I have been asked if I would like to become a scheduler for a company. I currently edit for this company. Can anyone give me a reason why not to tackle this? or a reason I might find it interesting? I would like to hear from those who have experience in this task if you don't mind also. I have read a lot about it being unappreciated but would like to hear your opinion just the same. Thank you~

cindy0614 Wrote:
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> I have been asked if I would like to become a
> scheduler for a company. I currently edit for
> this company. Can anyone give me a reason why not
> to tackle this? or a reason I might find it
> interesting? I would like to hear from those who
> have experience in this task if you don't mind
> also. I have read a lot about it being
> unappreciated but would like to hear your opinion
> just the same. Thank you~


Personally, I would be honored if I were to be asked to be a scheduler, I don't exactly know what the job entails, but being asked must mean that they value your work. However, I don't think that being a scheduler would be a good fit for me because I can't take the stress :-)

Cindy - I haven't done any scheduling so I don't have first hand experience, but you asked for opinions and I have one of those. It seems to me that there would be an ongoing crisis every day on getting the shops scheduled, and then getting them scheduled again after they were flaked. I suspect it would take a special kind of personality to deal well with the daily chaos. If you plan to continue shopping as well as get into scheduling, you might want to stock up on sedatives. If you think you can work well inside an eggbeater, you would probably be perfect.

On the other hand, I can see that editing (although lonely and unappreciated) might be calm, boring, and non-stressful. It might make a nice add on to mystery shopping/auditing, which can get crazy and unexpected all by itself.

This might be one of those "Better to Reign in Hell than Serve in Heaven" questions.

But I'd have to agree with Mary here. From the outside looking in, it seems like it might be a high stress job. Just imagine having to deal with all those flakey shoppers (us) all the time.

I'd be flattered that they asked, but probably pass.

On the other hand, if they're making you an offer you can't refuse, it might be very interesting to give it a try. If you try it and find you like it, all is well. If you try it and it sucks, there's no shame in quitting.

I'd try out an editing gig, but ya couldn't pay me enough to take on all the craziness a scheduler has to deal with. The very thought of having to count on others to come through has always been anathema to me anyway. In the mystery shopping world, it has to be nothing short of a nightmare.

No thanks. I like a little serenity and sanity in my life.

I have a friend who worked briefly as a scheduler for one of the large scheduling companies. It was very stressful and I believe you only get paid for successful shops. She would never do it again.

There are companies I would happily schedule for. But I would never do so for any company that has shops that are duds. As a shopper, I avoid those shops, but as a scheduler, that would be harder, I think.

I would be BORED out of my Mind! I love the Action, out in the field, baby!

Thank you~ I appreciate all the feedback/opinions. You all have just clarified what I was already thinking. I am not looking for more stress in my life, actually the opposite. I enjoy editing and the little shopping I still do. I can only imagine it could be a nightmare for those hard to fill shops.

I am not good at counting on others to get things done if I am the responsible for it happening so am not looking to jump back into that kind of situation. I owned my own business for 18 years and that was always a hard pill to swallow to take the blame for others actions.

Thanks again I value your input and insight. I thought there might have been something great hidden in that job title. I agree, it takes a special someone who enjoys that high level of stress and a challenge. Maybe 20 years ago, just not anymore.

i once got told by a scheduler i had "destroyed her faith in humanity"


i felt sorry for her... and then i had taco bell for lunch and forgot all about it

no way/no how!!!

Cindy, will you share how you got started editing, and how it compares with mystery shopping/auditing?

cooldude581 Wrote:
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> i once got told by a scheduler i had "destroyed
> her faith in humanity"
>

WOW!

Since I'm thinking you aren't a serial killer, her faith must have been dangling by the tiniest of threads.

Cindy-Everyone has been right on the mark about scheduling. It's definitely a high stress and high time commitment job. But some of us are OCD and/or insane enough to love the challenge of the job. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Inside Evaluators Wrote:
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> Cindy-Everyone has been right on the mark about
> scheduling. It's definitely a high stress and
> high time commitment job. But some of us are OCD
> and/or insane enough to love the challenge of the
> job. Good luck on whatever you decide.


