Okay job. Decent Pay. - Field Interviewer RTI International Employee Review

3.0
14 Feb 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The pay is pretty decent compared to other jobs. The training is pretty thorough and they make sure you know what you're doing before sending you out in the field. They also reimburse you for any expenses and make sure you have all the supplies and equipment you need. Additionally, it's really great that you basically get to make your own schedule, going out into the field whenever you think you'll do best or schedule interviews, and there is totally minimal supervision as well. You also get great exercise. If you prefer to work alone, this job has its perks. It could definitely be worse.

Cons

There are hefty downsides too, unfortunately. My supervisor was not so nice, and really difficult to speak with. She overall treated me like she thought I was not very intelligent and had never met me. It was really odd. She also made it difficult to close out cases, which I found to be annoying as well, when that's literally your target goal. Also, this job involves going out into strange neighborhoods and knocking on peoples doors pretty much cold call status. They send a letter but no one reads it. Additionally, they want you to go out into the field often well after dark, during hours people are most likely to be home, in horrible weather conditions at times, totally alone, carrying cash and a laptop and tablet - electronics galore. Additionally, due to confidentiality concerns no one can know where you are, what neighborhood you're in or anything like that, so if something happens to you well you're in big trouble. And sometimes neighborhood watch groups think you're a creeper and send the cops after you, which isnt fun either. The lack of supervision can also be a bad thing, just because its sort of unorganized at time and communication isnt the greatest. You will walk A LOT, carrying a LOT of things, and you will put A LOT of miles on your car, so be prepared for that. They do pay you for travel time as well, which is nice though. Overall the job wasn't the best Ive had but it definitely could have been worse. I just never felt safe and that was pretty stressful and people can be really rude so you have to just remember its not your fault.

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5.0
8 June 2026
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Pros

RTI has a good mission

Cons

Adaptation to sudden federal funding loss.

3.0
15 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Remote work and reasonable working hours

Cons

If you're a PhD who enjoys research and hopes to use empirical research skills at a research institute, you'll likely be disappointed as I was. Projects in my business unit were largely implementation projects that required very little creativity or data analysis. I was told by my manager that empirical-research projects are harder to come by and when those opportunities do arise, everyone wants them. Even then, project directors are very unwilling (in my experience) to let you branch out to other projects. Using any overhead time to work on your own research is also discouraged, so I ended up working on manuscripts in my personal time. And there's no funding to attend conferences either. On top of all of this, constant layoffs create an aura of uncertainty and the feeling that you're lucky to even be there even when compensation for similar roles in private sector is far better.

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