Beginner Mistakes
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@wegogary2 Hi! I'm brand new to this. I'd asked in another thread about certifications I'm interested in...
What you point out, that some shops expect a 10 and whatnot, is exactly what I have in mind when considering getting these certs prior to jumping in. From your experience or anything you've heard being in the industry, do you feel that earning some additional certifications first--upgrading from Gold to Silver for instance, or even getting the Professional Responsibility and Ethics, and Professional Report Writing certifications--would be beneficial in helping a newbie gain an edge from the get go- & therefore have more offers starting out, high paying opportunities, etc.? It sounds like you took the route of learning from experience!
Either way I'd really appreciate your insight or suggestions for how to best go about it in your opinion if the cost for me isn't a HUGE concern (as long as the additional certifications yield faster results
). Thank you!
Sara
What you point out, that some shops expect a 10 and whatnot, is exactly what I have in mind when considering getting these certs prior to jumping in. From your experience or anything you've heard being in the industry, do you feel that earning some additional certifications first--upgrading from Gold to Silver for instance, or even getting the Professional Responsibility and Ethics, and Professional Report Writing certifications--would be beneficial in helping a newbie gain an edge from the get go- & therefore have more offers starting out, high paying opportunities, etc.? It sounds like you took the route of learning from experience!
Either way I'd really appreciate your insight or suggestions for how to best go about it in your opinion if the cost for me isn't a HUGE concern (as long as the additional certifications yield faster results
). Thank you!
Sara
@LisaSTL Oops! Sorry about that I just responded to probably 10 people on here! I totally understand, no problem.
I haven't been getting much on my "Certifications?" post, though:/ What about tagging the people I responded to on here, or that I would like to ask further questions to regarding their answer, on my post then? Or is that still inappropriate or not allowed? I'm just really looking for some advice on this subject and if I don't get many responses on my post, what should I do? Thank you for letting me know how this works. I appreciate it
Sara
I haven't been getting much on my "Certifications?" post, though:/ What about tagging the people I responded to on here, or that I would like to ask further questions to regarding their answer, on my post then? Or is that still inappropriate or not allowed? I'm just really looking for some advice on this subject and if I don't get many responses on my post, what should I do? Thank you for letting me know how this works. I appreciate it
Sara
@LisaSTL I was referring to his comment "not recommend going to your assigned location and doing a practice shop. In my case, I practiced at different locations so there wouldn’t be a chance of employees remembering me." What's a practice shop?--is probably what I should have asked. Thank you for clarifying
What you will find is the people who want to respond will do so. Answers may come quickly or it over the course of days as members wander in and out of the forum. You have two or three threads about certification so if you look at each, there are some answers already from veteran shoppers. The more you spread your inquiries over multiple threads it not only makes it more difficult for you to keep up, it will make it harder for other shoppers who may have the exact same questions.
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.
If you sign up for a shop, say a fast food shop, you’ll have access to the shop guidelines. You can use those guidelines to do a “practice” shop at a different location if the same restaurant chain, before you do the assigned location. I found this helped me figure out what I forget to look for and gave me a real world chance to practice with my stopwatch.
Or suppose you just want to try out new techniques for discreetly taking pictures, times or notes. Go pretend you’re doing a shop somewhere. You won’t end up getting a shop rejected because you found out too late you didn’t get clear pictures, for example.
Or suppose you just want to try out new techniques for discreetly taking pictures, times or notes. Go pretend you’re doing a shop somewhere. You won’t end up getting a shop rejected because you found out too late you didn’t get clear pictures, for example.
I knew absolutely nothing about this industry when I began. So I started with a well-paid multi-part shop and figured that all would be well. I was pretty good at jumping in and performing new jobs. I culled from experience and training and got along well enough.
And that was the problem. As a newbie shopper, I knew plenty of unrelated information, but I did not know how to conduct a mystery shop. I made an assumption and included an opinion. All of that was wrong for mystery shopping.
And that was the problem. As a newbie shopper, I knew plenty of unrelated information, but I did not know how to conduct a mystery shop. I made an assumption and included an opinion. All of that was wrong for mystery shopping.
My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)
Ive not been certified by MSPA. I do do certs that are offered by the individual companies which ive found do help some in being prepared.
I am new also. I have made a few mistakes. I signed up for a shop with Marketforce. I just read the basic instructions and found out I was supposed to call and make an appoi tment for this one. Sent an email but the office is closed so I will have to wait and see what happens.
I would say don't bother with MSPA certifications or membership (coming from someone who is both gold certified and a member of the MSPA). Once upon a time, it was helpful, I think. I have been MSPA gold since 2003 and prior to 2014 I think it made a difference, since there were times I know that there were jobs that were released to gold certified shoppers first. I haven't seen that in a long time, though.
My only problem with saving guidelines? Sometimes I feel that the cost of printing them up severely cuts into my earnings. I had one recently that was over 20 pages, complete with colour images of things to look for.
Why not save then to a thumb drive? No need to print everything!
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
After a few youll learn you only need to print a few key pages.
I do but i take a few key pages with me bc its easier than trying to read on my phone.
The most dumb thing I did had a pizza shop On the way home ate a piece it smelled so good I was hungry As I ate it I thought "Oh my god I had to take a picture." So I went back and redid the shop.
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