How to Become An Interviewer

Steps to Become an Interviewer

Step 1: Complete Year 12 or Equivalent

Most employers ask for Year 12 as a minimum. Focus on English, communications, and subjects that build numeracy and computer skills. These give you the base to read survey scripts, record data, and use digital tools common in field research.

Step 2: Complete a Certificate III in Business (BSB30120)

Enrol in the Certificate III in Business (BSB30120) at a TAFE or RTO. This takes 6 to 12 months full-time, or up to 18 months part-time. It covers workplace communication, data entry, and admin tasks used in survey work.

Step 3: Build Practical Communication and Data Skills

Practise active listening, clear speech, and accurate note-taking in daily life. Try customer service work or community groups to build real-world people skills. Short online courses in data entry and survey tools also help you stand out to employers.

Step 4: Apply for Entry-Level Survey Interviewer Roles

Look for roles at market research firms, government agencies like the ABS, or social research groups. Entry-level jobs often ask for no prior research background. List any customer service, community, or data entry work you have done in your application.

Step 5: Join The Research Society for Professional Development

The Research Society is Australia’s peak body for market research and insights. Student and early-career memberships are open to all. Members get training, events, and a code of conduct for sound survey practice. This can help you grow into senior research roles over time.

On a typical day, a survey interviewer contacts people by phone or in person. They ask a set of prepared questions and record each answer with care. They also hand out forms and check that all key questions were filled in. Some interviewers work in call centres; others head out to public spaces like markets or shopping centres. The data they collect helps organisations understand what people think, need, and want. It is hands-on, people-focused work that feeds directly into real research outcomes.

Survey interviewers collect data for research projects by talking to people and recording their answers. They work in call centres, public spaces, and in the field. No two days look exactly the same, which makes it a varied and active role. It suits anyone who likes being out and about and meeting new people.

• Contacting participants: reaching people face-to-face or by phone to run surveys.
• Recording responses: writing down or typing answers to survey questions.
• Distributing questionnaires: giving out survey forms for participants to complete.
• Collecting completed surveys: picking up filled forms and returning them to supervisors.
• Checking for completeness: scanning forms to make sure all key questions were answered.
• Conducting street interviews: stopping people in public places to ask survey questions.
• Providing self-completion options: letting participants fill out forms on their own.
• Encoding responses: putting data into a system and checking it is consistent.
• Call centre work: running phone surveys from a call centre using a script.

• Clear verbal communication
• Active listening
• Empathy and interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Accurate data recording and entry
• Time management
• Organisational skills
• Adaptability and resilience
• Basic computer and digital literacy
• Understanding of survey methods
• Ability to work independently
• Critical thinking
• Ability to engage with diverse groups
• Patience and professionalism