For everything from screening college applicants, to gathering patients’ medical history, to polling citizens about government plans, professional Interviewers gather information from the public. Interviewers ask prepared questions and carefully record the responses. They ask for demographic details about the people they interview, and about preferences, spending habits, or political interests. Many work for healthcare facilities to gain accurate information about patients' medical history and health coverage. Interviewers need to be pleasant and tactful, even after hours of sitting or standing. They need to be good listeners, and be careful not to influence answers one way or another. Detail orientation, analytical thinking, and organizational skills are all important for work like coding, compiling and sorting the data they collect. Schedules vary based on the project, but most employers require a high school diploma, or its equivalent to enter the field. Fluency in a second language is a plus. Interviewers help ensure that many important decisions affecting the public are based on complete and accurate information.
What they do:
Interview persons by telephone, mail, in person, or by other means for the purpose of completing forms, applications, or questionnaires. Ask specific questions, record answers, and assist persons with completing form. May sort, classify, and file forms.
On the job, you would:
Ask questions in accordance with instructions to obtain various specified information, such as person's name, address, age, religious preference, or state of residency.
Contact individuals to be interviewed at home, place of business, or field location, by telephone, mail, or in person.
Compile, record, and code results or data from interview or survey, using computer or specified form.
Arts and Humanities
English language
Business
customer service
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Attention
pay attention to something without being distracted
People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
Self Control
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Stress Tolerance
Cooperation
You might use software like this on the job:
Project management software
Creative Research Systems The Survey System
FluidSurveys
Medical software
Medical condition coding software
Medical procedure coding software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Oracle PeopleSoft
SAP Business Objects
high school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED usually needed
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