At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct in-home interviews to gather vital insights on important societal issues.
- Company: Join NatCen, Britain's leading social research organisation dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Earn £20–£30 per interview, plus holiday pay and bonuses up to £750.
- Other info: Flexible hours, travel opportunities, and comprehensive training provided.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by helping people share their stories and shape decisions.
- Qualifications: Full UK driving licence, reliable car, and a passion for listening to others.
The predicted salary is between 20000 - 30000 £ per year.
Flexible fieldwork with purpose. This is work for people who are happy to get out, travel, speak to others, and help make sure real experiences are heard. As a Field Interviewer, you’ll visit selected addresses across an assigned area and carry out in-home research interviews on issues that matter — including health, housing, transport, public services, and everyday life. You’re not selling anything. You’re listening.
The information you collect helps governments, universities, charities and public bodies better understand people’s lives — and make decisions that can improve services and society. You'll visit people at their homes to carry out vital research interviews on important topics like health, housing and transport. We also undertake census-style media measurements on a national scale to help shape public-interest broadcasting. You'll guide conversations and digitally capture real experiences of daily life in Britain. Talk to people. Capture stories. Shape real decisions.
Every interview matters. Whether you’re speaking to someone in a city, town, village, coastal area or rural community, your role is to make it easier for people to share their views clearly and honestly. Some people may be confident straight away. Others may need reassurance. That’s where your warmth, professionalism and listening skills make the difference.
You’ll use a NatCen device to guide structured interviews and accurately record responses. The work is purposeful, independent and people-focused — and you’ll be fully trained before you go out on your own.
This is a travel-based role. You’ll be assigned a defined fieldwork area, with route planning support to help you manage your time and make your visits as efficient as possible. Travel times will vary depending on the interview location. You can typically expect to travel around 30–60 minutes each way. Travel is a key part of the role and you’ll need to be comfortable travelling throughout your assigned area. Some projects may also require longer journeys and occasional overnight stays. Paid travel time is available on most projects, alongside mileage reimbursement.
You won’t be doing this alone. You’ll have:
- Shadowing with experienced interviewers
- Role-play and guided practice
- Supported doorstep visits
- Ongoing check-ins with a field manager
- Practical support with route planning and confidence building
What you’ll earn:
- £20–£30 per completed interview
- Holiday pay + admin fees
- Paid travel time
- Competitive mileage reimbursement rates
- Bonus payments up to £750 in your first 12 months*
What you’ll need:
- A full UK driving license and access to a car
- Class 1 Business insurance
- Right to work in the UK
- Willingness to complete a DBS check
- Reliable home broadband
- Minimum 20 hours availability per week
- Confidence using basic technology
- Flexibility to work across weekdays, evenings and weekends.
This role suits people who enjoy talking to others, are comfortable working independently, and want purposeful fieldwork that offers flexibility within participant-led interview schedules. You don’t need previous research experience. What matters is that you can build trust, ask questions clearly, listen carefully and represent NatCen professionally.
It could be a strong fit if you’ve worked in retail, hospitality, admin, driving, sales, care or support work, community-facing roles, or other customer-facing roles. You’ll do well if you are reliable, organised, resilient, curious about people, and motivated by work that helps people’s voices be heard.
About the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen): NatCen is Britain’s largest independent social research organisation. We believe social research has the power to make life better by helping organisations understand people’s lives, experiences and views. By speaking to people in their homes and recording their views accurately, you’ll help create research that informs decisions about services, policy and society.
At NatCen, we believe social research has the power to make life better. By understanding the complexity of people’s lives and what they think about the issues that affect them, we give the public a powerful role in shaping decisions that can make a difference.
Our values:
- We Are Curious: We listen carefully and capture people’s experiences accurately.
- We Move with Purpose: We plan fieldwork carefully and make every interview count.
- We Act with Integrity: We treat every participant with respect, professionalism and confidentiality.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the interview process, please make us aware and we will endeavour to support you so you can showcase your best self during our hiring process.
If you want flexible work with purpose — and you’re ready to travel, listen and help make sure people are represented — apply today.
*All references to pay, bonuses and working arrangements are based on current projects and typical performance. Individual outcomes may vary.
Field Interviewer - Salisbury in Avon employer: NatCen
At NatCen, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values flexibility and community engagement. As a Field Interviewer in West London, you'll enjoy the freedom of working outside the office while making a real difference in people's lives through meaningful conversations. Our supportive work culture fosters personal growth, offering competitive pay and bonuses, alongside opportunities to develop your skills in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Field Interviewer - Salisbury in Avon
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at NatCen.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from NatCen!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like NatCen, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at NatCen or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Field Interviewer - Salisbury in Avon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to NatCen:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to NatCen! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at NatCen
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
