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.
Field-based work. Real support. Clear expectations.
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 £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. While you can plan your schedule, the role requires availability to carry out interviews at the times participants are available, including evening and weekend appointments.
Who this role suits
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 CuriousWe listen carefully and capture people’s experiences accurately.
We Move with PurposeWe 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 endeavor 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.
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