The Ins and Outs of Landing a Job as a Pollster: How to Prepare for and Ace the Interview

As a pollster, your job is to gather data and insights into public opinion through surveys and polls It’s an exciting career that allows you to have your finger on the pulse of current events, politics, business, and popular culture. However, scoring a pollster job takes skill and preparation – including nailing the interview

Here’s what aspiring pollsters need to know to impress interviewers and launch their careers

Understand the Role of a Pollster

Before interviewing, make sure you have a solid grasp of a pollster’s day-to-day responsibilities. Typical duties include:

• Designing survey questions and methodologies
• Determining target demographics and ideal sample sizes
• Overseeing phone, online, mail, and in-person polling
• Analyzing data and identifying trends
• Interpreting results and making recommendations
• Preparing reports and presenting findings
• Staying up-to-date on current events and issues

The best pollsters have strong critical thinking, math, and communication skills. An affinity for numbers is a must, as is the ability to interpret data and communicate implications.

Research the Potential Employer

Any good interview prep includes learning about the organization you want to work for. For polling jobs, look into:

• The company’s specialties – Are they political pollsters? Market researchers? Academics?
• Their clientele – Who hires them and what for?
• Methodologies – Phone, online, mixed modes? Probability sampling?
• Ownership structure – Independent? Part of a PR firm?
• Thought leadership – What are they known for?

This context will help you tailor your interview answers. Be ready to explain why you’re drawn to this particular company.

Expect Questions About Your Analytical Abilities

Polling is based on analysis, so you can expect interviewers to test your reasoning and critical thinking. Some questions to prepare for include:

• Walk me through how you’d design a poll on [Topic X]. What factors would you consider?
• If a survey yielded [Result Y], how would you interpret that?
• How could you tell if polling data were skewed? What would you do?
• What challenges does sampling present? How would you overcome them?
• How would you communicate a poll’s limitations alongside its findings?

Have a few examples ready that showcase your analytical abilities. Use the STAR method – explain the Situation, Task, Actions you took, and Results.

Brush Up on Your Methodology Knowledge

Interviewers will look for a solid grasp of core polling methods and practices. Key areas to study include:

• Sampling techniques – simple random, stratified, cluster, multistage, etc.
• Margin of error calculations
• Question types and questionnaire design
• Response coding and data processing
• Means of administration – phone, online, mail, in-person
• Weighting and adjusting data

Employers want to see that you know a lot of different things, even if you don’t use complicated methods every day. Be ready to intelligently discuss polling approaches at a high level.

Highlight Your Math and Stats Chops

Along with methodology, expect your quantitative skills to be put to the test. Interview questions may cover:

• Statistical significance – What it means and how it’s calculated
• Common distributions – Normal, binomial, Poisson, etc.
• Regression analysis
• Probability and non-probability sampling
• Using software like SPSS, SAS, R
• Advanced calculus, if required for the role

Refresh your memory on key definitions and formulas. Quant skills are non-negotiable for polling jobs, so the more comfortable you seem, the better.

Talk About Your Communication Abilities

Pollsters do more than crunch numbers – they interpret data and communicate meaning. Employers will want to know:

• How you’d explain technical details in plain language
• Your experience presenting data to non-technical audiences
• How you’d convey poll limitations and caveats
• What elements you’d include in a client report

Have talking points ready about your written, verbal, visual, and presentation skills. Use examples of successful outcomes from past roles.

Expect Hypothetical Case Studies

It’s likely you’ll be given a mock polling scenario and asked how you’d approach it. Cases assess analytical and problem-solving abilities in a real-world context.

When tackling a case study:

• Listen carefully and ask clarifying questions if needed
• Think through the objectives and constraints
• Present a logical, step-by-step approach
• Explain your rationale using methodology terms
• Address risks and limitations
• Ask if any elements need further explanation

Take your time, think it through, and be detailed yet concise. The interviewer wants to see your thought process.

Demonstrate Passion for the Field

Employers seek pollsters who are truly passionate about the work. Be ready to answer:

• Why are you interested in a polling career?
• How did you get interested in polling and research?
• What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the job?
• Where would you like to see the field go in the future?

Convey genuine enthusiasm for the field. Share what motivates you personally about polling and why it matters.

Ask Thoughtful Questions

The interview is a two-way street – you’re also assessing the company. Prepare some smart questions such as:

• How would you describe the work culture here?
• What qualities do your top pollsters share?
• What skills are most important for success in this role?
• How is data security handled?
• What opportunities are there for advancement?
• What do you enjoy most about working here?

Take notes and engage with the answers to demonstrate interest in the organization and role.

Sell Your Potential

Most importantly, the interview is a chance to show you’d excel in the job. Weave in examples throughout illustrating skills like:

• Communication – Explaining complex ideas clearly
• Analysis – Synthesizing data, identifying trends
• Methodology – Developing appropriate sampling and questions
• Project management – Coordinating logistics
• Ethics – Commitment to honest, unbiased polling

With the right preparation, you can put your best foot forward and show why you should be their next pollster. Highlight the unique strengths you bring to the table. Stay confident under pressure, and you’ll be well on your way.