Each Thursday, I highlight a different work-from-home job or business.
Position: Mystery Shopper
Education: No formal education required.
Skills: The ability to stealthily report on the service level and products on a variety of businesses, including restaurants, retail, banking, etc.
Job outlook: Varies, depending on your location (bigger cities tend to have more mystery shops available). Most restaurant shops reimburse a specific amount for food purchases, while other shops pay a flat rate. Assignments can be sporadic.
Possible employers: Companies like Bare International, A Closer Look, Secret Shopper and Volition Mystery Shopping gives listings of shops for members (you can join these sites for free). One note of caution: Do not pay to become an “official” mystery shopper. Legitimate sites do not ask for upfront payment.
Preparation: You will need access to a computer to apply for shops and to fill out the reports. Being able to take notes unobtrusively and to observe details is very important to a good mystery shopper.
Get your foot in the door: Become a certified silver or gold member of the MSPA (Mystery Shopper Providers Association). It’s worth the small fee, as some mystery shopping sites require a silver or gold certification. To receive the certification, you go through a short online tutorial and then take an online test.
Until next time,
Sarah
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1 comment:
Mystery shopping can be a lot of fun, I like to pretend I'm a sort of secret agent who's mission is to spy on the business in question. Thinking about it maybe this is a little strange but I like to try to make things more interesting when I can, otherwise life is just a little boring.
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