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How to Become a Mystery Shopper

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JobMonkey.com
Volume VIII, Issue #62
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With Christmas right around the corner, many of you may be looking for ways to earn a few extra dollars. This most joyous time of the year is also the most expensive time -- with costly family feasts at home, dinners out at restaurants, and of course, gifts to share with your loved ones. A great way to earn some cash -- and maybe even enjoy a free meal or two in the process -- is to become a mystery shopper. However, if you have been burned by work at home scam artists before, you may be leery to leap into the world of mystery shopping. Understandably, as the industry is rife with less than reputable operations. This week's newsletter will show you how to enter the field without fear, thanks to one work-at-home mom who is eager to share her positive experiences with mystery shopping.

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IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) Career Advisor: Gifts for Job Seekers
2) Spotlight: Interview with a Mystery Shopper
3) Around the Monkey: Mystery Shopping & Other Work at Home Jobs
4) Job Boards: Work from Home Opportunities

Find out why you should set up a free job seeker profile on JobMonkey: Learn More.

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CAREER ADVISOR: Gifts for Job Seekers this Holiday Season
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by Amy Lindgren

Have you made your list for Santa yet? If you're unemployed, you may not be participating in gift swaps this year. On the other hand, your friends or family might very much want to buy you something. Here's a tip: If someone you know and like wants to buy you a present, help them out by offering suggestions.

Like what kinds of suggestions? Well, of course, anything you want that you think they'd want to get you. Duh. That's obvious. But some of these kind people might be aching to give you something that will help in your job search. If so, the following list might provide suggestions you'll both appreciate.

1. Gift certificates. These are the old standby, and what you'll likely find in your stocking if you give no other suggestions. But this year, instead of electronics or clothes, ask for certificates for gasoline, or for haircuts, or dry cleaning. All are expenses that a job seeker can't avoid, but which threaten to derail the budget when they come at the wrong time.

2. Career counseling. You're doing fine in your job search but still - wouldn't it be nice to have a little professional advice? Ask for a session with a career coach to help you with interviewing, resume writing, networking, or anything else you think you could do better at.

3. Lunch out. When things get really rugged, it will be nice to look forward to lunch with a friend.

4. Introductions. For the friend on a budget who keeps asking what you want, consider the people he or she may know. Invitations to events where these people will be? Priceless.

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SPOTLIGHT: Interview with a Mystery Shopper
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"Mystery shopping isn't a fast track to becoming a millionaire, but it is a great way to earn a little pocket money and enjoy some free products, meals out or even a night at a hotel," says Kansas City-based mystery shopper Emma Jones*.

If you have ever seen one of those Google pop-up ads promising to pay you thousands of dollars a week just for shopping and eating out, you are probably dubious about the legitimacy of mystery shopping. There is no doubt that those ads do little to promote the legitimate field of mystery shopping, a proven and popular marketing technique used by retail stores, banks, restaurants, hotels, and more.

"The first rule of thumb with mystery shopping, or any work at home job," says Emma, "is never to pay to work. If the ad says you have to pay a small fee to get access to some secret list of companies, that's a scam. They'll charge your credit card way more than the ad says and months later you'll still be fighting to get the charges removed."

Sounds scary, doesn't it? "But don't let that one scam turn you off from mystery shopping altogether," reassures Emma. "Mystery shopping is a completely legitimate way to earn income and in certain areas of the country, the jobs are actually pretty high paying."

Most mystery shoppers are women, although companies are always looking for men for assignments as well. Many turn to mystery shopping when they are in between jobs, or to make a little extra money on the side. The field is also very popular with stay-at-home moms, says Emma, speaking from experience.

"It's simple to do and a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. Sometimes I only make $5 or $10 (on top of whatever goods I purchase, which I also get to keep)," reports Emma. "But other times, I've earned as much $250 -- just for 30 minutes of shopping or opening a fake bank account or booking an airline reservation."

What else does Emma 'earn' for her mystery shopping assignments? Here's a list of some of the loot she has scored: "Free meals -- at some really nice restaurants, and plenty of fast-food type places as well. Free bath supplies from a national chain your readers probably have heard of. A new winter coat for my preschool-age son. An awesome leather briefcase for my husband. The list really goes on and on!"

The key, says Emma, to staying busy with Mystery Shopping is to sign up with multiple companies. "You're not going to be booked full-time or even close to it with just one or two clients. You really need to sign up with at least five or six different companies and check their job boards or email announcements regularly. I'm registered with nine agencies, and I probably get three or four assignments a week," advises Emma.

Another tried-and-true tip is to set up a separate email account to run your business through. "That way you don't have to worry about your regular email address getting spammed," Emma explains, "and plus, it's easier to check for new job leads at one centralized location."

Do you want to learn more about mystery shopping? Check out JobMonkey's article on Mystery Shopping in our Work-at-Home Jobs section.

* Not her real name. "Emma" asked that we use a pseudonym as a condition of her nondisclosure agreement with her mystery shopping clients.

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AROUND THE MONKEY: Seasonal Jobs ~ News & Information
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Intrigued by the idea of mystery shopping? You can learn more about this, and other work at home jobs, from the JobMonkey blog. We cover work from home jobs extensively, including topics such as:

>> Moms Heading Back to Work
>> Legitimate Work at Home Jobs
>> Beware of Mystery Shopping Scam
>> Mystery Shopping More Lucrative than Selling Plasma

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JOB BOARDS: Opportunities to Work from Home
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Do you want to work from home as a mystery shopper? Come check out our brand new mystery shopper job board. Mystery shopping gigs typically hire you on a project or contract basis, making it a good way to earn supplemental income.

 

 

 

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