What It Takes to Get Started Mystery Shopping

You may have heard about mystery shopping as a possible job option for many years. The fact is that mystery shopping is not a secret job that nobody knows about, but rather mystery shopping is a job that few people believe is a legitimate way to earn money. However, now that you have learned that you can indeed earn income by completing mystery shopping assignments, you may be wondering how you can get started working in this line of work. By following a few easy steps, you can easily complete your first assignment and be on your way to earning a great income as a mystery shopper!

Find a Provider

Mystery shopping providers are companies that connect you as a mystery shopper with retailers, restaurants and other companies that want your services. There are dozens of providers that you can choose to work with, and the best way to find a free list of providers is through the Mystery Shopping Providers Association website online. The application process with each provider varies slightly, but many providers have an application process that takes only a few minutes to complete. In some cases, you may enjoy instant approval to start working as a mystery shopper. In other cases, you may hear back from the provider within a day or two. Keep in mind that you can sign up to work with as many providers as you want to.

The Job Boards

As soon as you are approved to work as a mystery shopper with a provider, you will gain access to that provider’s online job board. The job board lists available assignments that you can request. With some assignments, you will enjoy instant assignment to the job. With others, you will need to request the assignment and wait to hear back about the approval of your request. The job boards are updated with most providers on a regular basis, so if you don’t find assignments that interest you, be sure to check back regularly. If you sign up with a provider who regularly doesn’t offer great assignments, consider signing up with a few other providers.

The Assignments

As soon as you have been awarded your first assignment, you should take time to read the assignment requirements in detail. Take note of the date and time when the assignment should be completed as well as instructions regarding how to complete the site visit and the report. All of the information that you need to know about the assignment is found inside the assignment requirements, so be sure to read the requirements carefully and follow the instructions fully. You may sign up to complete multiple assignments at once, and many full-time mystery shoppers will complete six, eight or more assignments in a day. However, you do want to ensure that you allow yourself ample time to complete the assignments as per the instructions.

By following these tips, you can easily get started mystery shopping. In fact, if you start signing up to work with providers today, you may be able to complete your first assignment within the next few days!