Making a Resume & need advice=)
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My resume simply reads "Self-Employed" with my start date through 'present'. Depending on what you list with other jobs (such as job duties, special skills etc.) You may want to just indicate you are a 'Independent contractor performing market research evaluations'. In a face to face interview setting you could mention that you have been a mystery shopper working with [number] companies performing and reporting on site observations. Beyond that I would pretty much let it go. The companies you work with will not, of course, provide references or anything else. I would graciously dodge any discussions of 'wages' or 'salaries' with a generic comment to a direct question about pay indicating that jobs vary from $3 to $70 depending on their complexity.
I also listed independant contractor on my resume. I said I evaluated customer service following guidelines set by various clients. On my first interview, I said I mystery shopped. On my second interview I met with the Director who was quite intrigued. I worked for Verizon Communications for thirty years and while he asked about my responsibilities there, mystery shopping is what interested him more. I got the job.
I agree - keep it short and sweet. Like llrose said - most employers are just as mystified by the process as we are. Give'em a reason to let you talk more. This just gives you that much more opportunity to sell yourself. It also shows you have initiative and didn't just sit around feeling sorry for yourself while unemployed - you got up and did something productive and educational. Employers like that.
P.S. - Congratulations, llrose!
P.S. - Congratulations, llrose!
On my resume I list myself as an Independent Contractor and called myself a Quality Assessment Manager. But after reading this, I like Market Research Evaluator much better! 
Sincerely,
H.A.R.D. at work
H.A.R.D. at work
independent contracting is the most accurate and at times miss leading... accurate because that is the broadest technical definition... but when most people hear contracting they think of construction... which i have used to my advantage but might not be the best to put on a resume...
shopping north west PA and south west ny
I was testifying in a trial last week and was asked what I did for a living while on the witness stand...
... I said that I was an independent contractor. When the attorney asked me what specificially I contracted for, I said that I performed business evaluations for a number of different clients.
... I said that I was an independent contractor. When the attorney asked me what specificially I contracted for, I said that I performed business evaluations for a number of different clients.
This would be a good topic to include in future books written about mystery shopping as this topic is even more relevant now with many unemployed people taking up mystery shopping. Hopefully author "Pam in CA" is reading this....
Yes all these ideas are perfect. "Customer Service Evaluator, Ind. Contractor and/ or Business Auditor" Business auditor sounds pro and cool and even if you haven't done any yet, you could be soon.
Well yeah. I would definitely qualify to some degree as I suggested above. Or maybe not, as indicated a potential employer might be intriqued as stated above. Hey anything to get an interview right?
SpyGirl719 - I think she'd be Free Lance.
No Lisa - She wouldn't be free.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
No, she wouldn't - just like a free-lance photographer or reporter is free to shoot/report what they want, she's free to "work" where she wants at a negotiated fee!
Or you're just yankin' my chain....
Or you're just yankin' my chain....
Does anyone have a profile on LinkedIn that includes Mystery Shopping experience? I have been shopping since 2007. I never had trouble getting a "regular" job before then, but quit that job to become a SAHM. SAHM doesn't pay money though, so I started shopping. I eventually got so heavily involved with shopping that it become almost a full-time job for me. Now due to some life changes, I am looking for a "regular" job again, but it seems so hard to get back into the job market. I turn in my resume all over the place and just get notices back that I'm "under qualified" for everything. It is insane because the work I was doing in Mystery Shopping required so much independent work and responsibility, and the ability to be a self starter. I feel like I pretty much threw any chance at having a regular career down the toilet over the past few years. Now I'm trying to get a profile on LinkedIn but not sure how to word all of the mystery shopping stuff. I would like to be linked to some schedulers and people involved with my favorite companies, but I am not sure how to do that without listing them as "Employers" which they technically are not my employers. Ugh its just frustrating and tiring.
What's a SAHM and why would you quit a job to do it if it doesn't pay anything?
You were a freelance corporate compliance auditor. If someone inquires, explain the process without using the words "mystery shopper."
You were a freelance corporate compliance auditor. If someone inquires, explain the process without using the words "mystery shopper."
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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.
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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.
Routeshopper - I have read twice now where shoppers have lost shops after being Googled and discovered on LinkedIn. If you do any shops where you have to use your name (auto shops, etc) it may not be that great of an idea.
