Mystery shopping jobs are a great way to make extra money and get paid for your time.
Mystery shopping is conducting consumer research by observing customers in various locations, such as retail stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc., to evaluate the company’s service quality. The term “mystery shopper” refers to an individual who conducts customer surveys on behalf of a company or organization.
Mystery shopping aims to help companies improve their services and products through feedback from real consumers. Companies hire mystery shoppers to visit their target market and provide unbiased opinions about their experiences with the Company’s goods and services.
What does it take to become a mystery shopper?
To be eligible to work as a mystery shopper, you must be at least 18 years old, read, write, speak and understand English fluently, and have access to reliable transportation.
You will be required to complete training before being hired. Training usually consists of online modules that teach you to conduct a proper survey, identify common problems, and follow ethical guidelines.
You should expect to spend between 2-3 hours completing each assignment. You have to fill out paperwork and sign legal documents during this process.
After completing all assignments, you will receive payment via direct deposit into your bank account.
Type of Assignments a mystery shopper can do
There are many different types of mystery shopping assignments available. Some examples include:
Retail Stores: These assignments involve going into a retail store and watching what happens when a customer enters the store. It includes looking at cashier transactions, checking outlines, and other activities.
Restaurants: It involves going into a restaurant and watching what happens when customers enter the establishment. It could include observing wait times, food preparation, seating arrangements, and other aspects of running a restaurant.
Gas Stations: Here, you would go into a gas station and watch how the employees interact with customers. You might also observe whether there are any safety hazards present.
Banks: Banks are another type of business where you can perform mystery shopping. You would need to go into the bank and observe if the staff members are friendly and helpful or not.
Healthcare Facilities: Healthcare facilities can be fascinating places for mystery shoppers. You would need to observe everything from patient rooms to waiting areas.
Food & Beverage: Food and beverage establishments are great for mystery shopping because you get to see how people use the facility. You can check out how clean the floors are, how well-stocked the shelves are, and how fast the servers serve guests.
These are just a few assignments that mystery shoppers can do. Many others like Mystery call reporting, customer service, product testing, and more.
How much do mystery shopping jobs pay?
According to indeed.com, the average salary for a mystery shopper is $6800/YEAR. It comes down to $600+ a month. Not bad! Some mystery shoppers earn up to $18 per hour and even more, depending on the size of store they are visiting.
How do I find mystery shopping jobs?
There are many ways to find mystery shopping jobs. One option is to use job boards like Indeed.com or SimplyHired.com.
Another option is to contact staffing agencies that specialize in placing mystery shoppers.
Or you may want to consider contacting local businesses directly. Many business owners are willing to hire mystery shoppers if they know there is demand for this position.
For your convenience, I’m going to share the ten best mystery shopping jobs platforms below:
1. BestMark Mystery Shopper
BestMark Mystery Shopper is one of the largest mystery shopping firms in the world.
With over 600,000 Mystery shoppers, the Company offers mystery shopping opportunities in over 50 countries worldwide.
They also have a wide range of different types of mystery shopping jobs available. These include product testing, customer service, retail sales, restaurant reviews, surveys, etc.
Mystery shoppers are paid an hourly rate based on their location. For example, shoppers located in New York City earn $15-$20 per hour while those from elsewhere make $13-$17 per hour.
If you’re interested in becoming a mystery shopper, click the button below.
2. Market Force
Market Force offers a variety of mystery shopping opportunities in the food industry, finance, gas station, pharmacies, and health.
The pay rates vary based on the type of mystery shopping opportunity you choose.
For example, some of the highest paying mystery shopping jobs are pharmacy mystery shopping, where you can earn up to $20/hour, and grocery store mystery shopping, where you could make $18/hour.
On the other hand, the lowest-paying mystery shopping jobs are gas station mystery shopping, which pays only $8 – $10/hour.
If you’re interested in mystery shopping jobs, check out the link below.
3. Secret Shopper
Secret Shopper is a leading global provider of mystery shopping services. They provide mystery shopping opportunities in more than 100 industries around the globe.
Their clients include Fortune 500 companies, government organizations, non-profits, universities, retailers, healthcare providers, and individuals.
Their clients need market research, consumer satisfaction, employee performance, and fraud prevention.
Secret Shopper has several mystery shopping positions available, including:
- Product Testing
- Customer Service
- Retail Sales
- Restaurant Reviews
- Surveys
- Fraud Prevention
4. Service Evalution Concepts
SEC provides mystery shopping services in various sectors such as restaurants, hotels, banks, insurance companies, hospitals, and more.
