Information from ftc.gov – Scam artists follow the headlines, and news about the tough job market gives them a ready supply of job seekers to swindle. The good news is that the federal government is hiring. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting hundreds of thousands of temporary, part-time 2010 census takers to work in their own communities.
But some fraud artists are making false statements to job seekers about the availability of census taker positions and other federal job opportunities, and improperly charging fees to assist job seekers in finding jobs. These scam artists advertise online and in the classified sections of newspapers, offering — for a fee — to help job hunters find and apply for federal jobs. Some fraudulent companies even try to confuse consumers by using names that sound official — like the “U.S. Agency for Career Advancement.”
All federal positions are announced to the public through the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s USAJOBS at usajobs.opm.gov.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that you never have to pay for information about job vacancies or employment opportunities with the U.S. government. Moreover, federal agencies never charge application fees or guarantee that an applicant will be hired. If positions require a competitive examination, hiring agencies typically offer free sample questions to applicants who sign up for the exam.
If you’re interested in becoming a U.S. Census taker, here’s how to apply:
- call the toll-free jobs hotline at 1-866-861-2010 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339);
- use the interactive map at 2010.census.gov to find the local phone number of the census office nearest you; or
- visit the Census job site for the latest open positions in your area (2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs).
You may qualify to be a census taker if you:
- are fluent in English. Bilingual speakers also are encouraged to apply.
- are a U.S. citizen
- are a legal permanent resident, or non-citizen with an appropriate work visa, and you have a bilingual skill for which no qualified U.S. citizens are available
- are at least 18 years old
- have a valid Social Security number
- take a written test of basic skills — 28 multiple-choice questions designed to measure the basic skills and abilities required to perform a variety of census jobs
- have a valid drivers license
- pass a background check
- commit to four days of training. You will be paid for training days. Training can be held during daytime hours as well as during evening and weekend hours.
Most hiring will take place during the spring of 2010. Census taker job offers depend on the availability of work in your community, your test score, language skills, veterans’ preference, and the number of hours you are available to work each week. Job offers are made by the Local Census Office. For more information, visit 2010.census.gov.
For more information, go to FTC.gov.
*********
This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.
The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.