Maybe if you re-word your resume yiou will have better results. I personally would not use the words "mystery shopper" on a resume that is not being sent to a mystery shopping or merchandising company. I would use terms like self-employed independent contractor, compliance auditor, evaluator, retail intelligence, quality assurance, etc. Otherwise, to those not familiar with the biz, it may sound like you simply shop for a living!
Good luck!
Maybe if you re-word your resume yiou will have better results. I personally would not use the words "mystery shopper" on a resume that is not being sent to a mystery shopping or merchandising company. I would use terms like self-employed independent contractor, compliance auditor, evaluator, retail intelligence, quality assurance, etc. Otherwise, to those not familiar with the biz, it may sound like you simply shop for a living!
Good luck!
itsasecret Wrote:
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> What's a SAHM and why would you quit a job to do
> it if it doesn't pay anything?
>
> You were a freelance corporate compliance auditor.
> If someone inquires, explain the process without
> using the words "mystery shopper."
Stay At Home Mom I believe
-------------------------------------------------------
> What's a SAHM and why would you quit a job to do
> it if it doesn't pay anything?
>
> You were a freelance corporate compliance auditor.
> If someone inquires, explain the process without
> using the words "mystery shopper."
Stay At Home Mom I believe
Kim
It is time to stop trying to correlate being an IC to a having a job. You don't have a job, you are running a small business and should be damn proud of it.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"It is time to stop trying to correlate being an IC to a having a job. You don't have a job, you are running a small business and should be damn proud of it."
I totally agree!!! Mystery shopping has been FAR more demanding than any regular job I've had, and people who are slackers in any way, shape, or form do not succeed in it! I have a few friends who will pick up a shop or two here and there, but they do not do it as a living because they can barely handle the responsibility of going home and doing a 10 minute report. I had a "friend" (which is a term I use loosely thanks to this) who I told about a decent route of shops that I did almost every month. She had some other part time job she was doing, so I didn't think she would be a threat. Well she rode along in the car while I did this route just to keep me company. Then the next month, she applied for the route and undercut me on the pay. Oh I was so livid and I gave her a piece of my mind for doing that, but stayed mum with the scheduler, other than to request that I please be considered for at least 1 route that month. Well the scheduler was calling me almost last minute because "friend" had flaked out on about half of her shops. I asked the "friend" what happened because she called me asking if I would do the shops for her, and she said she just took on too many and could not remember all the details and couldn't handle putting in all of the reports. I don't think she has picked up more than a shop or two here and there since. I know that particular company kept rejecting her applications after that incident.
Now with LinkedIn, I did do a profile and didn't word myself as a Mystery Shopper, but I still put something like "Performance Evaluator." Currently, I'm not doing any shops that require scheduling a visit and using my real name (I hate doing apartments for the most part). I do feel that I need to have some way of listing my experience with this so that companies do not think that I have just been slacking off for 6 years. And yes, SAHM does mean stay at home mom. My ex made decent money but we are divorced now so obviously my financial situation is different. Obviously if I could turn back the hands of time, I would have stayed a career person, but at the time I thought I was making the best choice to stay at home with my babies. Due to transportation and school issues, now I'm forced to kind of stick around my home base a lot more, so no big long routes of high dollar shops. The town I live in doesn't offer much for shops so it isn't feasible to expect a full time income doing shops here. I'll still continue to pick up everything I can, but I do want to be considered for a regular job as well.
I totally agree!!! Mystery shopping has been FAR more demanding than any regular job I've had, and people who are slackers in any way, shape, or form do not succeed in it! I have a few friends who will pick up a shop or two here and there, but they do not do it as a living because they can barely handle the responsibility of going home and doing a 10 minute report. I had a "friend" (which is a term I use loosely thanks to this) who I told about a decent route of shops that I did almost every month. She had some other part time job she was doing, so I didn't think she would be a threat. Well she rode along in the car while I did this route just to keep me company. Then the next month, she applied for the route and undercut me on the pay. Oh I was so livid and I gave her a piece of my mind for doing that, but stayed mum with the scheduler, other than to request that I please be considered for at least 1 route that month. Well the scheduler was calling me almost last minute because "friend" had flaked out on about half of her shops. I asked the "friend" what happened because she called me asking if I would do the shops for her, and she said she just took on too many and could not remember all the details and couldn't handle putting in all of the reports. I don't think she has picked up more than a shop or two here and there since. I know that particular company kept rejecting her applications after that incident.
