Occasionally, special
experience is required, as for example where someone is engaged to
sample wines in a local pub, where it’s reasonable to expect that
person enjoys and can differentiate between various types of wine.
Alternatively, certain physical
characteristics might be essential for the mystery shopper, as in
the case of our wheelchair-bound friend who regularly inspects
facilities for the physically challenged, and a coloured colleague
who regularly tests attitudes towards minority racial groups, while
another elderly friend checks how young and older shop assistants
react when she feigns a memory lapse or sudden loss of balance!
The same elderly shopper was
engaged to fake a heart attack to check how well the store’s
first-aiders coped under pressure!
Good communication
skills are vital and you must be able to communicate your
experiences clearly and concisely. Except for telephone
and Internet marketing, transportation is essential. A
reliable car lets you carry out several jobs in one day, although
public transport is adequate for most assignments.
A home telephone is
vital and is the source of most job offers. Fax and answer
phone are essential, too, allowing hirers to stay in constant touch
and help you chase offers fast before they are delegated elsewhere.
Many opportunities are emailed or posted on the Internet making a
home computer a virtual necessity.
