Get a part time job, pretending to apply for a job!

[0iD]

http://www.reed.co.uk/job-details/Li...on&ps=20&lit=2
Got emailed this job add, just made me chuckle

The Company requires you to play the part of a employee and work from a brief and character sheet. You will be playing the part of someone going for an interview and the person interviewing you will be assessed on how they do. You must be confident and able to stay in character and elaborate when needed. This can be a fun day and at £8 per hour is a great way to earn some extra money!

[jim]

I've done something similar to that myself, was a really weird experience - although thankfully I wasn't acting a role, just being myself so to speak. I can't help thinking it would be fairly tough to come up with answers to interview questions that aren't relevant to you.

[0iD]

Being ex management & having interviewed a fair few people in my time, I would have loved to have done this for the crack.

[scaryjim]

Actually mystery shopping is a pretty good way to earn a few extra pennies and have some free nights out. My wife works for quite a few mystery shopping companies, so we get quite a few drinks or meals out a month which are largely or entirely paid for by someone else. And some of the jobs pay actual cash too. Well worth looking into...

[jim]

Actually mystery shopping is a pretty good way to earn a few extra pennies and have some free nights out. My wife works for quite a few mystery shopping companies, so we get quite a few drinks or meals out a month which are largely or entirely paid for by someone else. And some of the jobs pay actual cash too. Well worth looking into...

I thought that was more a case of wandering round a shop and reporting on how helpful the staff were - and whether they were actually doing anything?

When I used to work in Ryman they'd tremble at the words "mystery shopper"

[MadduckUK]

yeah when i "specialized in the retail sector" mystery shopper was a constant threat

[Dareos]

I've just applied for the job


i'm a level 18 elf with a 15 dexterity, so i can shoot a longbow and a crossbow


how can they turn me down?

[Whiternoise]

An interesting point though, is it any good for interview practice?

It's psychologically less challenging than going for an actual interview because you know nothing's riding on it (for you at least!) and you're in "character", but if it means you get to take part in something that you might only do a few times in your life odds are you might be better prepared mentally when you do it for real.

Do you have to go for an interview to get the job?

[scaryjim]

I thought that was more a case of wandering round a shop and reporting on how helpful the staff were ...

It's very rarely just wondering round - you generally get a "scenario" where you have to ask about something specific, and usually you have to buy an item that you are reimbursed for. Sometimes you also get a fee, and sometimes you don't have to make a purchase: it depends on the store, the mystery shopping agency (yes, there are a number of companies that specialise in employing mystery shoppers on behalf of other companies) and the complexity of the assignment. There are also *lots* of jobs in the catering / hospitality trade; anything from going to a pub for one drink to going to a restaurant for a full meal.

Once the job is completed, you have to fill in a very comprehensive questionnaire about the whole experience (you do these online, they take anywhere between 10 minutes and half an hour). Most agencies will then grade you based on how reliable you are at completing shops and how good your reports are - they use the grading to make decisions about whether to assign you more jobs.

I understand how the staff might be worried about mystery shoppers, but frankly as long as you know how to do your job there's no need to be: we've had very few instances where we've had to be particularly negative about individual members of staff, and we've generally found that we can put in good, positive reports.

@Whiternoise: the interview practice aspect was one of the first things my wife picked up on when I showed her - make extra money, *and* practice going for job interviews! (although if you managed to get the job, would that mean you don't need the interview practice? ) EDIT: which is the point you made, isn't it :doh: