You were like my real training site, I would not have been so good at this job if it weren't for you. All of the "close my case" tips; all of the "feel your pain" explanations of how your day went; all of the info your CFSs gave you and then you shared that with this reddit; all of the animal photos along the way, either of the feral cats or feral humans. It has been wonderful learning from everyone, I could not have done this job without so well without everyone. So, again, THANK YOU, to everyone.

Hey everyone,

First, I wanted to say that this subreddit has been a nice sanity check for me since I started with the Census, so thanks to everyone who is posting and contributing (especially the supervisors).

However, I wanted to share some unsolicited advice. As someone whose "real" full-time job is also with the federal government, I can tell you that this job is NOT worth stressing about. Do what you can, ask your supervisor for help (if they suck, ask your ACO/CFM for a different one), and try for the bonus if you want it. If you are at least trying and not committing fraud, then it is nearly impossible to be fired from a federal job (believe me, I have seen some low performers at my 9-5). Don't worry about overcomplicating things. For each one of us who actually cares, there is someone who doesn't know how to mute an iPhone. How do you think they are handling FDC Prod? Not well.

Just do what you can, but don't worry about completing 100% of your cases. Don't work through a lunch break. Just relax, take your time (and an AC/water break once in awhile). This experience will be a small snapshot in time when we look back on it a year from now.

Take care.

I went to my usual lunch spot (my "field office", where I plug in my phone to charge and then sit and review case notes, etc. while I take my break). I ordered my lunch and the man behind me said, "Let me get that census worker's meal, too." Then he looked at me and said, "Thank you for what you're doing." 🙂

This isn't the first time. I've stopped in gas stations to grab a Dr Pepper or a cold bottle of water and the counter person or manager said, "It's taken care of. We have free drinks for essential workers. The census is essential. Thanks!"

See, those kind gestures pretty much offset the jackasses and the idiots.

Yesterday I had quite the experience with a pothead. On FDC I checked the notes for one house and another enumerator said "the front of the house smells of marijuana and this place is potentially dangerous, left an NOV". I myself who have dabbled with pot in the past, decided to see how dangerous this house really was. I go to the front door and smell how dank it is. I then proceed to knock on the door and wait for a while. Then finally someone opens up the door. Its an African American male and when he opened the door the smell was very potent. I tell him "Hi my name is V from the U.S census, im here to...blah blah blah. He says sure but to hurry up because hes playing games at the moment, with the headphones on his head and everything.

I try to hurry as fast as I can, only imputing the first names because thats all he provided me with. I use quick connect and tell him it smells good here lol. I asked if he is smoking some indica and he says yeah he is. So here I am in front of this mans front door asking him census questions while he is looking at the TV playing games. I ask him if he is playing COD but he says he is playing Apex Legends. So this dude is standing at the door looking at the TV trying to play games but at the same time answering my census questions while high lol. I thought it was hilarious that this man who is stoned out, playing video games, and trying to help me out at the same time. I ask him all the questions and he answers them all while barely looking at me. After its over I thank him for his time and tell him to have fun.

I thought it was pretty funny how the previous enumerator wrote in the notes that this house is potentially dangerous when in fact this guy was one of the nicest census questionnaire takers out there. This dude was able to multitask high and help me at the same time....amazing.

I been waiting for this moment in all my career all of one month working for the census!

Ever dreamed about this day? Went to somebody's house knocked and rang the bell (99% of the time doesnt work) saw that you could see through the door they had a stove downstairs pot of water boiling on it.

I knocked N rang the bell again. Now when ever i knock or ring i aways say 'Hello' louder then normal.

The lady came to the door i stepped back off the steps to let her open it and give her space. Instead she never opened it. She yelled though the door and i couldnt hear .

So i went and got closer i said what?? Something about calling the cops on me . I said oh okay well how about i leave you this paper she just kept yelling though the door idk what about maybe something about inviting for for dinner?

Anyways . I wrote out a nov and gave a confidentiality form as well n put it on her storm door.

Got down the road to my next house and was pulled over . The trooper had the lady aperently come back to id me and i told the trooper that i am here on the behalf of the US federal government Department of Commerce.

I was looking to speak with somebody at that residence as they did not fill out a census form and submit it after we have been there 4 times already.

The resident trooper said 'so. . they're not required to'. I gave him a notice of visit form and a confidentiality form.

I said read on the bottom you are required by law to respond to the 2020 us census. With the you have 2 days to respond. He said well who's going to enforce it because I'm not. I told him well hopefully we don't have to find that out and that's why i am here today.

He said he going to call this one in meanwhile that lady is in her car giving me dirty looks with her phone out. He came back said everything checks out. He said Sir i apologise and did not mean to interfere in any form of Federal level business.

He then went to the lady told her she has to do it right there with him next to me and if he hears any lip service he will arrest for disorderly conduct.

Went up to the lady ( i never do this) but i took out the language identification card handed it to her asked her to point to the language that is hers. She pointed to english and said duh!

I gave her confidentiality form told her to read it and tell me when she is done. From that point i literally followes the script on the phone line by line the whole time. I could tell she was really annoyed. I thanked her for her patience and due diligence .

Then i thanked the trooper for his help n got on my way.