Surveys used to be a bit like telemarketing calls; disinterested pollsters would contact you at inconvenient times and rush through questions and even lead you along from time to time in how to best answer their question.

Today many surveys take place online with an offer to pay the participant for their time.

This idea seems a bit like free money to many who will flock to a paid survey site and fill out as many profiles as possible in order to gain their share of the paid survey market.

The problem is these well meaning and hard working individuals often do not hear back from the polling organizations.

These sites are barraged with an incredible number of applicants willing to take online surveys. Odds are not everyone will be allowed to participate.

Paid survey companies have the luxury of being able to pinpoint the specific type of subject they wish to invite to the survey. This means that profiles are sorted according to a very specific need and then a small handful in that group is allowed to participate.

It's sort of like finding that one perfect slice in a pie and then scratching your fork in the filling and the small bit left on the fork is representative of those who will be invited to the survey party.

You also have to understand that not every paid survey site will have continuous surveys for which members will be needed.

You might actually stand a better chance of being selected to participate in a television game show than to find consistent paid surveys to fill out.

It's safe to say that the original intent was simply to compensate those individuals who participated in the survey, but marketing experts fueled by the public perception that there may be regular funds available for survey takers has elevated the paid survey idea to the status of part time job when it was likely never intended to be that.

The frenzy for paid surveys has even resulted in sites that require payment to access links to sites that invite individuals to submit a profile for possible inclusion. Many will spend more on accessing the information than they are likely to receive in compensation for the time they may spend tracking down leads and participating in surveys.

What is probably most sad is that you do not have to pay to find sites that offer paid surveys. Simply visit your favorite search engine and search the term ‘Paid Survey'. Multiple pages will be available for you to peruse at your convenience and you can fill out any profiles that seem of interest to you. Then be prepared to wait because there is no guarantee you will ever be chosen to complete a survey.

Perhaps the best approach is to fill out the information and then return to normal life. Should there come a time when a paid survey opportunity is offered you can accept it in total surprise because you didn't spend countless hours refreshing your inbox to see if you had received a new offer.