2004; Mr Brightside, Friends finale, the launch of Facebook and my entry into the world of market research! With a love of planning and ability to multi-task, a ‘Field Controller‘ was born! Many who worked at the ‘infamous mill’ in Calverley, Leeds, at that time, are now employers, colleagues, clients and friends.
My first taste of research was in the 90’s, dialling out from the boardroom of Radio Aire ticking boxes about radio listening habits, although I didn’t connect the two at the time! Whilst October marks 20 years of Project Management for me, I couldn’t help but wonder, “How has project management changed across 2 decades”?
My research career began during the shift from fax machine to email, when recruiter contact was via supervisors only, and a profile sheet detailed just a participant name and contact number – imagine!
Recruitment via client sample was endless cold calling sessions and moderators would travel to fieldwork armed with an A-Z or a TomTom and hundreds of £s in cash. Eager to know how my ‘event planning’ had gone, feedback the following morning was often more about the venue refreshments (a sign that all had gone well)!
As I moved into the ‘teen’ years, criteria, technology (and profiles advanced). iPads eventually replaced the interviewer’s clipboards, and the office was introduced to the Blackberry! Recruiter databases became ‘a thing’ and very quickly, we had to manage “professional” participants.
Significant changes happened in 2018 with the update to GDPR challenging the way we shared participant data, both internally and within the field force.
Fast forward to March 2020, Covid hit! The shift to online qual; introducing us to a world of virtual fieldwork, tech checks and BACS details for days. Working from home became the new norm and 9-5pm barely existed. During this time, many interviewers decided to retire or find alternative work; and we still feel the effects and the depleted pool.
In Summer 2020 the MRS & AQR introduced the RAS training & accreditation scheme to which I became accredited.
In a full circle moment, in 2021, Jules and Rach employed me for a second time and here I am with some of the old gang back together again.
Quality has always been top of my agenda and this is definitely embedded in Face Facts’ ethos. Three years into my journey at Face Facts and I’m still loving what I do.
My role here feels like it was meant to be…
Amanda Baines
To work with Face Facts, get in touch @ quotes@facefactsresearch.com
