How to Land a Mystery Shopper Job

Mystery shoppers are regular people who pose as customers. They visit a variety of businesses -- restaurants, drug stores, grocery stores, retail stores, homebuilders, auto dealers, and banks, just to name a few. At these businesses they conduct a normal transaction, usually according to an assignment. For example, they might have to buy an item and later return it. They will evaluate the entire transaction based on a checklist or questionnaire. They look for such things as customer service, product quality, and business cleanliness. They fill out an extensive, detailed report.

Businesses hire mystery shoppers for a variety of reasons. For one thing, it tests their employees in a “real-world” environment. It also gives them an unbiased look at their organization. Businesses often uncover and repair problems through the use of mystery shoppers. To this end, mystery shoppers are essential to many businesses.

To find mystery shopper jobs, you can visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association website and search the database. Jobs from many different companies are listed. You will have to apply with each company in order to be considered for their positions. Since mystery shoppers are independent contractors, you can work for numerous companies. Volition also maintains a list of companies hiring mystery shoppers.

You can also search for mystery shopper jobs at freelance websites or through Internet search engines. In searching for mystery shopper jobs, never pay for a job. Some companies will try to sell you a kit. This is a scam. A legitimate company will not expect you to pay to work for them.