Thoughts on getting bonuses...
First, you are not going to get a bonus on the shops that everybody else wants to do. The MSC wants to get shops done for as little as possible and are not going to pay you $30 when somebody else will do it for $10.
Second, the more you know about how each MSC operates, the better. As stated above, if you know that a set of shops are on a monthly or quarterly schedule, you'll have the most success asking for bonuses at the end of those time periods.
Third, know your territory. Sign up for lots of MSC's so you know what else is available to you so you don't feel like you have to take shops from any specific MSC. This allows you to walk away from shops if you don't think t hey pay enough. It also gives you a good idea for what the market really is for a particular shop.
Some things I do...
* Watch the job boards. Is there a shop that is a bit out-of-the-way that has been there fore a while? Contact the schedule and make an offer. Perhaps two or three other MSC's have similar situation?. Make an offer on all of them.
* If you get a text, call or personal email from a scheduler, treat it as an invitation to make an offer. If they are calling you about one "special" shop, they need it done.
* If you get repeated (over several weeks) mass emails about the same shop (not group of shops), make an offer.
* Be truthful. Don't say that a shop is an hour away when you can walk there in five minutes. You'll be found out and it will break trust.
* Don't be afraid to tell an MSC what you are getting paid to do similar shops - though you don't have to tell them which other MSC is paying you. Yesterday, I was contacted by an scheduler and asked if I could do nine video apartment visits for $50 each. I declined, telling her truthfully that I was picking up written and audio recorded apartments at $70-$90 right now. She countered and offered $75 each. Her shops and shorter reports and have more convenient addresses than the other MSC's shops, so I took them.
Finally, and most importantly, never flake and always do great work. No scheduler is going to want to give you a chance at a shop that is very time sensitive if you have a history of not getting your work done or doing work that might not get accepted. MSC's pay bonuses when they really need something done NOW. They need to *know* that you are the one that will come through.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2019 02:13AM by MFJohnston.