Lines already long for census jobs

Victoria Brand on Monday night drove through icy weather from her Addison home to Elk Grove Village only to be turned away at the door of the U.S. Census Bureau recruiting session.

Although she'd arrived five minutes before the meeting started, she was told the meeting room was full to capacity long before she had arrived. She was advised to try her luck at another session later in the week.

It was the latest bit of bad news for Brand, who has been looking for a job since she was laid off about a year ago.

"A lot of places aren't hiring," Brand said. "And the ones that are hiring, the pay isn't that great."

With a flagging economy, the Census Bureau's call for scores of workers for a variety of positions with good pay drew many to one of the area's first locations to take applications.

Dozens of people like Brand who want jobs were turned away from an Elk Grove Village fire station where the Census Bureau meeting was held. Many arrived 10 minutes before the meeting only to be told it was too late.

The bureau is recruiting for managers, clerks and census takers, among other jobs.

The pay varies, depending on the position and experience of the applicant, said Muriel Jackson, speaking for the Census Bureau. Some field positions start at $17 an hour, and office jobs start at $13.

Schaumburg's Jon Keuth had hoped he'd get a crack at one of those jobs on Monday, but like Brand was told he was too late, even though he arrived more than 10 minutes before the meeting's start time. He'd been laid off a month ago from his job as a reservation clerk with a travel agency. "(Employers) say they'll call you back, but they never do," Keuth said. "I have to find something to get by because there's not much money left in the coffers."

To be considered, applicants must pass tests based on the jobs applied for. For instance, an applicant for a census taker, whose job is to locate households, update address lists and conduct interviews, is required to take a basic reading and math test. Others applying for management positions are required to take a more comprehensive exam, Jackson said.

The Census Bureau will be hiring about 700,000 for the 2010 census across the country. To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years old, hold a valid Social Security number and pass a background test. For field positions, access to a car and a valid driver's license are required.

For more information, visit 2010censusjobs.gov or call (866) 861-2010.