Does anyone work at the ONS as a Field Interviewer?
Discussion
I've been offered a post at the Office of National Statistics after a very low bar interview via a recruitment company. It seems like an interesting role but there are a few questions the interview left unanswered regarding logistics, and I wondered if anyone already in the job could fill me in? There seems to be no way of speaking to anyone in the ONS without accepting the job which feels a bit risky.
Basically it says the job is about and interviewing 15-20 "warm called" households within a 40 mile radius over "roughly" 22 hours per week. I'm wondering how target driven this role is? if every household is willing to get involved and its 40 miles away, that's an hours drive either way and an hour per household which is not very much. Being more realistic, a lot are just going to slam the door in your face, and the the recruitment guy said a 30% hit rate is more likely; is that acceptable by the ONS or is there pressure for more? The job is "temporary with a view to permanent" which is again a bit of a leap of faith coming from a permanent role.
Basically it says the job is about and interviewing 15-20 "warm called" households within a 40 mile radius over "roughly" 22 hours per week. I'm wondering how target driven this role is? if every household is willing to get involved and its 40 miles away, that's an hours drive either way and an hour per household which is not very much. Being more realistic, a lot are just going to slam the door in your face, and the the recruitment guy said a 30% hit rate is more likely; is that acceptable by the ONS or is there pressure for more? The job is "temporary with a view to permanent" which is again a bit of a leap of faith coming from a permanent role.
My Dad does this, it seems like it's equivalent to working the tills at Waitrose - a good job for a retired person who wants something easy to do and get a bit of pocket money. He gets to drive around to different places (basically covers the whole county) and speak to different people which he likes.
How old are you and what do you do now?
How old are you and what do you do now?
Loose_Cannon said:
Being more realistic, a lot are just going to slam the door in your face
A few years ago I took part in an ONS interview, I was contacted, by mail, well in advance, asking if I was willing to take part.I don't believe it's a case of door stepping/cold calling unwilling participants.
I'm 57 and coming to the end of my working life, and I would also like to find something a bit closer to home (Northumberland) where I have just relocated.
Currently I still work away in Teesside midweek as a Facility Manager/Safety Officer and staying at relatives as a "transition" period which is a bit tougher than I thought it would be, ie. the inability to fully relax at the end of the day as you would in your own surroundings. A job where I come home each night was always the plan.
The ONS job is advertised as temporary/6 months "with a view to permanent" so a bit of a risk coming from a permanent job, but I suppose its an easy way for them to weed out who doesn't fit.
Even though I like my current job and the people I work with are lovely, after 14 years and pretty much desk bound I'm ready for a change even without the move. I always used to get out and about into the countryside and meet people in my previous jobs in Civil Engineering/Town Planning, which I used to love.
I also need a job which is not too physically taxing, as I have developed psoriatic arthritis, treatable apparently though I've been in a years worth of pain and restricted mobility without much success so far. The ONS job is advertised as 22 hrs per week and a 4 mile radius which seems doable.
Currently I still work away in Teesside midweek as a Facility Manager/Safety Officer and staying at relatives as a "transition" period which is a bit tougher than I thought it would be, ie. the inability to fully relax at the end of the day as you would in your own surroundings. A job where I come home each night was always the plan.
The ONS job is advertised as temporary/6 months "with a view to permanent" so a bit of a risk coming from a permanent job, but I suppose its an easy way for them to weed out who doesn't fit.
Even though I like my current job and the people I work with are lovely, after 14 years and pretty much desk bound I'm ready for a change even without the move. I always used to get out and about into the countryside and meet people in my previous jobs in Civil Engineering/Town Planning, which I used to love.
I also need a job which is not too physically taxing, as I have developed psoriatic arthritis, treatable apparently though I've been in a years worth of pain and restricted mobility without much success so far. The ONS job is advertised as 22 hrs per week and a 4 mile radius which seems doable.
