CourseFinder logo – Australia’s leading course comparison site

How to Become an Interviewer: Australian Careers in Human Resources

0 Course

On this page

What is a Interviewer?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Interviewer?

A survey interviewer contacts people, asks them questions, and records their answers for research projects. They work across market research, public opinion polls, and social studies. This entry-level role suits people who enjoy talking to others and want flexible work in data collection.

Survey interviewers reach people by phone, face-to-face, or in public spaces. They follow a set of questions and record each answer with care. Some roles are based in call centres, while others involve field work in shopping centres or on the street.

They prepare for each interview by learning the survey goals. They listen carefully, note responses clearly, and may hand out self-completion forms. After the interview, they check that all key questions were answered before sending data to a supervisor.

Survey interviewers work mainly in research and public service roles (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). The role builds strong communication and data skills. It can open doors to careers in research, data, or policy work.

Icon

Career snapshots For Interviewers

Survey interviewers work mainly in research and public service roles (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). Around 800 people hold this role across Australia. New South Wales has the largest share at 23%, followed by Queensland at 18%.

Around 43% of survey interviewers work full-time, with full-time workers averaging 41 hours per week. The rest work part-time or casually. The median age for this role is 37 years. Employment is set to decline, with an expected loss of around 500 roles per year.

What will I do?

Survey interviewers gather data from the public for research and market studies. They contact people, ask questions, and record answers with care. The role needs clear speech and an eye for detail.

  • Contacting participants: reaching people face-to-face or by phone to run surveys.
  • Recording responses: noting answers by hand or on a device.
  • Distributing forms: handing out survey forms to people at set locations.
  • Collecting completed surveys: gathering filled forms and returning them to supervisors.
  • Checking for completeness: scanning forms to confirm all key questions were answered.
  • Street interviews: approaching people at random in public places.
  • Self-completion options: letting people fill out forms on their own.
  • Encoding responses: entering data into a system and checking for accuracy.
  • Call centre work: running phone-based surveys in a call centre setting.

What skills do I need?

Survey interviewers need strong communication skills above all else. They must ask questions clearly and listen to each answer with care. Being friendly and easy to talk to helps people feel at ease and share honest responses.

Accuracy matters too. Interviewers record each answer correctly, by hand or on a device. Attention to detail helps them spot missing answers and fix errors before data reaches the team. Good time management keeps each interview on track and within schedule.

Skills/attributes

  • 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

CourseFinder makes every effort to ensure the information we provide is correct at the time of publication. We welcome your input to help keep our career profiles as accurate and up to date as possible. All queries and feedback will be taken into consideration as we conduct periodic reviews of our content. Add your voice to the conversation!

Related Careers

About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.