). The test is fairly straight forward, and has five different sections: clerical skills, reading, number skills, evaluating alternatives and organizational skills.

I took the test during a Census Job Fair on Jan. 20, at the KwaTaqNuk in Polson. The eight-hour fair gave potential employees the opportunity to learn more about available positions, as well as fill out an application and take the required test. The test, according to Moore, is available to someone to take as many times as they’d like. A background check is also conducted on the applicant, and they must bring two different forms of identification.

The census project is set to begin on March 22 and continues until the end of May. But Moore hopes to have the right number of employees hired as soon as possible. Paid training is included.

Prospective applicants must be at least 18 years old, have two forms of identification, pass a background check and the short multiple-choice test. The following are the remaining Lake County job fairs: To fill about 90 Census jobs in Lake County two more census job fairs will be held: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 19, at the St. Ignatius Tribal Community Center and from 1-7 p.m. on Monday, March 22 at the Polson Library. These are open session welcome to anyone, the entire process should take less than one hour. Please brings two forms of ID.

Call 214-3200 for more information.