Edited by Loose_Cannon on Tuesday 10th June 09:32
CypSIdders said:
A few years ago I took part in an ONS interview, I was contacted, by mail, well in advance, asking if I was willing to take part.
I don't believe it's a case of door stepping/cold calling unwilling participants.
Yes I believe "warm called" in that a letter is sent to the address in advance notifying them of the visit, and a small financial inducement offered if they take part. Still, my wife said she would never let anyone across the doorstep asking questions regardless, so there may be more odd sorts like her about!I don't believe it's a case of door stepping/cold calling unwilling participants.
Can you tell me if you were given an option to reply in the negative/positive? Was there an actual appointment, or did you just wait for someone to turn up?
Edited by Loose_Cannon on Tuesday 10th June 09:44
Edited by Loose_Cannon on Tuesday 10th June 09:46
As I recall, I received a letter asking if I would like to take part in the survey, I had the option to say yes or no.
Having said yes, I was given the choice of a few dates and times, the ONS chap turned up when he said he would.
As mentioned above, there was a small financial incentive, a £5 voucher turned up a few weeks later.
All very easy, nothing intrusive in the survey!
Having said yes, I was given the choice of a few dates and times, the ONS chap turned up when he said he would.
As mentioned above, there was a small financial incentive, a £5 voucher turned up a few weeks later.
All very easy, nothing intrusive in the survey!
I did it for 2,5 years up until 2016
It might have changed a bit since then but basically each week you are allocated a list of addresses / surveys.
Letters are sent by the ONS to the addresses a couple of weeks before, you also have the option to send them another letter.
How you plan your week is down to you - i always did Mon / Tues as full days and one other day as a "round up any outstanding. They made great play of planning your route / visits in the most economical way, which was fine until you had to change plans owing to other peoples commitments.
I rarely was sent more than 25 miles from home
Managers will be keen for you to get full interviews at all addresses and to keep revisiting daily. I (and others) were very clear the advert said Monday / Tuesday and one other day per week so that is what i did. I think i did 2 Saturday calls in my 2.5 years and only as it suited me as i was going that way for personal reasons so may as well get paid.
Some addresses are revisits to people who have been interviewed previously, others are newly selected addresses.
My team manager was abysmal and had no inter personal skills and would query the slightest thing
2 examples - you claimed x miles to this address i make it y miles ---- the difference was about 1 mile - i had to explain that it was a long road very few houses, all with names not numbers
ONS was the most hopelessly inefficient organisation i have ever known, we went to a training meeting and were addressed by a senior manager who was proud that "Change never happens fast in the Civil Service"
The only "target" was a comparison of percentage succesful interviews between members of your team
It might have changed a bit since then but basically each week you are allocated a list of addresses / surveys.
Letters are sent by the ONS to the addresses a couple of weeks before, you also have the option to send them another letter.
How you plan your week is down to you - i always did Mon / Tues as full days and one other day as a "round up any outstanding. They made great play of planning your route / visits in the most economical way, which was fine until you had to change plans owing to other peoples commitments.
I rarely was sent more than 25 miles from home
Managers will be keen for you to get full interviews at all addresses and to keep revisiting daily. I (and others) were very clear the advert said Monday / Tuesday and one other day per week so that is what i did. I think i did 2 Saturday calls in my 2.5 years and only as it suited me as i was going that way for personal reasons so may as well get paid.
Some addresses are revisits to people who have been interviewed previously, others are newly selected addresses.
My team manager was abysmal and had no inter personal skills and would query the slightest thing
2 examples - you claimed x miles to this address i make it y miles ---- the difference was about 1 mile - i had to explain that it was a long road very few houses, all with names not numbers
ONS was the most hopelessly inefficient organisation i have ever known, we went to a training meeting and were addressed by a senior manager who was proud that "Change never happens fast in the Civil Service"
The only "target" was a comparison of percentage succesful interviews between members of your team
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff