I hear this question whenever I mention my current role in Mercor. At first, I was surprized that people thought Mercor was a scam. The more I think about it, the better I understood the reason. Short answer: No, it is not!
How does Mercor work?
On Mercor, there are many job ads like generalist, biology expert, and law expert. The role description differs, but the main job is to evaluate the AI outputs. The companies train AI models for specific aims, and the output should be evaluated to give feedback and make the model better. Mercor finds experts who can evaluate them with concrete reasoning. Although there are location-specific roles, the most of the positions are remote.
To start working on Mercor, you create an account on Mercor first. Then, you need to upload your resume so that the algorithm gets to know you. Then, you should complete at least the domain interview to apply for positions. Here, it is getting suspicious for many people: the interviewer is an AI. Even more disturbingly, you have to open your camera and share your screen.
Applying for a job
If you are comfortable doing an interview with an AI, I would encourage you to go for it. The platform ensures that your interview will not be used for AI training and shared with third parties – except the hiring manager.
Should we believe them about the data privacy? Well, all of us are getting more and more skeptical about the digital world. So, I would not expect a huge scandal around it. However, it is your call to trust or not trust the platform. I did it. I did not regret it.
You should not do much after the interview to apply for a position. You can search the open positions on the Explore tab and apply for a suitable position with one click. One interview is enough for each application. Well… It depends on the role.
Strength of Mercor – Your Interview Library
There are a bunch of interviews on Mercor, and I see new types of interviews added frequently. For example, if you have a background in computer science, you can take the “Code Review Session” interview. Just take it; it won’t hurt. You’ll gain more experience with AI interviews in the worst case. Your interview will be saved, and you can apply for software engineer and computational biology roles with the same interview.
If you spend some time and take all the interviews on a topic you can talk about, it will pay back. It is not only useful for a faster application process but also increases your chance of getting an instant offer from the platform.
Do they really pay?
Yes, why not? I have to confess, I still don’t get this question. People think that the hourly rate is so high and there must be a catch. The catch is that the investors will make an enormous amount of money when they have an AI system that works smoothly. So, they pay us to create this system. In a way, it is similar to low-wage workers on the frontline but more prestigious. Also, the amount of investment is huge.
I work every week from Saturday to Friday. Then, they release the money on Wednesday of the following week. Although they say it may take up to 3-5 workdays, I receive the money on Thursday or Friday of the following week – so, one or two days after the release.
Tell me something bad about Mercor
To be honest, it is a bit annoying when there is no work at all. The workload is not stable. When there is work to do, you need to be online and do it. Otherwise, it won’t wait for you. You cannot plan around your work schedule because there is no schedule at all. I don’t know all the projects, but it is the case for the one I work on. If you want employment with fixed working hours and a fixed salary, this is not it.
On the other hand, most freelancers should be familiar with the fluctuations in work availability. Some weeks the work is good, some weeks you stand idle. I recommend having a proper job or other freelance jobs/clients alongside Mercor. Then, working on Mercor will be fun!
Do you want to see the opportunities? You can register and glance over the platform in a few steps. Let me know about your experience!