What Does An Interviewer Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Interviewers

Interviewers 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.

Salary
$37640
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Interviewers 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.

  • Ask questions in accordance with instructions to obtain various specified information, such as a 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.
  • Ensure payment for services by verifying benefits with the person’s insurance provider or working out financing options.
  • Compile, record, and code results or data from interviews or surveys, using a computer or specified form.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Interviewers contact individuals to be interviewed at home, place of business, or field location, by telephone, mail, or in person. They ask questions in accordance with instructions to obtain various specified information, such as a person’s name, address, age, religious preference, or state of residency.

A typical day for an Interviewer will also include:

  • Assist individuals in filling out applications or questionnaires.
  • Explain survey objectives and procedures to interviewees and interpret survey questions to help interviewees’ comprehension.
  • Compile, record, and code results or data from interviews or surveys, using a computer or specified form.
  • Review data obtained from an interview for completeness and accuracy.
  • Perform patient services, such as answering the telephone or assisting patients with financial or medical questions.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Interviewers also meet with supervisors daily to submit completed assignments and discuss progress. They may also prepare reports to provide answers in response to specific problems.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Interviewers identify and report problems in obtaining valid data. They might also collect and analyze data, such as studying old records, tallying the number of outpatients entering each day or week, or participating in federal, state, or local population surveys as a census enumerator.

In addition, they supervise or train other staff members.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them assist individuals in filling out applications or questionnaires.

To some Interviewers, it is also their responsibility to ensure payment for services by verifying benefits with the person’s insurance provider or working out financing options.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

High

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 65% said they found their job meaningful.


Federica Bressan
Technoculture

I’m a freelance science communicator with experience as an interviewer for audio (podcasts), video, and blog/magazines.

I wouldn’t say that I have a typical day, but my approach to preparing and conducting an interview is pretty standard by now. I normally seek guests myself, so there is a part of networking, pitching, inviting the guests to get involved. That requires that my portfolio and previous work is always up to date and available online. And lots of emails.

Once the guest agrees to be on my podcast / to participate in one of the other interviews that I do on the side (not for the podcast), I unleash the research work. I am curious by nature, and that’s what I love about this job. I will read and watch and absorb everything I can about the guest. I will not be shy to ask them to provide me with materials they think I should know, besides of course resorting to google.

I do a thorough work of preparation. Some guests, even those who are used to being interviewed on major platforms, were often surprised (in a good way) by the depth of my understanding of what they do, which led to interesting questions.

That’s the next point: I try to ask questions that have not been asked too often, or ever, and especially I ask myself what questions *only I* could ask. I never try to replicate other people’s interviews. That’s been done, it’s online, I don’t need to repeat it.

If I prepare the questions in advance, I share them with my guest. Sometimes they require that I do this, and I have no problem doing it. Sometimes (but rarely) they will propose a list of talking points, and I normally accept it. I have rarely interviewed people who shamelessly plug a product or service, so I feel relaxed that it won’t happen, but it’s happened twice so I know I need to stay alert (because that is not the type of interview I’m into).

I like to have a pre-interview if I don’t know the guest. If possible, on a different date than the recording. A few days before, ideally. If they allow for this, it helps both feel more relaxed. It also helps me assess how good a speaker the guest is, and on video – if they have the right lighting, etc. so the pre-interview gives us a chance to go through some technical aspects of the recording. I always want to make the guest feel at ease. If they feel you’re out to get them, they will shut down. I would do the same! So I want them to feel safe with me. Which does not mean I can’t ask difficult questions. It means that I don’t ask difficult questions to “get them”, to make them look bad, to give them a hard time, but only because I think that is a crucial question that has not been answered.

I guess the key is being truly interested in what you’re interviewing the person about. I have had colleagues ask me for advice on how to come up with questions because sometimes they are blank. I didn’t know what to say, because running out of questions is a problem I have never had in my life. And the reason must be that I’m interested in what we talk about. Nobody tells me to go and interview this person about x and y, and I can’t care less. I believe that doing what you do with a passion boils down to your work ethic. I would feel bad interviewing someone I don’t really care about. I have always kept excellent relationships with my guests. They are part of my extended network, and some of them I have interviewed again – proof that they liked to open up with me. I am quite proud of this aspect of my work. You have to be fair with your guests. “Respect the host, honor the guest.”

