Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Taking the 2010 Census Test: Tips!
Ok, people. The flood of people searching for census test information has prompted me to put together a little list of tips so that you, too, can get a perfect score!
1. Things to bring: Two forms of proper ID (Driver's license plus a passport works.) If you don't, you can still take the test, but then you have to track down the recruiter again to do an ID check, and that's just a pain. Also, bring a #2 pencil (remember those?). It will probably be provided, but it never hurts to have a back-up.
2. If English is not your first language, review the alphabet. The alphabet is important.
3. Do a little practice math, with no calculator. Add and multiply some three-digit numbers together. Try 476.95+213.8 and 314.7 x 27. (Hint: Being able to correctly place the decimal point might be more important than getting the exact right answer. See #5)
4. Don't be too smart. A lot of questions are written in bureaucrat-speak, and don't make intuitive sense to normal humans like you and me. Read slowly, especially when filling out forms.
5. Remember that all the questions are multiple choice. For many questions, you don't need the right answer as much as you need to eliminate the wrong answers.
6. Finally, it's ok to be a little cocky! You don't need a perfect score, you just need to be better than the other people in the room. Have confidence that you will do great.
Further reading: The Official Census Page
1. Things to bring: Two forms of proper ID (Driver's license plus a passport works.) If you don't, you can still take the test, but then you have to track down the recruiter again to do an ID check, and that's just a pain. Also, bring a #2 pencil (remember those?). It will probably be provided, but it never hurts to have a back-up.
2. If English is not your first language, review the alphabet. The alphabet is important.
3. Do a little practice math, with no calculator. Add and multiply some three-digit numbers together. Try 476.95+213.8 and 314.7 x 27. (Hint: Being able to correctly place the decimal point might be more important than getting the exact right answer. See #5)
4. Don't be too smart. A lot of questions are written in bureaucrat-speak, and don't make intuitive sense to normal humans like you and me. Read slowly, especially when filling out forms.
5. Remember that all the questions are multiple choice. For many questions, you don't need the right answer as much as you need to eliminate the wrong answers.
6. Finally, it's ok to be a little cocky! You don't need a perfect score, you just need to be better than the other people in the room. Have confidence that you will do great.
Further reading: The Official Census Page
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Taking the Census 2010 Test: How to Check Your Score
Well, it's been a long time since the test, so I wanted to check on my application status! I already knew my score from my recruiter (100%, woo), but I wanted to know the truth-- was I qualified to bother people at home for the government?
It was, like most things involving bureaucracy, not intuitive, so here's how you do it.
A) Call 1-866-861-2010. [Don't call the regional office, because they cannot connect you to your local office.]
B) Press 1 or 2 for English or Espanol.
C) Press 0, put in your zip code. [Yes, I know the message says to press 0 to apply for a job, which you've already done. But don't worry, 0 is also the option to check your score.]
D) It will connect you to your local office. Mine is at 206-501-4162.
E) You will talk to some nice people who will tell you that their server is broken indefinitely, and that they cannot check your score (nor hire anyone!) until it's fixed... at some point in the future.
F) Wait and look sadly at your bank account. Aww.
It was, like most things involving bureaucracy, not intuitive, so here's how you do it.
A) Call 1-866-861-2010. [Don't call the regional office, because they cannot connect you to your local office.]
B) Press 1 or 2 for English or Espanol.
C) Press 0, put in your zip code. [Yes, I know the message says to press 0 to apply for a job, which you've already done. But don't worry, 0 is also the option to check your score.]
D) It will connect you to your local office. Mine is at 206-501-4162.
E) You will talk to some nice people who will tell you that their server is broken indefinitely, and that they cannot check your score (nor hire anyone!) until it's fixed... at some point in the future.
F) Wait and look sadly at your bank account. Aww.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Taking the 2010 Census Test; Or, How to be Queen of the Idiots
Do you know the alphabet? Can you add two numbers together? Can you tell the difference between "Steve" and "Steeve"?
You, too, can get a perfect score on the Census Test!
It's about 26 questions, and took me about 15 minutes. Basic, basic skills, like reading a map, or putting words in alphabetical order.
The best (worst) part? You only need to get 70% right to qualify for a census job. How low are your standards, federal government? You want to hire people who can only read or add 70% of the time? I am having real doubts about the accuracy of the census.
Irony: it pays better than my "real" job does. Sigh.
Although. My fellow test-takers did include one man who seemed mentally ill and/or homeless, but the majority looked like mildly depressed, middle-aged, middle-class folks who perhaps got laid off recently. So, there are worse things than being paid good money to do silly things for the government.
You, too, can get a perfect score on the Census Test!
It's about 26 questions, and took me about 15 minutes. Basic, basic skills, like reading a map, or putting words in alphabetical order.
The best (worst) part? You only need to get 70% right to qualify for a census job. How low are your standards, federal government? You want to hire people who can only read or add 70% of the time? I am having real doubts about the accuracy of the census.
Irony: it pays better than my "real" job does. Sigh.
Although. My fellow test-takers did include one man who seemed mentally ill and/or homeless, but the majority looked like mildly depressed, middle-aged, middle-class folks who perhaps got laid off recently. So, there are worse things than being paid good money to do silly things for the government.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Looking for street style?
I know many of you are finding the site through a search for "street style" and all you're finding are photos of trees. (Trees are always in style.) But fear not! As soon as I have a regular internet connection, I'll be bringing you fresh Seattle style a la Faceadelphia & my work with CurrentTV.
But first, I need to pit Qwest and Comcast against each other in a bidding war for my love and affection and hard-earned dinero.
Check back soon!
But first, I need to pit Qwest and Comcast against each other in a bidding war for my love and affection and hard-earned dinero.
Check back soon!
Dosewallips State Park, 11/1&11/2
Our way-too-cushy heated platform tent (sleeps 6)
Epiphytic bryophytes!
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