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Are there any full time moderating or report writing jobs available?
At present they are all on a contract basis. However, as volume picks up we anticipate making full time offers to our most relied-upon contractors.
About what volume of work could I expect if I were to be accepted as a moderator or report writer?
Short Answer: About one project per month. (An average of 2 to 8 groups to moderate or write up).
Long Answer: This is a difficult question to address as it involves forecasting not only the growth in our company business overall, but also the balance between this growth and the number of high quality moderators/writers we connect with and train to utilize our techniques. Further, we find that availability and willingness to travel are also limiting issues - some moderators are one project a month, others able to take one project a week. Some moderators will travel for one day over-night, others will travel for two weeks around the globe. There are many parameters to consider - but overall, we are looking to balance things so that the people we DO take on as contractors will have some semblance of steady work. (This allows us to train more consistently too).
How many moderators or report writers are you looking for at this time?
Short Answer: None at this time.
Long Answer: We have a large enough pool of people available that we can a) claim specialties in most consumer, B2B, and medical areas; b) provide a readily available squadron of moderators for any project at any time; c) have the ability to send multiple moderators to different cities simultaneously - to cut project timelines. However, this situation is subject to change at any time. If you feel you would be a valuable contributor to our company, by all means let us hear from you.
Will you accept moderators or report writers from out of the country?
Yes, of course. But, presently about 75% of our work is domestic, and for reasons of economy we tend to choose moderators who are reasonably close to where the research is being done. (Clients will not pay for international travel on a domestic project). So volume would be lighter.
Can these jobs be done via telecommuting or the Internet?
Generally speaking, YES, depending upon the job.
- Report writing can almost always be done over the Internet and telephone.
- Experienced moderators can be based anywhere in the world ... we have many requests for global groups and will fly you to the location where the group is taking place if you are the right person for the job.
How do I get reimbursed for travel expenses?
Submit an expense reimbursement form with the appropriate receipts. Generally speaking, your airfare and hotel bill will have been arranged and paid for by our offices, but other reasonable expenses (taxis, food, etc) are reimbursed at cost. Of course, if you paid for your airfare or hotel, submit the receipt and we will reimburse you.
Do I have to start over each year at the lowest moderating rate?
NO! The moderating rate increases based upon your hours of moderating experience with our company and never goes down. For example, if you did 100 hours of moderating in your first year of service, the following year you would start at the 101 hour rate
How does the moderating rate increase?
The moderating rate increases based upon your hours of moderating experience with our company and never goes down. For example, if you did 100 hours of moderating in your first year of service, the following year you would start at the 101 hour rate.
How do I get reimbursed for individual interviews, ideation sessions, etc.?
You get reimbursed for each hour of facilitation that you engage in, whether groups, individual interviews, or ideation sessions. On rare occasions we may ask for an exception. (For example, if your rates are in the expert range we may request a reduction for an individual interview project because the rate we can bill our client will actually be less than what we would need to pay you. It is more likely that we would use another interviewer for the 1-on-1 job in this circumstance, however).
Does everyone start at the beginner rates?
It increases at our sole discretion. People may be given credit for moderating or similar experience outside of The Livingston Group. For example, an experienced moderator might be given 150 hours of "bonus experience" and thus start at the 150 hour rate. Similarly, an experienced writer may be initiated at the intermediate rate.
It says that the rate structure does NOT apply to salaried employees. What do moderators and report writers on salary make?
Moderators and report writers on salary make a guaranteed income (which varies depending upon previous experience) plus health insurance, vacations, and a profit sharing plan.
A bonus formula is included in full time moderator/report writer compensation packages ... the formula is:
- Calculate what you would have made in a calendar quarter if you ran the same number of groups and wrote the same number of reports as an outside consultant.
- Multiply by 2/3rds (a lesser compensation rate is exchanged for the guaranteed compensation and benefits package).
- If this number is greater than your salary for that quarter, we will bonus the difference to you for that quarter.
You will probably make more money in the long run as a salaried employee because you will receive more projects and more intensive training. However, there are not always openings for full time employees, and many people prefer the freedom associated with contract work.
How does the report writing rate increase?
At our sole discretion, based upon the amount of time we need to spend to edit your report in order to make it presentable and valuable to our clients in the style to which we have become accustomed. Please understand that WE have a financial incentive to get your reports up to higher levels, because the less time we spend editing, the more time we can spend selling.
See the Report Writing Guidelines for help on improving your reporting style.
Should I keep track of the time I spend writing reports and bill you for each hour?
NO! Report writing rates (just like moderating rates) are based upon the number of hours of ACTUAL RESPONDENT RESEARCH you are asked to analyze.
For example, if you are asked to analyze two focus groups which were each 2 hours in length, you would receive compensation for FOUR hours of actual groups. Please note that the number of hours you are reimbursed for does NOT always equal the number of hours of respondent interviewing in a project. For example, sometimes in a large project you are given only half the tapes to analyze. It is often not necessary to have you sit through 40 hours of individual interviews - we may assign you a sub-sample. You are reimbursed based upon the actual number of hours of tape you are asked to analyze.
How much do I get paid for going along and taking notes on a group?
If you are writing the report, you don't get paid extra for going along to take notes because your time observing the groups should be equivalent to the time you would have spent listening to the tapes. Further, the time you get to spend in the backroom listening to the clients' wants and needs and the questions they have should reduce the time required to write a relevant report, and people who spend more time with clients tend to progress faster in their report writing, thus earning higher rates more quickly. You MAY, however, bill us an additional $60 for every night you have to spend in a hotel out of town for a project.
If you are NOT writing the report but were simply asked to be a note-taker, we will pay you 10% of your report writing rate for each hour of focus groups or interviewing that you took notes on. You MAY also bill us an additional $60 for every night you have to spend in a hotel out of town for a project.
Does the non-compete cover any existing clients I already have outside of The Livingston Group?
NO! The intention of the non-compete is to prevent you from soliciting clients with whom you would NOT have had a business relationship in the absence of your business relationship with The Livingston Group. It is also intended to give us an incentive to actively promote you. Persons who have previously authorized and paid for your services separate and apart from your relationship with The Livingston Group are excluded from the non-compete agreement, provided that you identify them to us in the event you are asked by The Livingston Group to do a project for them or their company.
Please also note that the non-compete DOES cover people or companies who were your PROSPECTS. If you did NOT sell anything to a person, department, or company prior to your business relationship with The Livingston Group, and you are subsequently introduced to this person, department, or company through your association with The Livingston Group, this person, department, or company will then be a The Livingston Group client, covered by the non-compete.
If you are in doubt about a particular client, ask for a written judgment from The The Livingston Group. You may also wish to disclose your prior clients to The Livingston Group in writing before accepting your first job in order to avoid confusion.
After 18 months, I may take any client for myself?
18 months AFTER SEVERANCE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE The Livingston Group you may take any client for yourself. Please note that this 18 month period does NOT begin until you give us written notice of your intention to sever your relationship with The Livingston Group and cease accepting work from us. (If we serve you with this notice, the period is reduced to 12 months).
Does the non-compete cover clients within a department at a company with whom I did NOT work for directly?
IT DEPENDS. The intention of the non-compete is to prevent you from soliciting clients whom you would NOT have had a business relationship in the absence of your business relationship with The Livingston Group. (It is also intended to give us an incentive to actively promote you). This is evaluated on a case by case basis.
How do I learn to write a good report according to your style?
By the feedback and supervision you will receive on your submitted reports.
See the Report Writing Guidelines for help on improving your reporting style.
See also our general FAQ list
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