Certifications and Recertifications

I have registered with over 140 mystery shopping companies (following the advice everyone's been good to offer here) and now am facing loads of certifications and recertifications on the various websites. I don't do certifications for clients I don't want to shop for but still find it tough to stay on top of everything.

How much time do you spend on these numerous tests?
Any tips on how to keep on top of these?
Other thoughts on these tests?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

**********************************
Silver Certified in the Great White North
**********************************

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More About Certification

I have no idea how much time I spend on them, and I am not proactive at all. I just do them as I need to when a job that I want requires it.

I just took the test for Pappa Johns for a company that I never worked for before that called and gave me a good enough bonus to do a carry out. Seems each shopping company changes things just a little bit. Use a sharpie and write in the box is now changed to print out a post it note size piece of paper and put the assignment info next to the box.

I take tests on an as needed basis. Usually they show you the jobs anyhow and you take the test to assign/apply for it.

I just take them on an as needed basis. You can usually apply for the job and see some details before you have to take a certification test.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Thanks everybody. I guess it's all part of the job.

**********************************
Silver Certified in the Great White North
**********************************

I also take them on a need to basis. I see all of these certifications waiting for me but unless I want a specific shop I'm not wasting my time. One of the more annoying things about mystery shopping.

I guess I'm a little nuts because I actually enjoyed the tests!

I remember when starting out, so many of them, like the Sinclair test, I worried it would be like difficult math... but I "got it" right away. (hint: math has nothing to do with it, just simple logic).

It's like a personal challenge to myself to get 100% the first time. (not always received that, but at least 95% of the time)

I am hard on myself!

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

It's like a personal challenge to myself to get 100% the first time. (not always received that, but at least 95% of the time

It is a personal challenge for me to get 100% the first time by taking the certification quiz cold without reading the test materials. Like someone else mentioned, most of the time it is just common sense. That is how I passed my SATs!

@Sybil2 wrote:

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

It's like a personal challenge to myself to get 100% the first time. (not always received that, but at least 95% of the time

It is a personal challenge for me to get 100% the first time by taking the certification quiz cold without reading the test materials. Like someone else mentioned, most of the time it is just common sense. That is how I passed my SATs!

I do that too!

But a few times I wish I had studied a few of those tests.... But that is a challenge for me, I love to see what I can answer. Some are easy as pie, you don't need to study, it's all common sense

They can be a PITA. Especially to re-certify for a shop that is easy enough.

I do them as needed. It's easier when you have a track record with the company. A tip is to keep a copy (paper or digital) of the correct answers from the last time. They usually change only a small number of questions since the last time you took it. Then it is much quicker to focus on any new questions. I learned this method when I ran into a test that was impossible to pass because one of the 'correct' answers was in fact incorrect. I would never have passed that one without asking for help.

Good luck!

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut

The AT&T Audits have a video that you have to watch, and embedded in the video are numerical codes which you have to know in order to pass the Certification. And the Big Box Home Improvement quiz changes little, but often you have to take it for every location you accept, which is a real nuisance.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Thanks for all the helpful tips, everybody!

**********************************
Silver Certified in the Great White North
**********************************

I wouldn't waste time taking ALL the 'certification' tests. Instead, plan on just taking the tests for the clients you plan to shop for. These 'certification' tests aren't exactly useful and meaningful outside of applying and signing up for an assignment.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Certifications and Recertifications

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine