For many young people, finding work that is flexible, interesting and genuinely fits around everyday life can be difficult. For nineteen-year-old mystery shopper Luca Maude, working with Serve Legal has offered exactly that: flexibility, independence, variety and the chance to see new places along the way.
After finishing his A levels, Luca decided he wanted to take a gap year. While looking for flexible work, he came across Serve Legal and decided to find out more. “I stumbled across Serve Legal on social media,” he says. “I thought I would apply, looked into it a bit further, and it seemed like something that would work for me.”
Since then, auditing has become a role that fits around Luca’s plans, whether that is working near home, travelling, or thinking ahead to where he may be based next. For him, the appeal was clear from the beginning: it was work he could shape around his life, rather than having to shape his life around work.
What does an audit actually involve?
For someone who has never done mystery shopping before, Luca describes the process as fairly straightforward once you understand how it works. Auditors are either offered a batch of audits or can ask for one, and from there they are given a map showing where each location is. “You get a map showing where they are,” Luca says. “Then you check you’re familiar with it and plan your route.”
Planning is a key part of the job. Luca uses an app called Spoke to help organise his routes, entering postcodes and working out the most efficient way to complete his audits. Of course, things sometimes need adjusting. Some audits may need to be completed at a specific time, which means route planning is not just about distance, but also about timing. “You might need to make adjustments if you have an audit that needs to be done at a specific time,” Luca says.
Building confidence and useful skills
While Luca enjoys the flexibility and travel, he has also found that auditing has helped him develop practical skills. Attention to detail is a big part of the role, whether that means noticing name badges, checking Challenge 25 signage or making sure reports are accurate.
“It’s really helped my analytical skills,” Luca says. “Looking out for certain things like name badges and ensuring my audits are accurate allowed me to become more diligent, which is a great skill to have”.
The role has also helped him grow in confidence. Some audits involve speaking to managers or interacting with staff, and Luca sees that as valuable experience. “It’s helped with confidence in general,” he explains. “I think I have gained communication skills which can be used in so many different situations”.
For Luca, these are not just skills that matter for auditing. They are transferable skills that could be useful in many future roles. He mentions time management, meeting deadlines, planning routes and communicating clearly with Area Managers as all being part of the job. “Analytical skills are great for any job,” he says. “The time management skills that come with managing deadlines, planning routes for audits that need to be done at a certain time, and communicating with my area manager is great for my future career”.
Support from the Serve Legal team
Support is another part of the role that Luca was quick to highlight. Although auditors often work independently, Luca says he does not feel left on his own if he has a question or needs help.
“The support from the Serve Legal team is really great,” he says. “It’s instant support. If I had a question about a deadline or a process, I get a response pretty quickly.” That communication with Area Managers helps make the role feel manageable, especially when something is time-sensitive or an auditor is unsure about part of the process. For Luca, knowing that help is available when needed is one of the reasons the role feels supportive.
Luca’s advice for new auditors
For anyone thinking about becoming a mystery shopper with Serve Legal, Luca’s advice is simple: give it a go.
“Give it a go,” he says. “My biggest tip is familiarising yourself with the audits before going on your first batch. Take it at face value, don’t try to overthink anything.” He also recommends using planning software to save time when organising routes. “Try to use planning software,” he says. “It saves me a bunch of time.”
Luca’s experience shows that while the first audit may feel unfamiliar, the role becomes much easier once you understand the process, plan properly and ask questions when needed.
If you want to be like Luca and take part in this incredible opportunity, click the link below and sign up today!