Even though I have a full-time job for the time being (and I like it a lot), I still could use other work. If the University of Minnesota pretty much putting the kibosh on MRI studies at night and on weekends, it looks like, besides from working Vikings games, I need to find work (or "work") by participating in taste tests and research groups.
I don't exactly remember who, how or when I signed up, but a long time ago I got hip to a taste test company. I went to the west metro, ate or drank something, got money in the form of a Visa debit card (which initially bummed me out because I was thinking I was getting cash, but then I realized that I could use it to pay my gas, and that's what I use them for it now), and got hooked. I didn't need a degree, I didn't have to come in for an interview -- all I needed to do was answer their e-mail online and take this screening test to see if I'm eligible.
After a while, though, I started to get rejected. I didn't qualify because I did a taste test within the last half-year, or I don't this product enough, or I don't have kids. Pretty soon I got sick of not getting these jobs. So, even though it's not the "right" thing to do, I decided to game the system. I started to lie.
For example, I know that many taste test screenings are looking for parents. Therefore, whenever I'm asked if there are kids at home, I say yes. Also, I think that research groups are looking for people who buy the majority of the groceries for a household. That's absolutely not true, but if I want to get money, fuck yeah I buy all the groceries!
I think I've gotten into tests and groups by lying. But it appears as though the tests I've been taking have, for lack of a better term, harder. There is a slew of nonchalant questions that, if I answer incorrectly, gives me a "You're not right for this group" loser screen, and I lose out on that job. I've always had to answer them, but they're growing in number and getting trickier.
This afternoon is a case in point. I've been working on a few e-mails inviting me to answer these screening tests online, and inbetween breaks of work I've been answering them. This one was unlike any other test I've done before. It started asking questions about restaurants -- which restaurants I like to go to (all of them, I say), how often I go out (several times a week), etc. Then, they delve into what choices I make when I go out -- do I look at taste or price? Will I eat a healthier option even if it's more expensive? Do I prefer traditional or exotic food?
The line of questions, and what I believe the criteria I think they were looking for, slowly came into focus for me. It appears as though they were weeding out people who buy traditional food items, and the cheapest items, on the menu. It looked as though a restaurant chain has developed a brand-new food item which is unlike anything they have offered before, and they're looking for people who wouldn't mind trying that entree. I really don't know for sure if that was what this taste test was all about, but answering weird question after weird question correctly, it feels as though it was heading in that direction.
So, thinking along those lines, I get this question: Which do you prefer, going out to trendier restaurants or does it not matter, what matters is the food? Both options are on these big rectangles and you just click on one or the other. And I clicked on the one that said only the food matters. This has to be a chain restaurant behind this taste test, and besides, shouldn't the food be the only thing that matters from any restaurant, trendy or no?
Then it took some time to load. And that's when I knew I fucked myself. When you answer correctly on these screenings, the next page loads up pretty fast. When you get the circle, however, they're taking you to the loser-get-out page. As I got here. Dammit, I should've said trendy! Could've used $85 too.
Well, Game Over for me. I'll just have to wait for the next opportunity to play this game, and then, I hope I guess right.
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