This position was specific to the 2020 census, it was a strict two-year post. It was an hour-long interview with a defined set of questions that are asked of all candidates. They ask the question, you give the answer, and they have to take notes, so it has a strange flow compared to other interviews.

The entire process from online application to final decision took 5 weeks. I applied through the USAJOBS website, which took a lot of effort because I had to upload transcripts and fill out a lengthy questionnaire. Also, the website repeatedly crashed during the final submission process and this was only resolved when I switched the browser I was using. After 2 weeks I got a phone call to schedule an interview in the DTLA office, where I met with two supervisors (one in person, one on a speaker-phone). I was asked about a dozen questions and the interviewer took extensive notes on my answers. I was concerned that the questions would be highly technical in nature where it is easy to miss points by forgetting small details, but this was not the case. Instead the questions were mostly about my general qualities and ability to be an ambassador for the Census. After the interview I was informed that their HR dept would make offers to selected applicants, but they they could otherwise not offer much more info on the hiring process. About 3 weeks after my interview, the status on my job application on the USAJOBS site was changed from "Received" to "Not Hired."