Recruitment Criteria
Recruitment Criteria refers to the set of guidelines and requirements used to find and select participants for market research studies. This includes characteristics like age, income, buying habits, or product usage that help researchers ensure they're talking to the right people for their study. It's similar to a shopping list of qualities that participants need to have. Market researchers use these criteria to "screen" potential participants, making sure they match what the client needs for their research. You might also hear this called "screener requirements," "participant specifications," or "qualifying criteria."
Examples in Resumes
Developed Recruitment Criteria for nationwide consumer behavior study
Managed participant screening using detailed Recruitment Criteria for focus groups
Created Recruitment Criteria and Screening Questionnaires for multiple market research projects
Refined Recruitment Specifications to improve participant quality
Typical job title: "Market Research Recruiters"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Market Research Recruiters
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle a situation where the client's recruitment criteria are too restrictive to find enough participants?
Expected Answer: Should explain how they would analyze the criteria, suggest alternatives, and negotiate with clients while maintaining research quality. Should mention examples of creative sourcing methods and trade-offs between ideal vs. practical criteria.
Q: How do you ensure recruitment criteria don't introduce bias into the research?
Expected Answer: Should discuss methods to review criteria for potential bias, ways to ensure diverse representation, and how to balance client needs with research validity.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What key elements do you include when writing recruitment criteria?
Expected Answer: Should mention demographic requirements, behavioral characteristics, product usage patterns, and exclusions. Should also discuss how to write clear, measurable criteria.
Q: How do you verify that participants truly meet the recruitment criteria?
Expected Answer: Should explain verification methods like multiple screening questions, social media checks, and professional background verification when needed.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the purpose of recruitment criteria in market research?
Expected Answer: Should explain that criteria help ensure we get the right participants who can provide valuable insights for the research objectives.
Q: How do you screen participants against recruitment criteria?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic screening process, including questionnaire use, following criteria checklist, and confirming eligibility.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic participant screening
- Following established criteria
- Using recruitment databases
- Basic documentation skills
Mid (2-5 years)
- Writing clear screening questionnaires
- Managing participant quotas
- Solving recruitment challenges
- Quality control procedures
Senior (5+ years)
- Developing complex recruitment strategies
- Client consultation on criteria
- Managing recruitment teams
- Strategic problem-solving
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain basic screening processes
- Lack of attention to detail in criteria verification
- No experience with participant quality control
- Poor understanding of research ethics and privacy requirements
Related Terms
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