Acritas

Job Description and Application Form:

Telephone Researcher – Mandarin Speaker

Telephone Researcher

Job Description

About Acritas

►Acritas is the world’s leading provider of legal market research. We work with prestigious corporate law firms and other professional services firms, across the globe. Our Interviewing Centre carries out interviews with senior decision makers in the largest companies worldwide. The findings from these interviews are analysed, interpreted and then presented by Acritas to our clients enabling them to make strategic decisions about the future direction of their firms – from brand development and marketing to pricing and client service.

The Telephone Researcher role:

►We require a highly motivated new member of our telephone research team with excellent communication skills, a sharp mind and keen attention to detail. You will thrive on the challenge of attaining and conducting interviews with senior individuals working in professional services with the ultimate aim of bringing about improvements in this sector.

►The role will begin with a period of intensive training in interviewing skills and use of appropriate software, including shadowing more experienced researchers. You will also be given a thorough briefing on the project(s) you will be working on. Throughout the role, you will receive on-going training and development; there will also be the opportunity to progress from quantitative interviewing to more in-depth qualitative interviews.

►Although you will be well supported within the team,you will be required to take ownership of projects assigned to you and produce work of the highest quality. Given the nature of international market research, we frequently need to work to tight deadlines and so excellent time management and organisational skills are essential.

►We currently have a number of full-time permanent vacancies at our Newcastle based Head Office.

Day-to-day responsibilities

►You will be primarily responsible for conducting interviews with senior business decision makers on a variety of issues. Typically the role will involve:

  • Desk research – to ensure sufficient knowledge of a particular company/market is available to conduct interviews of the highest quality on behalf of Acritas’ clients
  • Telephone interviews – following a prescribed script, but also probing/requesting more detail where appropriate – all to Market Research Society standards
  • Recording data – taking down an accurate account of the respondent’s answers consistently and to a high quality
  • Appointmentmanagement – you will be required to manage your own schedule of interview appointments and provide clear communication to respondents about these
  • Sample management – you will play an important role in keeping Acritas’ database accurate and up-to-date with the latest information from/about respondents
  • Using computer systems – you will need to have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office. You will also need to be proficient in using our interviewing software, following training.

Required qualifications and skills:

Essential / Desirable
Excellent written and spoken communication skills and a highly professional attitude / Undergraduate degree in any subject, providing evidence of good verbal and written communication skills
As much of our research is in the legal sector, a degree in Law would be particularly beneficial
Familiarity with Microsoft Office package and good general computer literacy. Able to learn and use computer systems and other technical equipment. Comfortable working with new technology. / Prior experience in a telephone interviewing or sales role
Critical thinking skills – ability to understand benefits to respondents of participating in research and communicate these in a persuasive manner; ability to take the initiative and suggest new ways of working
Good standard of literacy – ability to write up responses using correct grammar and spelling
Basic numeracy – ability to understand and record numeric responses
Ability to follow set guidelines and procedures accurately
Good typing speed and accuracy
Achieved a good attendance and punctuality record
Good hearing and precise speech

How do I apply?

If you have the skills and aptitude for this role, please complete the following application form demonstrating your applicable skills and qualifications.

Telephone Researcher

Application Form

Personal details
Title
Surname
First name(s)
Postal address (including post code)
Contact telephone number
Email address
Previous Employment
(Please provide previous employment details for the last four years, including dates of unemployment)
Employer / Job title / Dates
(From – To) / Salary / Wage / Reason for leaving
Experience and skills
(Please give specific examples to demonstrate competence in each of the following areas and how this experience would apply to the telephone researcher role)
Excellent written and spoken communication skills and a highly professional attitude
Familiarity with Microsoft Office package and good general computer literacy. Able to learn and use computer systems and other technical equipment. Comfortable working with new technology.
Critical thinking skills – ability to understand benefits to respondents of participating in research and communicate these in a persuasive manner; ability to take the initiative and suggest new ways of working
Ability to follow set guidelines and procedures accurately
Prior experience in a telephone interviewing or sales role
Native speaker, or English as first language with a degree or equivalent in relevant language
Ability to translate verbal responses into written English
Ability to check that written translations from English to relevant language are accurate
Ability to translatewritten English into written relevant language