This is a continuation of an interview I had with Lark of Sunlark Research. If you missed the beginning of the interview, please check it out here.
Me: What requirements are there to work for Sunlark? Do you require high-speed Internet?
Lark: While we look at such factors as typing speed and accuracy, equipment owned such as a laptop computer, and related experience, the only hard and fast requirements are the ability to work independently and the follow-through to do whatever you commit to. People who can manage their own time and aren’t afraid to try something new without someone holding their hand are the type that succeed best at this type of work.
Concerning Internet connection speed, we actually have at least one manager who is on dial-up. I even worked on dial-up for a few months of 2005. For most online assignments, you do need a fast connection in order to make much of anything per hour. But dial-up is adequate in most other cases.
Me: How do you determine how often an IC needs to go pull records?
Lark: This is determined by balancing our client’s needs with providing enough work to make it worth the researcher’s time. One of the reasons we have sought to expand our client base is to increase the amount of work our researchers in more remote areas will have at each county visit. Gas is expensive, and we want our researchers to make money! We are not presently able to offer mileage allowances, although on rare occasions, we can offer a higher rate per record, depending on the remoteness and demand for data from the area.
For part four, please click here.