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WHAT IS IT? A search engine evaluator (sometimes referred to as a Google rater or a web search evaluator) is tasked with reviewing the accuracy of search engine results. In layman’s terms, that means these huge mega-corporations still need humans to double check the work of their digital technology. That is good news for two reasons. One, they hire a small army of people to work from home evaluating search results; and two, it means the machines haven’t taken over the world yet.
WHO’S HIRING?
Appen
Lionbridge
iSoftStone
HOW MUCH DOES IT PAY? Depending on which company you contract with, the going rate for search engine evaluators is generally between $12-$15 an hour. These positions are 1099 contract jobs, meaning the companies do not pay taxes out of your paychecks. You are responsible for filing taxes with the 1099 form each year.
HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK? Well, that’s a tough question to answer, actually. Web search jobs are notorious for being unpredictable that way. Some people may see 20 hours of work a week in the beginning and others might be lucky to receive only five hours a week. One factor is the time of day you log in. Once hired, it is imperative you log in at various times throughout the day to get a feel for when assignments are dropped into the queue. You never know how lucrative this gig will be until you jump in. Once you have gained experience, it is not unusual to see your workload increase, sometimes even to full-time hours.
WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR? These companies are looking for individuals who are well versed in social and web culture. Many companies say they require a 4-year degree, but people without degrees have reported being hired in the past (it doesn’t hurt to try). You will need high speed internet and excellent analytical and web research skills. Each of these companies requires you to pass a series of time-consuming and, honestly, fairly rigorous training sessions and tests. You can read some horror stories online of people studying 200+ pages of notes for several hours before taking the tests. The other downside is the training is unpaid. Keep in mind, though, all the difficult training is worth it once you have your foot in the door and a contract signed.
WHAT DOES THE AVERAGE DAY LOOK LIKE? Search engine evaluating is one of the most flexible work-at-home positions one can attain. You can log in whenever you have time and claim assignments from your queue. Because of ironclad confidentiality agreements, I cannot divulge any specific details about the position, but I can say that there are a few different types of assignments and some are better than others. What your day will look like is obviously heavily dependent on what tasks are in your queue and how many tasks are available. With this position, you can log in for an hour here and there, or for the full workday at one time.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I worked as a search engine evaluator for Leapforce (now known as Appen) for 18 months back in 2014-2015. I had an overall positive experience with Leapforce and with this position. I found the extensive training and tests tedious, but doable. The training really is what the work will look like once you are on the inside, so spending time studying is definitely worth it. I saw about 3-5 hours of work a day when I was first hired. I worked this position as a backup to a more lucrative at-home position I had at the time, so I actually didn’t even try to work more than about 15 hours a week in the beginning.
This is a 6-month contract job. My contract was renewed twice after the initial contract, making for a total of 3 six month contracts. Some people do not see extensions of their contracts for whatever reason. I am of the opinion that if you do your work efficiently and accurately, keep your nose to the grindstone, and file correct timesheets, you should earn brownie points for contract extension. By the end of my third contract, I wasn’t logging in at all, so, obviously, my contract was not renewed.
ROUNDUP OF PROS AND CONS
Pros:
*very flexible scheduling
*different types of tasks to break up monotony
*good hourly wage
Cons:
*time-consuming application and training process
*only 6-month contracts at a time with no guarantee of renewal
*availability of work is inconsistent
Have you ever worked as a Search Engine Evaluator? If you have time, please give us your thoughts, opinions, and tips in the comment section below.
