The Mystery Shopping thread - VIII

angel13

cte1111 wrote: »

Has anyone else been sent an email from GFK about shadowing a car repair person? Not sure it is worth the fee, but wavering. Think it might be rather cold and dull hanging round a car park all day.

i havent had this and i feel sorry for the poor repair person as its horrible when people are watching you but if thats all you have to do and its a good fee i would take it. is it in just one car park or you go around with them?

creaker

Would you put mystery shopping on your CV? If so, would you say mystery shopper for job title or something like Independent Consumer Researcher ? and for list of duties: observe and interact with staff in order to access customer service, record observational findings and submit report within definite timescales? I'm trying to jazz up my OH's CV

Scotties_Mum

cte1111 wrote: »

Has anyone else been sent an email from GFK about shadowing a car repair person? Not sure it is worth the fee, but wavering. Think it might be rather cold and dull hanging round a car park all day.

Hi, yes I had this email too.

Again, not sure worth the fee for 6 hours work. One of the sites is really local to me, but will probably give it a miss.

IlonaRN

creaker wrote: »

Would you put mystery shopping on your CV? If so, would you say mystery shopper for job title or something like Independent Consumer Researcher ? and for list of duties: observe and interact with staff in order to access customer service, record observational findings and submit report within definite timescales? I'm trying to jazz up my OH's CV

I've put it under "interests" on the latest version of my CV. I do have a full-time job and a recent post-graduate degree, though, so it's more there as a talking point rather than a job.

If I had been out of work for a while, I'd up it to part-time job status.

Scaredy_Cat_3

creaker wrote: »

Would you put mystery shopping on your CV? If so, would you say mystery shopper for job title or something like Independent Consumer Researcher ? and for list of duties: observe and interact with staff in order to access customer service, record observational findings and submit report within definite timescales? I'm trying to jazz up my OH's CV

It might be good to put something on the CV to show you have extra skills and experience - and are capable of working autonomously and all that. Not sure I'd use the term 'mystery shopper' though - somehow I feel it sounds amateurish (though I'd be interested to know other people's views on this). I was really excited when I started mystery shopping and thought it was like being a spy but now that I've plucked up the courage to tell a few people what I'm doing, no-one seems very impressed .

Personally I specify that I'm working as self-employed as I think that makes me sound responsible, and I tend to call myself an assessor / auditor (I do a bit of auditing, too).

As I say, this is just my 'gut' reaction - I'd be really interested to know what others think about these terms.

EDIT: Cross-posted with Ilona. I agree, if you have a 'proper' job then I think adding this is less important - but good to show you can get off your backside and do something. I've been out of work for a few years, so for me this would be classed as my 'employment' albeit self-employment.

creaker

Thank you both for your replies

There is no other employment so I do want to list it as self employed to show that he is doing something and as you said, it makes him sound responsible. Does Independent Consumer Researcher sound off the mark, he doesn't audit so I can't use that and I'm not sure how I feel about assessor.

TractorGirl327

angel13 wrote: »

pity tractor girl isnt back. son and i are at home ill with virus (poor dog seems to be feeling ill too!!) so i cant do job tonight. i am about to release it. its a meal at bluewater for this evening for two adults with RE. Hope someone enjoys it

Aww thanks for thinking of me but I couldn't've done it anyway - no-one to basbysit!

pebblespop

i would put mystery shopping on my cv as a hobby. it's gives the interviewer something interesting to ask you about and they may remember your cv about the other candidates.

sc - people are always interested when i tell them about mystery shopping they think it sounds fun to get all the free stuff - i dont' mention how much hard work it is though!

angel13

not sure i would put it as a hobby as you are employed after all. I am putting I am self employed (as I am as I am also trying to set up a different business) and will cover this but not sure with what wording as of yet. Will defnitely be using Auditor of you do audits like me - its also part of what i used to do when i was a professional. putting this on your CV has to look good as it shows you are prepared to do something to find work and also must have certain skills or you could not be self employed. all skills that employers should readily want.

angel13

creaker wrote: »

Thank you both for your replies

There is no other employment so I do want to list it as self employed to show that he is doing something and as you said, it makes him sound responsible. Does Independent Consumer Researcher sound off the mark, he doesn't audit so I can't use that and I'm not sure how I feel about assessor.

I think self employed assessor would sound fine as it is after all what we all do. dependant upon if your partner does a lot of work or just bits here and there and for how many companies this can also be used to its advantage. For example say if your partner works for 10 companies I would put this:

Self Employed and then the dates:
Independent Assessor
then a bit of a description if trying to bulk up CV and include the fact that it is for 10 companies.

This shows you have to be very organised, good at reporting and details and good at what you are doing or else they would not employ you again. Mystery shopping does mean you have to have lots of skills as if someone hands in a dodgy undetailed or incorrect report you might not get paid and even worse might not get any more work after all!