I mean, I would simply go stir crazy, sitting there watching for reports to come in, assigning reports, giving out infractions and editing reports, when I could be out in the field, DOING the reports...Call me "crazy" but that's just me, when it comes to action er..shopping!

This is the exact quote

"Seriously... I can’t believe you let me down AGAIN! I guess we can go ahead
and remove you as a shopper. I guess that’s what I get for putting my trust
in someone that was already proven untrustworthy!
Thanks so much for renewing my faith in mankind.

Warm Regards"

*shrugs* life goes on...

Good Lord!

I have been asked as well and when I asked my favourite scheduler/editor's advice, he told me not
to accept it, "Unless you hate your life right now." He also told me some stories that completely discouraged me to accept any such offer.

"Warm regards...."

Yeah. Right.

cooldude581 Wrote:
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> This is the exact quote
>
> "Seriously... I can’t believe you let me down
> AGAIN! I guess we can go ahead
> and remove you as a shopper. I guess that’s
> what I get for putting my trust
> in someone that was already proven untrustworthy!
>
> Thanks so much for renewing my faith in mankind.
>
> Warm Regards"

Wow! What caused this scheduler to respond this way? Are you still working with this MSC? Inquiring minds wanna know!

I am a Scheduler and have been doing it for about five years and I can tell you the company I work for is one of the best places I have ever worked. It can be stressful at times but what job isn't. The owner is awesome and always giving thanks for our hard work and efforts. I don't know about other MS companies, but schedulers here help each other out. We have some of the best shoppers a MS company can ask for. We are a small but growing company who doesn't take just any client. We take clients who we feel will stay with MS and continue to provide work throughout the years to come. I'm also in charge of monthly luncheons and birthdays, so we take time out at least once per month to gather and let loose. I think it's a great way for stress release and who doesn't love a great homemade dish. I don't know if other companies have in house schedulers, we do. Well, you'll never know until you give it a try and you can always go back to editing, which I also do, as well as recruiting and training shoppers to do my video shops.

My scheduler is (MSCA) is terrific. There is backup if needed and live chat can help right at the start. But.not for me.

Sounds like it would be a bit of crazy mixed in with the satifaction of the job well done. Of course, I would only do it if I were guaranteed my shoppers were literate, focused, dedicated, reliable, perfect people with nothing else to distract from my perfect little fantasy world!!!! I was in the Human Resources game at one time, and I enjoyed the matchmaking of applicant to job. Follow your gut instinct.

Hey, CoolDude - I'm with the others in wanting to know more details! I would be pretty upset to receive this kind of email, and sure wouldn't share it! What happened that you got your scheduler to say this?

Inquiring minds want to know!

CoolDude,
It would be hard to imagine a response like that from a sane person unless it was well deserved. Was the scheduler insane or was it well deserved? Just askin'.

Some people are built for certain jobs. You have to ask yourself if your strengths are in line with the skills and expertise this job requires. For instance, it takes a certain type of person to be able to do Mystery Shopping, especially multiple shops in a day. It requires attention to detail, organization, long hours (sometimes), flexibility, patience, personality, multi-tasking, tech savvy (if you want to stay up on the times and your job to be easier), creativity, and time management. Many have tried to do what we do, and I consider it simple and second nature after 2 years--but few can handle all it entails.

Same goes for anyone who does sales or commission based jobs. I know for a fact I am not built, nor would I enjoy, that type of work--but there are some who love it and are naturals in those positions.

I personally, am up for trying new things and giving new experiences a shot. I'm currently doing a job that I never thought I'd like, but circumstances (and lack of funds) gave me no choice and I had to take the gig. However, my skill set has caused me to excel in this position and I'm actually enjoying it.

I think you should pose your question to actual schedulers to find out exactly what is required, the pros/cons, and what a typical day/week is like.

Just my opinion.

no she deactivated me... two flakes in a row, she had reason, and they only have one client in the area so i wasnt concerned... nor am now