2011 Census - Anyone ever been a collector?

[Floweryfields]

Just wondering whether it would be something you could do while working another job - ie after work and on weekends?
And if it is financially worth it?
Thanks in advance.

[Trillian]

I was a reserve collector for the last census - which meant I filled in if someone was sick or unable to do their collection etc. it would be - afterall most people would be out during the day anyway so it would be best to catch them at night. But during our training they didn't recommend going at night. Weekends would be fine though. The money depends on the size of the area you collect from. Larger areas get more money and it can be worth several thousand dollars to you if you have a large one. I imagine city ones would all be pretty similar in terms of size though, but where I am the areas could be really large. I would do it again only I don't have the time this year.

[Razzberry]

I was looking at doing this, as I saw an advert in the paper today. I was worried about going round at night cause would'nt be very safe! How many hours approx do you work Trillian?

[Trillian]

The hours vary depending on the size of your area, but there is work you have to do at home in writing all of it down and accounting for all the forms. In my area, because it was rural, most of the time was spent driving to get from house to house.

[AnyDream]

It's a much better pay rate than it has been in the past, for the first time they are paying per hour and not a set amount per number of dwellings collected. I know a few people who have worked on it in the past and they all said it was great. I believe some collectors do it parttime alongside their normal job.

[beansbeans!]

I applied to do this this time round. I really hope I get a job with it. Would be nice to have mine own 'job' and to be walking at the same time!

I heard its about $18/hr. Well I think thats what the news said the other night

[peanutter]

good question ... I think it depended on whether the entrace was on the road you did, ITMS.

hope you got an answer today!!

[AnyDream]

Congrats to all the new census collectors! I believe the abs is still looking for collectors in some areas so if anyone is reading this who is interested but thinks they got in too late, it might be worth a phone call, esp in regional areas.

[Yael]

I also applied & had the interview, he called yesterday to say they will send me the paperwork to fill in. DH is going to be a reserve collector. Hope it goes ok, and I don't get any psycho's who kill me to eat my liver (a-la silence of the lambs)...

[AnyDream]

Yael I don't think there have been any psychos in the entire 100 years the census has run

[mooks]

I got a spot as reserve collector. I will do the training and everything, then step in if i'm needed in my area or neighbouring areas

[HotI]

How is everyone doing? I had my training last Saturday, and have started my Workload Review. I drove 60km when checking out my area!

Trying to organise baby sitters so i work out when i will do my main deliveries. DH works shift work and unfortuantely has a heap of weekend work coming up. I was hoping to do most of mine during daylight hours but might have to do some night work as well.

[Floweryfields]

Yael I don't think there have been any psychos in the entire 100 years the census has run

But then on the training DVD a former collector shared a story about being greeted at the door by a man with nothing on but a red rose in his mouth! Reassuring Census people for sure!

[HotI]

Love the corny training videos! i liked the goose story best.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Trying to organise baby sitters so i work out when i will do my main deliveries. DH works shift work and unfortuantely has a heap of weekend work coming up. I was hoping to do most of mine during daylight hours but might have to do some night work as well.

you know where I am if you need me


Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

[HotI]

you know where I am if you need me

thanks mate, i don't want to wear you out!

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

thanks mate, i don't want to wear you out!

Meh i'm invincible no seriously she's no trouble at all and actually keeps my girls occupied and gives me an excuse to sit down and play games
The offer is there

[Floweryfields]

So collectors, how are you all going with your delivery? I was pretty darn exhausted and sore after two solid days of delivery last weekend but finished it in one weekend, plus a little bith Friday and Monday afternoons. Last weekend was the most glorious weather and I really enjoyed being out walking in it the first part of Saturday was a bit of a hard gig as the JWs were out before me and people weren't answering their doors for a while for that reason.

Had any hairy visits or interesting customers? I've had a few rude ones as expected and a dog that seemed to want to eat me alive!

My area supervisor says me finishing in one weekend is making the other collector look bad - as the houses on the opposite side of the road - her side, don't understand why they haven't got their form yet! (He was joking).

How many ecensus takers have you all had? Out of my 380 odd homes, I had about 15 takers for the ecensus! That was not what I wanted but people still don't trust computers and I have alot of older people in my section too - even alot of the younger ones didn't want to do it online.