Temporary & Permanent Household Survey Interviewers (Average weekly hours 25.15)

Location: Nationwide

Survey interviewing work is carried out across the whole country. However, it is the policy of the CSO to assign interviewers to suitable geographical locations based on their home address. Therefore, the offer of an appointment to a position will depend on both the candidate’s geographical location and their position on the panel.

Successful Survey Interviewers may be asked to work on a number of different surveys which may include but not limited to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC), and the Household Budget Survey (HBS). The CSO are also recruiting through this campaign for interviewers to work on the new baby cohort of Growing Up in Ireland – the national longitudinal study of children in Ireland which has been following the progress of c.20,000 children and their families since 2006. More information on CSO Household Surveys can be found on the CSO website Household Surveys - CSO - Central Statistics Office

Duties and Responsibilities:

Preparation for interviewing/collection process 

This involves attending appropriate training sessions as directed by field management/CSO headquarters. Training may be conducted on-site or virtually. This training process involves studying any necessary documentation, learning how to use IT systems and processes as well as testing new questions/processes. A tablet computer and smartphone will be used to manage interviewer workload. Attendance at training is mandatory.

Survey Interviewing/Collection 

Survey work requires interviewers to carry out data collection by means of electronic data capture, using a tablet or other data capturing device. Interviewers will be required to transfer data to Headquarters in the manner prescribed for each particular survey. 

Interviewers will be expected to meet minimum data collection targets and deadlines as outlined by field management. Interviewers are expected to meet high data quality standards in a timely manner.

Liaison with Field Management/CSO Headquarters 

Interviewers are expected to be in regular contact with field management through telephone, email, virtual meetings (e.g. MS Teams) or in-person contact. 

Administration 

Interviewers will be expected to complete and submit relevant administrative documentation by specific deadlines using both electronic and paper methods.

Data Protection

Interviewers will ensure high levels of data governance and information security particularly regarding access to confidential data.

Other duties 

Any other duties, which may be assigned from time to time, as appropriate to the position of Survey Interviewer. 

Requirements for the position 

• Education requirement: intermediate certificate/junior certificate or equivalent;  
• Hold a current full driving licence and have the full use of a car for the hours spent working on the survey.  
• Fluent English both written and spoken;  
• Proven experience of personal interaction with the public ideally through face to face and telephone interviewing, practical social work or related work;  
• Good IT software skills, e.g. Microsoft Office 365 and MS Teams;  
• Availability to work flexible hours. This flexibility extends to working variable hours during evenings, Saturdays and some daytime work when potential respondents are at home;  
• The ability to guarantee confidentiality at all times in relation to your role;  
• Good communication/articulation skills together with good persuasion and negotiating skills;  
• Attendance at training as determined by the CSO.

Special Features 

The Interviewer position is a lone worker position. This means that the Interviewer works from their home and organises and completes their own work under the supervision of the Survey Coordinator in line with role requirements.   Interviewers must be available to work flexible hours. Survey Interviewers are expected to work on average 25 hours per week. Depending on the survey involved, this flexibility will extend to working variable hours during evenings, Saturdays and some daytime work when potential respondents are available.