Census Jobs

Georgey1

I have reached the end of a very long tether with this process.

At the time I applied for the positions of Census Collector and Census Interviewer (in early January), I was at the start of the unpaid element of my maternity leave and knew I was not returning to my previous employment. I saw these positions advertised and thought it sounded really interesting; I am a fan of the census; I felt the income boost would be very welcomed. I knew I would be applying for other jobs to start at the end of my maternity leave, as I do, sadly, need to go back to work.

So I had the interview for Collector, went through the process, did everything they asked of me, attended training, completed checks, sent in ID. I have heard nothing since and the role starts in three weeks. OK it is big operation for them, but some of us have childcare to arrange? A couple of weeks' notice just doesn't cut it!

Another thing: the more the process has gone on, the more obvious it has become that contrary to what the website says about the jobs being flexible, a boost to income and something that can fit in alongside other jobs (up to 20 hours) and commitments, they are actually not very flexible at all. Or maybe that was just the trainer who delivered our training giving that idea. I have day-to-day job now; a lot of people doing this role will be people with day-to-day jobs or studies, needing an income boost; the flexibility factor was a major draw for a lot of us I am sure! To take that away means that I actually don't think the role will work for me now - and it does have to work for us as much as for them!

I now work 18.5 hours a week in my day-to-day job. This is Monday to Thursday half days (afternoons up to 7pm at night). Those hours are non-negotiable. I have tried and tried to contact Capita about this and I either receive no response to emails or I am hit with a 30+ minute wait on hold on the phone before I give up! Let's not forget that their phone number is 0845 so is not free either! When I had my phone interview, the person who interviewed me, was made very aware that I would likely be working alongside this.

I have a friend who heard nothing after filling in the application - not even an email, no interview, nothing. This was also in early January. Last Thursday she randomly received the 2 information booklets with no other info, and like me she has been unable to get through to them to find out what is going on.

Our trainer hinted at the fact our co-ordinator will dictate our times of work - does anyone know how true this is? I am sure that the co-ordinators are aware that not everyone is available every hour of every day and may not be able to commit to some times.

The whole thing about the classroom training was a shambles too. The locations were pants - travel 50 miles to a training venue where you are given a shot of coffee! Thanks! OK so we are paid for the 4 hours we are there, but what about the cost of getting there?! In my opinion, the training was not actually very good - again, maybe our trainer tbh. A lot of us left confused and had many of our questions answered with 'that's not my area' or 'that's not my problem' (when one man had a pay query).

There is no joined up working; there is no flow; there is no consistency; there is no communication.

I have emailed again. The next email will be to withdraw my application. It is a complete shambles!

Georgey1

Oh and the Interviewer role - I had the interview over a month ago and then heard nothing again. Then out of the blue yesterday received an email saying they are still considering my application and this could take up to 3 weeks. Not really good enough to be honest.

froggy27_2

Georgey1 - what hours are you working at the moment? you mentioned afternoons til 7pm, or is this only Thursdays? A collector is supposed to work from 2 til 9pm Mon-Fri and 10 - 9pm Sat and Sun but all collectors would have agreed to different hours ie 37,25,15. The coordinator will then work around those hours and distribute the workload accordingly. I'm sure there will be flexibility but it's all results driven so you have an area to cover over few days within the hours agreed. HTH.

butterfly81

cathj wrote: »

I have been employed as a collector to start on the 21st March. My recruitment had been going smoothly, but now I am really not happy now.

Did all the online training, sent everything back timely, booked my class room training, making arrangements around that for 14th from the list of dates they gave me. Received a phonecall a short while ago, they need me to do the training earlier than that or I can't start on 21st. They need me to go to Guildford on Wednesday, this is hugely inconvenient, about a 2 hour drive and I really don't think I can arrange childcare for 3 children at this short notice, and the woman on the phone was really off with me when I said I wouldn't know until tomorrow if I was going to be able to make Wednesday.

Am a bit concerned having read your email. I am meant to be starting on the 21st March as an early census collector but have my classroom training tomorrow afternoon (15th). No one contacted me to say I had to do the training earlier but am now starting to wonder if they will email me the contract in time to start as it has taken a while for some people to get theirs? Anyone else in similar situation?
Can anyone who has attended the classroom training for collectors tell me what it consists of and what the smart/casual dress code is i.e. were people more casual than smart?
Thanks

ladybee

butterfly81 wrote: »

Can anyone who has attended the classroom training for collectors tell me what it consists of and what the smart/casual dress code is i.e. were people more casual than smart?
Thanks

I did my classroom training last week and smart casual is fine, it's pretty relaxed with lots of examples of role-play scenarios where you pretend you're a collector, etc. I received my contract 2 days after the classroom training, so I imagine they're gonna turn over your application pretty swiftly now. Good luck.

Rhealea

I have to be honest and say I've found the recruitment process to be very good. Applied in Jan, had telephone interview after a week or so, then not long after got provisional offer. Did online training, then booked classroom training. Did this last week and got my Formal Offer by email the day after.

Sounds like I've been lucky.

Sammyantha

Georgey1 wrote: »

It is a complete shambles!

This is the census in a nutshell.

NRS1959

I received a identical email to the one referred to above on the 10/3 after I had given up, I put down 21/3 for a start date and I'm now thinking that if they are so bad at the rcruitment process are thay worth bothering with for just 4 weeks work.

The words 'p**s up' and 'brewery' spring to mind. !!!!:beer:

dawyldthing

I have just had my conditional offer through, but I found this part interesting:

14.2 If you live outside your Work Area, you will be responsible for calculating the distance from your home to the boundary of your Work Area. This is classed as a 'commuting journey' for which you will not be paid. You will receive payment for mileage incurred within the Work Area in the performance of your duties. The ONS Expenses Policy for Temporary Census Employees provides further information on allowable expenses.

So if any of you are using your car, you'll need to change your insurance.

Training was erm interesting! There was 2 auditors watching our trainer from ONS and for some questions even they didn't know, but it provided me with 4 hours of entertainment at the least. I am abit anxious as after talking to many people at work most people are reluctant to fill it in, so its going to be a nightmare, but it will be something different

andyroberts1967

I got my offer on Thursday, then had 5 days to do my Assessment. I did this on Sunday night (yesterday) and this morning I got an invite to my classroom training, lots of sessions and places to choose from. I picked Southend as I live and work there, and I'm having my training this Wednesday. So they are picking up the pace now big time.