Anyone worked for NatCen as a Researcher?

[PotentialJob]

Job advertised on Indeed for NatCen as a researcher. Involves going to people's houses and carrying out market research. They seem a legitimate organisation who are commissioned to undertake research for the Government, Charities etc... There's no sales involved just surveys to help inform policy, governments etc...

The hourly rate quoted is good and I enjoy talking to people and my previous work experience has involved interviewing people and qualitative data analysis. It looks like you manage your own time and are given areas to visit where the residents have been sent a letter telling them that a Researcher will be in the area.

I had a telephone interview the other day but the person doing the interview wasn't able to answer many of my questions and said that if I passed this telephone interview there would be a further assessment where I could ask more questions.

I've just got an email telling me I've been successful and that I need to log on for further assessment and training. But I'm slightly confused as it looks as though the training will take 7-10 hours via several sessions on Zoom. I find this a little odd as it seems as if I am getting the training before I've even found out about the job itself.

I just thought I'd come on here and see if anyone else has had any experience of this line of work or organisation. It will involve me taking out small business insurance because I guess I will be using my own car to travel to locations and will be going into other people's houses. I have lots of questions and will, of course, not commit to anything until I know exactly what the role entails.

I'm also going to post this in the Money/Work section but thought I'd put a thread in Chat for the traffic.

I haven't worked for them but have worked with them as they did the research for a programme I was involved in (Charity funded).

Can't tell you anything about them other than they are legit and are good to deal with.

Probably doesn't help you, sorry!

A friend works for them. He's a project manager and part of his job is working with the researchers. He's worked for them for many years (15+ years) and, although stressful at times due to heavy workload, it seems to be a decent place to work.

Thanks both. I'm just wondering about what the working conditions will be like. I think you might be paid per interview completed and I'm not sure how much of the job will be spent knocking on doors and being turned away. The hourly rate quoted is excellent but if it's only applied to the time conducting interviews then it might reduce considerably when averaged out. I'm not sure of the safety aspect either as a lot of the work would be evening work to catch people in.

Has anyone on here actually done one of their surveys, I wonder? I've never had such a letter through my door.

I'll investigate further with the links they've sent me but I don't fancy spending 10 hours doing online training if I'm not going to accept the job at the end of it.

I certainly wouldn't be doing 10 hours of unpaid training!

Hi! I am in exactly the same position. I think the interviewers must be external, as mine couldn’t answer any questions either. It seems odd that they want to waste time training potential employees who may not actually be interested. However, I have read the introduction & booked my first training just to find out more about it. I also received an email with a Tel. no. for any questions. I have looked up reviews on google and they are very varied. I too am a bit concerned about the fact that you are expected to persuade people to take part and may have to work lots of evenings or weekends - I don't mind doing one day of each but not the entire job. I also need to check what area I would be expected to cover. I think they need to structure their recruitment differently. Keep me posted! 😉. Good luck!

Hello @PotentialJob and @nagowers. What did you do in the end? Did you take the job? I’m considering it as my second job.
Let me know what you think please. I’d appreciate it :)

I didn't pursue it any further. Too many unknowns and I felt like I was being 'processed' and not being assessed as an individual. I suspect you would be hard-pressed to earn a decent hourly rate. I would love to hear from someone who works there and can tell me otherwise.