The Company pays $10 – $50 per assignment, depending on the sector you work in.
Moreover, it offers free food and products to its mystery shoppers.
In addition, SEC will give you at least 4 hours of training before your first assignment.
You can apply for any of their mystery shopping jobs by clicking the button below.
5. Signature Worldwide
Unlike other mystery shopping jobs, signature Worldwide offers work from home mystery shopping opportunities.
It means that you don’t have to go anywhere or meet anyone. You have to fill out a simple online form and wait for assignments to come in.
The Company provides Mystery call reporting & analytics job opportunities to work from home.
There are no job openings available, but you can keep track of job openings to get notified when new ones open.
6. IntelliShop
IntelliShop is a customer experience research & Advisory firm helping businesses foster better customer experiences through mystery shopping.
They offer a wide range of mystery shopping opportunities, including retail, restaurant, travel, hospitality, and technology.
To become a mystery shopper at IntelliShop, select your language, enter your email, select your country, sign Agreements, and fill out the form.
Once done, you can begin conducting evaluations for the intellishop.
You can submit a job application here.
What does a mystery shopper need to know before starting work?
You will need to be comfortable walking around public places and interacting with people.
You should also have good communication skills & attention to detail.
And most importantly, you must be able to think critically and solve problems independently.
You’ll typically start out working at a small number of stores (usually 3-5) and then branch out to larger chains as you gain experience.
How To Become a Mystery Shopper
If you decide to pursue becoming a mystery shopper, here are steps to get started
1. Get Educated
Start by taking our free mystery shopping training course and certification to become eligible for applying for a job. It will give you insight into what a mystery shopper does, how to prepare for a job interview, and avoid scams.
A few mystery shopping training courses and certification program
– The National Association of Mystery Shoppers
– Mystery Shoppers Providers Association
2. Create a CV/Resume
Your resume should include information about yourself, such as education, employment history, and relevant volunteer activities.
It is essential to highlight your strengths and accomplishments and training & certification. So employers can find you to be an excellent fit for the position.
3. Prepare For Your Interviews
Interviewing is an essential part of the mystery shopping process. Before attending an interview, make sure you practice interviewing techniques and learn how to answer questions from different interviewers.
4. Apply For Mystery Shopping Jobs
Create a profile on Indeed.com or other job sites where employers post jobs. You can apply directly to the employer or submit your resume to an agency specializing in finding employment for mystery shoppers.
Once you are accepted, you will need to attend training classes and pass tests to qualify for a job. Each Company has its requirements, so check with them first.
5. Complete Mystery Shopping Assignments
Once you are qualified, you will begin receiving mystery shopping assignments. These assignments typically involve visiting a store or restaurant and identifying potential issues or problems. Once you have completed a task, you must send it back to the client. If you fail to return the assignment report in time, you could lose your job. It’s also important to note that some clients require that you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
6. Get Paid
You will receive payment once you complete all assigned tasks. Payment varies depending on the size of the client and the number of jobs you perform. Some companies pay per task while others pay based on the total amount of hours worked.
That’s it!
A few tips to become a Mystery Shopper
Mystery shopping is not a glamorous profession, but it offers many benefits. Here are a few things to keep in mind when pursuing a career as a mystery shopper:
Make Sure You Are Qualified
Before you start working as a mystery shopper, make sure you meet the minimum qualifications required by each Company. Also, make sure you understand the terms of the contract before signing it.
Develop mystery shopper skills
If you want to advance in this field, then you need to:
- Develop your mystery shopping skills by researching online and reading books.
- Learn how to approach people and ask questions.
- Be prepared to listen carefully and take notes during interviews.
Keep Up With Training And Certification Requirements
Some companies may require you to obtain additional certifications or training, including completing continuing education courses. Check with the mystery shopping provider to see what they need.
Network With Other Mystery Shoppers
The more people you network with, the better your chance of getting hired. You can share your experiences with other mystery shoppers and ask them for advice.
Keep Up With Technology
Technology changes quickly, and many mystery shopping agencies use online tools to manage their employees. Make sure you keep up with these technological advances.
Attention to details
As a mystery shopper, you should be detail-oriented. Pay attention to small details such as the way someone greets you, the cleanliness of the room, and the quality of the food served.
So this is how you can become a mystery shopper and start getting paid today!
Conclusion
Mystery shopping is a great way to earn extra money. However, there are several steps involved in becoming a mystery shopper:
First, you need to find a reputable agency that provides legitimate jobs. Next, you need to be mentally and physically prepared to work long hours without getting tired.
Finally, you need to conduct a mystery shopping assignment to get paid.
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