Now with LinkedIn, I did do a profile and didn't word myself as a Mystery Shopper, but I still put something like "Performance Evaluator." Currently, I'm not doing any shops that require scheduling a visit and using my real name (I hate doing apartments for the most part). I do feel that I need to have some way of listing my experience with this so that companies do not think that I have just been slacking off for 6 years. And yes, SAHM does mean stay at home mom. My ex made decent money but we are divorced now so obviously my financial situation is different. Obviously if I could turn back the hands of time, I would have stayed a career person, but at the time I thought I was making the best choice to stay at home with my babies. Due to transportation and school issues, now I'm forced to kind of stick around my home base a lot more, so no big long routes of high dollar shops. The town I live in doesn't offer much for shops so it isn't feasible to expect a full time income doing shops here. I'll still continue to pick up everything I can, but I do want to be considered for a regular job as well.
cooldude581 Wrote:
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> independent contracting is the most accurate and
> at times miss leading... accurate because that is
> the broadest technical definition... but when most
> people hear contracting they think of
> construction... which i have used to my advantage
> but might not be the best to put on a resume...
I just saw this while searching for resumes in a different context. I worked in construction for 7 years and in other industries for 13 years. You are correct in that people usually think construction when they hear contractor. Another title that works very well and tends to hold more "weight" and respect is "Consultant". The connotation is much more positive, at least in my experience. When people see the term consultant, they assume or think "expert" rather than hired to do a specific task. You guys are after all, the experts the MSCs hire to give your input.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2013 11:07PM by imbabs28.
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> independent contracting is the most accurate and
> at times miss leading... accurate because that is
> the broadest technical definition... but when most
> people hear contracting they think of
> construction... which i have used to my advantage
> but might not be the best to put on a resume...
I just saw this while searching for resumes in a different context. I worked in construction for 7 years and in other industries for 13 years. You are correct in that people usually think construction when they hear contractor. Another title that works very well and tends to hold more "weight" and respect is "Consultant". The connotation is much more positive, at least in my experience. When people see the term consultant, they assume or think "expert" rather than hired to do a specific task. You guys are after all, the experts the MSCs hire to give your input.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2013 11:07PM by imbabs28.
I think "Independent Mystery Shopping Contractor" sounds professional and specific. "Self Employed" can be a little vague—sort of like the catch-all for "I don't really have a job but don't really want to admit it on my resume" type of thing.
This is what I wrote on my daughter's resume:
Sept. 2011 – June 2012 Mystery Shopper/Auditor
Performed secret shops and revealed audits for a variety of businesses
including retail, entertainment, restaurants, electronics, and banking.
Mystery shops and audits required observation of customer service and
selling techniques. Filled out detailed written reports and met strict deadlines.
She was able to quickly get jobs using this on her resume.
Sept. 2011 – June 2012 Mystery Shopper/Auditor
Performed secret shops and revealed audits for a variety of businesses
including retail, entertainment, restaurants, electronics, and banking.
Mystery shops and audits required observation of customer service and
selling techniques. Filled out detailed written reports and met strict deadlines.
She was able to quickly get jobs using this on her resume.
MSPA Gold
Shopping Long Island
Have Video Camera
Shopping Long Island
Have Video Camera
amylicious88 Wrote:
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> My question is how to put mystery shopping down as
> experience and under what Comapny would it fall
> under for my RESUME I shop for many companies but
> would not list all
On my resume I wrote my MS experience like this:
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 1999-Present
Various market research companies in the U.S. and Canada
-Performing customer service evaluations for local businesses
-Writing online reports
-Taking photos
-------------------------------------------------------
> My question is how to put mystery shopping down as
> experience and under what Comapny would it fall
> under for my RESUME I shop for many companies but
> would not list all
On my resume I wrote my MS experience like this:
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 1999-Present
Various market research companies in the U.S. and Canada
-Performing customer service evaluations for local businesses
-Writing online reports
-Taking photos
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