My Career at the US Census Bureau

1
My Career at the US Census Bureau

• Jim Farber
• US Census Bureau
• Presented at
• Penn State Stat Club Career Exploration Event
• October 11, 2014

2
Outline

1. A little about me
2. How to get a job at Census
3. Overview of Census Bureau work
4. Thoughts and advice
5. Q A

3
About Me

• State College High class of 87
• BA in Economics, Columbia, 1991
• MA in Statistics, Penn State, 1996
• Mathematical Statistician at Census, 1995-now
• Three boys ages 12, 11, 7
• Enjoy coaching, tutoring, reading, soccer,
  running, trivia, learning

4
How to Get a Job at Census

• Hand-out in your folder
• Full-time and internship opportunities
• Apply at usajobs.gov
• We periodically review resumes and bring in
  candidates for interviews

5
How to Get a Job at Census

• Helpful classes sampling and estimation,
  regression and modeling, data visualization,
  categorical data analysis, SAS and R
• Writing ability technical and analytical
• Demonstrated teamwork
• Demonstrated understanding about what the Census
  Bureau does

6
Overview of Census Bureau Work

• Thousands of Census Bureau employees in Suitland,
  MD
• lt10 are mathematical statisticians
• Math stat work is fundamental to Census programs
• Three major areas of Census
• Economic
• Decennial
• Demographic

7
Overview of Census Bureau Work

• Some of my experiences with Decennial work
• Sampling and estimation in tests before Census
  2000
• Sample design to evaluate quality of Census 2000
• Data analysis and documentation of census quality

8
Overview of Census Bureau Work

• Some of my experiences with Demographic work
• Research and application of administrative
  records in surveys and decennial census
• Redesigning major demographic surveys
• Managing production and research on major
  demographic surveys

9
Overview of Census Bureau Work

• Some of the demographic surveys I work on
• Current Population Survey estimates include the
  monthly unemployment rate
• National Health Interview Survey estimates
  include health insurance coverage and health
  indicators
• Survey of Income and Program Participation
  estimates include poverty

10
Overview of Census Bureau Work

• One example of a current project
• National Health Interview Survey wanted better
  estimates for Native Hawaiians and Pacific
  Islanders (NHPI)
• We developed a frame and sample design
• Sample yielded fewer NHPI than expected (40 not
  in target population)
• Now were investigating the potential causes

11
Thoughts and Advice

• Statistics is an intellectually rewarding career
• You can make a valuable contribution, even early
  in your career
• Wide variety of applications can keep your career
  fresh and interesting
• It can become routine (e.g., monthly survey
  production)
• Mostly low stress, except before big deadlines
• Census has all of the above

12
Thoughts and Advice

• A few personal random observations
• Pick an organization or industry that will meet
  the needs most important to you
• Dont work for a bad boss (if you can)
• The money will be fine
• Keep your technical skills sharp as you move up
• Make presentations about your work
• Work/life balance, size, and diversity of Census
  have been most important to me

13
Q A

• Thank you!
• Jim Farber
• James.Farber_at_census.gov