Interviewers (O*NET 43-4061.01, 43-4061.02, 43-4111.00, 43-4131.00) Nature of the Work Interviewers obtain information from individuals and business representatives who are opening bank accounts, trying to obtain loans, seeking admission to medical facilities, participating in consumer surveys, applying to receive aid from government programs, and providing data for various other purposes. By mail, telephone, or in person, these workers solicit and verify information, create files, and perform a number of other related tasks. The specific duties and job titles of interviewers, except eligibility and loan depend upon the type of employer. In doctors' offices and other healthcare facilities, for example, interviewing clerks also are known as admitting interviewers or patient representatives. These workers obtain all preliminary information required for a patient's record or for his or her admission to a hospital, such as the patient's name, address, age, medical history, present medications, previous hospitalizations, religion, persons to notify in case of emergency, attending physician, and the party responsible for payment. In some cases, interviewing clerks may be required to verify that an individual is eligible for health benefits or to work out financing options for those who might need them. Other duties of interviewers in healthcare include assigning patients to rooms and summoning escorts to take patients to their rooms; sometimes, interviewers may escort patients themselves. Using the facility's computer system, they schedule laboratory work, x-rays, and surgeries, and prepare admitting and discharge records and route them to appropriate departments. They also may bill patients, receive payments, and answer the telephone. In an outpatient or office setting, they schedule appointments, keep track of cancellations, and provide general information about care. In addition, the role of the admissions staff, particularly in hospitals, is expanding to include a wide range of patient services, from assisting patients with financial and medical questions to helping family members find hotel rooms. Interviewing clerks who conduct market research surveys and polls for research firms have somewhat different responsibilities. These interviewers ask a series of prepared questions, record the responses, and forward the results to management. They may ask individuals questions about their occupation and earnings, political preferences, buying habits, customer satisfaction, or other aspects of their lives. Although most interviews are conducted over the telephone, some are conducted in focus groups or by randomly polling people in a public place. More recently, the Internet is being used to elicit people's opinions. Almost all interviewers use computers or similar devices to enter the responses to questions. Eligibility interviewers, government programs determine the eligibility of individuals applying to receive assistance from government programs such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing. They gather the relevant personal and financial information on an applicant and, based on the rules and regulations of the particular government program, they grant, modify, deny, or terminate individuals' eligibility for the program in question. These interviewers also are involved in the detection of fraud committed by persons who try to obtain benefits although they are not eligible to receive them. Loan interviewers and clerks review credit history and obtain the information needed to determine the creditworthiness of loan and credit card applicants. They spend much of their day on the phone obtaining credit information from credit bureaus, employers, banks, credit institutions, and other sources to determine applicants' credit history and ability to pay back the loan or charge. Loan clerks, also called loan processing clerks, loan closers, or loan service clerks, assemble loan documents, process the paperwork associated with the loan, and ensure that all information is complete and verified. Mortgage loans are the primary type of loan handled by loan clerks, who also may have to order appraisals on the property, set up escrow accounts, and secure any additional information required to transfer the property. The specific duties of loan clerks vary by specialty. Loan closers, for example, complete the loan process by gathering the proper documents for signature at the closing, including deeds of trust, property insurance papers, and title commitments. They set the time and place for the closing, make sure that all parties are present, and ensure that all conditions for settlement have been met. After settlement, the loan closer records all documents and submits the final loan package to the owner of the loan. Loan service clerks maintain the payment records once the loan is issued. These clerical workers process the paperwork for payment of fees to insurance companies and tax authorities, and also may record changes to client addresses and loan ownership. When necessary, they answer calls from customers with routine inquiries. Loan interviewers have duties that are similar to those of loan clerks. They interview potential borrowers and help them fill out loan applications. Interviewers may then investigate the applicant's background and references, verify information on the application, and forward any findings, reports, or documents to the appraisal department. Finally, interviewers inform the applicant whether the loan has been accepted or denied. Employment Interviewers held about 410,000 jobs in 2000. About 154,000 were interviewers, except eligibility and loan; 139,000 were loan interviewers and clerks; and 117,000 were eligibility interviewers, government programs. Almost 1 out of every 5 interviewers worked in health services, while most loan interviewers and clerks worked in financial institutions. Almost 3 out of every 10 interviewers worked part time. Job Outlook Little or no change is expected in overall employment of interviewers through 2010. However, the projected change in employment varies by specialty. Most job openings should arise from the need to replace the numerous interviewers who leave the occupation or the labor force each year. Prospects for filling these openings will be best for applicants with a broad range of job skills, such as good customer service, math, and telephone skills. In addition to full-time jobs, opportunities also should be available for part-time and temporary jobs. The number of interviewers, except eligibility and loan, is projected to grow faster than average, reflecting growth in the health services industry. This industry will hire more admissions interviewers as healthcare facilities consolidate staff and expand the role of the admissions staff, and as an aging and growing population requires more visits to healthcare practitioners. In addition, increasing use of market research will create more jobs requiring interviewers to collect data. In the future, though, more market research is expected to be conducted over the Internet, thus reducing the need for telephone interviewers to make individual calls. The number of loan interviewers and clerks is projected to decline, due to advances in technology that are making these workers more productive. Despite a projected increase in the number of loan applications, automation will allow fewer workers to process, check, and authorize applications than in the past. The effects of automation on employment will be moderated, however, by the many interpersonal aspects of the job. Mortgage loans, for example, require loan processors to personally verify financial data on the application, and loan closers are needed to assemble documents and prepare them for settlement. Employment also will be adversely affected by changes in the financial services industry. For example, significant consolidation has occurred among mortgage loan servicing companies. As a result, fewer mortgage banking companies are involved in loan servicing, making the function more efficient and reducing the need for loan servicing clerks. The job outlook for loan interviewers and clerks is sensitive to overall economic activity. A downturn in the economy or a rise in the interest rates usually leads to a decline in the demand for loans, particularly mortgage loans, and can result in layoffs. Even in slow economic times, however, job openings will arise from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation for various reasons. Like loan interviewers and clerks, employment of eligibility interviewers for government programs also is projected to decline, due to technology advances and the transformation of government aid programs that have taken place over the last decade. Automation should have a significant effect on these workers because, as with credit and loan ratings, eligibility for government aid programs can be determined instantaneously by entering information into a computer. The job outlook for eligibility interviewers, however, also is sensitive to overall economic activity; a severe slowdown in the economy will cause more people to apply for government aid programs, increasing demand for eligibility interviewers. Sources of Additional Information State employment service offices can provide information about employment opportunities. For specific information on a career as a loan processor or loan closer, contact: * Mortgage Bankers Association of America, 1125 15th St. NW., Washington, DC 20005. Internet: http://www.mbaa.org (See the introductory statement on information and record clerks for information on working conditions, training requirements, and earnings.)