AQA is recruiting in the UK again x

dollydoodah

I've been working for AQA for about 8mths now and believe me, it is not a quick and easy way to make money in a lot of respects.

Without going into to many details - as it would take too long and be too complex to explain unless you have seen the system - you have reviews frequently for the first few months where you have to meet a pretty high standard, otherwise your contract will be terminated. These are based on answers that you have given whilst doing the job.

Also, some of the questions you get - and other AQA workers I am sure will agree with me - are bizarre. There are lots of, what I call, essay questions, where people text the title of their essays basically. For a lot of the questions you really do have to work to get the answers.

The other night - and bear in mind I have been doing this for a while now and know my way around a lot of places to find information - I was on for 2.5hrs and earned less than £10 because the questions were that complex. Other nights though, I can make at least that in an hour. And as you are classed as self employed, there is always the share of that which has to go to the taxman.

I just wanted to add this so people don't think it is an easy job as it isn't. Yes, it is convenient as you can sit at home and do it, but unless you put in the hours and get the experience to answer the trickier questions, you are not going to make an awful lot of money - in some cases, less than the minimum wage.

okra

Thank you. It's useful to hear another point of view. I'm open minded about whether this will be a good opportunity for me or not - I think it will just be a case of giving it a go.

angelfairy

dollydodah...thanks for your post. it is really interesting to find out other people's opinion of working for aqa.

for all those that i annoyed today with my 'i haven't had an email yet' today i just wanted you to know that i DID get an acceptance email!!!!

i am really pleased.

going to sign the contract, look into setting up as self employed and see how i go from here.

not out to make my first million, just to add to my 'stash' fund

tigtag02

Well done becca :)

Softstuff

I'll add to what dollydoodah said, this isn't quick and easy cash. A lot of people are asking very specialised questions that you have no chance of answering within the few words allowed. I'd say on a good day AQA could get you just under minimum wage for an hours work, on a bad day maybe 1/5th of that.

They class the questions as easy or hard, on a bad time to logon there could be just 15 questions there that are so hard they've been there most of the day, and you don't have a cat in hells chance of answering them.

I got with AQA because of most of the hype on here, but to be truthful, not sure it's worth the effort now.

Burlesque_Babe

Here's my earnings so far this month. I'm doing it as my main job now.

I've earned £910 so far this month (I gave myself the first 6 days off as I was being made redundant and it wasn't nice) and it has taken me 81 hours, so about £11 an hour. There will be tax to pay next year as it is classed as self employed.

I'm choosing to earn about £50 a day at the moment and it is taking me about 4 hours or so. I'm doing that 7 days a week. I want to earn (before tax) £1500 a month, which is what I need to pay the mortgage, utilities and food. I only need about £1200 this month so I'm just about going to make it if I do £50 a day.

It depends on what times you work and if you want to make 'serious' money (and I think what I'm doing would be classed as 'serious' money by other AQA-ers) from it you will need to shape other things in your life around it ie I get up a bit later some days (about 9) and do the house work, go for a walk with the dog and then sit down in the afternoons.

OH was away last night so I started mid afternoon and worked - on and off - until about 11. Earned £80 but my mind was spaghetti by the end of it.

One thing I've really found has helped me is that I'm a fast (and accurate) typist (please don't point out any mistakes in this post I've been up since before 7 and I'm shattered!!)

I enjoy it hugely and it has given me the opportunity not to instantly have to find a job after being made redundant earlier this month, although I don't know about the future long term. When I was working full time I worked every early evening and both Saturday and Sunday on AQA and averaged about £400 or so a month (before tax) but it was hard work and a lot of extra hours. But it paid off my unsecured debt.

Just another perspective really.

Stella66

I totally agree with Dolly, AQA can be very challenging sometimes, especially during the first few months. Your Senior Reseacher will be reviewing your answers constantly and you have to meet certain targets. If you miss them you are out. My SR once told me that about 40% of contracts get terminated a month.

The questions are not easy, and sometimes the effort and time you put into it is worth more than 30p. There are some good days though where you get easy questions that you can answer from the data base. At one point l made £10 in 30minutes.

Be prepared to work hard, especially during your first few months.

tiff

I sometimes choose not to pick the really hard questions, I refuse to do lots of research that may take quite a while just for 30p, but there are plenty of other questions. Last week when The Apprentice was on we had loads of questions asking what are nigella seeds? (relating to the programme), you literally select the answer from the database which I was able to do time after time, racking up the money. At one point I wondered if there was something wrong with the system as this was the only question I was getting!

That is unsual though. I enjoy it but I find as time goes on I am earning less because it can be frustrating.

davey69_2

So errrrrr, still just us then TigTag We should set up NQA - no questions answered!! :rolleyes:

tigtag02

davey69 wrote: »

So errrrrr, still just us then TigTag We should set up NQA - no questions answered!! :rolleyes:

I've heard its like your drving test davey - the good ones never pass first time