After identifying companies that seem to match your interests and with shops in your general area or when you see a specific job request by a scheduler posted that you could and would be willing to fill, you’ll need to go through the application processes to be included in the employee pool.
You’ll probably want to start with a fairly sizeable but not excessive list of companies. Five to twenty well selected companies would be a good target, since some may work out and some may not. If you live in an urban area, you may go with fewer companies, since more jobs are available. For small town residents, the jobs are less available, but the competition may also be lower.
Each company has a different process for application and sign up. Some mystery companies accept virtually all applications (though don’t make offers to all potential workers) while others screen and either give a thumbs up or down based on the initial paperwork.
Pay attention to details and fill out applications carefully. An inability to follow directions or poor writing skills (many companies require some sort of short essay) during the initial phase will mean that schedulers will hesitate to give an assignment (unless in a real bind) or will simply turn down the applicant who doesn’t appear to be able to deliver complete and well packaged materials. Just as in any other business, the quality of the product (the shopper in general and the shopping reports) will be critical in terms of the success of business. The application is, in effect, your job interview, so make a good first impression. You’re not there in person, so your writings will be the reflection of who you are and how you will work out.
Expect to fill out a general application, including background information including some (usually optional) more personal data. Though companies can’t legally require some information (age, race and so on), mystery-shopping companies may need or want that data to match assignments. For example, a mystery-shopping company may want to schedule a younger member (under age 30) for a bar/restaurant shop and may prefer an older shopper for checking out a financial institution (25 and up). The basic idea is to select a shopper who matches the typical client serviced by the company. In most cases, demographics are pretty flexible, but a few assignments are quite specific in terms of the shopper profile.