Pros

I currently work as a freelancer. Pros: I love what I do. And this is no small pro! It’s different every time. I keep learning new stuff, and I do so with dedication. I have worked as an academic researcher in the past 10 years, and I find that the horizontal type of learning that interviews expose me to is much more suited to me than the laser-focus attention I had to have in research. I had also worked as a journalist before doing my PhD, so I guess it was in the stars!

Another pro: you get to meet incredible people. I respect my guests immensely. I think it is a privilege to be able to reach out to someone like that, and ask for their time, and get to ask them interesting questions and listen to the answers. Doesn’t it sound like an absolute privilege? 🙂

Cons

Financial instability. At this point in time, I still conduct many interviews for free, just out of passion, to support my portfolio and build a reputation. I know it has to be like this. It takes time. But I would say that’s the biggest downside of what I’m doing.

If I have to add other negative things, I could say that today anybody feels they can do this, so there is a lot of “competition” out there, lots of noise, and not a clear understanding of what a good interview is, and a professional interviewer. But this is a long discussion. For sure, we can say that interviews a are very common format online because they are easy to do. Still, not every unedited convesation is an interview… some people should understand this.


Pros

Suitable for people who like to follow routines.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

How much do they make

Average salary

$37640 per year

Average hourly wage

$18 per hour

Entry-level Interviewers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $24,980 to $29,400 per year or $12 to $14 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $52,550 $25
Senior (Top 25%) $44,400 $21
Median $36,170 $17
Junior (Bottom 25%) $29,400 $14
No experience (Bottom 10%) $24,980 $12

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Interviewers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Automobile Dealers $83690 $40.24
Religious Organizations $49200 $23.66
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly $46830 $22.51
Other Schools and Instruction $46590 $22.40
Elementary and Secondary Schools $45880 $22.06
Educational Support Services $45380 $21.82
Business Schools and Computer and Management Training $45160 $21.71
Grantmaking and Giving Services $44650 $21.47
Specialty Hospitals $44300 $21.30
Technical and Trade Schools $44250 $21.28

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Interviewers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Interviewers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 71230 $37790 $18.17
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 23350 $31970 $15.37
Offices of Physicians 13430 $36000 $17.31
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 8900 $43470 $20.90
Outpatient Care Centers 4260 $39590 $19.03
Individual and Family Services 3990 $39230 $18.86
Management of Companies and Enterprises 3890 $38850 $18.68
Office Administrative Services 3290 $36770 $17.68
Employment Services 2790 $38700 $18.61
Local Government 2750 $40060 $19.26

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
55%

40 hours
30%

More than 40 hours
15%

Working schedule

72%

28%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
28%

Every day
23%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
1%

Every day
98%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
2%

Every day
62%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
66%

Once a year
18%

Once a month
2%

Once a week
1%

Every day
13%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
15%

Slightly competitive
35%

Moderately competitive
34%

Highly competitive
3%

Extremely competitive
13%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
6%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
93%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
78%

Once a year or more
21%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
1%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
69%

Once a year or more
29%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
79%

Once a year or more
21%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
13%

High School Diploma or equivalent
54%

Post-Secondary Certificate
3%

Some College Courses
6%

Associate’s Degree or similar
11%

Bachelor’s Degree
12%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
43%

1 month
10%

1 to 3 months
11%

3 to 6 months
10%

6 months to 1 year
1%

1 to 2 years
16%

2 to 4 years
7%

4 to 6 years
3%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
28%

1 month
47%

1 to 3 months
12%

3 to 6 months
6%

6 months to 1 year
6%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Organizer

People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.

The Builder
19%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
19%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
19%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
67%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
76%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
86%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
33%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
52%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
29%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
81%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
71%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
52%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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