Pursuing a Career as a Market Research Analyst | Market research is one of the most valuable and essential roles of modern business. This industry now represents more than $73.4 billion in value as it helps companies streamline their processes for maximum success. Market research transforms raw data into useful insights, and you too can pursue this lucrative field for empowering career opportunities of your own.
But first, you’ll need to understand the demands of the job as well as what it takes to maximize your potential in the field. A career as a market research analyst can take you far. Use these tips and tricks to make pursuing such a career simple and effective.
Understand the Demands of the Job
Before anyone starts pursuing a market research career, they should understand exactly what these professionals do and why it matters. Market research has become a prominent field through its role in collating and analyzing data, techniques themselves made possible through advancing technology and broader wireless connectivity.
The increasingly connected digital world has led to the rise of big data. Market research analysts are the folks applying big data tools and evolved technology towards actionable business strategies. These analysts are professional researchers in charge of producing insights that might improve anything from pricing to marketing.
The demands of the job include:
- Gathering consumer opinion
- Identifying factors that affect customer behavior
- Recording and forecasting industry market conditions
- Measuring business success
- Communicating insights into narratives and graphics
If these tasks seem like what you want to do as a career, then a market research analyst position might be perfect for you. However, you’ll need to develop the proper skill set if you’re to maximize your career opportunities.
Hone Your Skills
Honing your skills is part of developing as a professional. Market researchers come with their own unique expertise, as they have to apply everything from statistical analytics to public speaking skills in the course of the job. Like with any kind of data analysis, the essential traits of this profession often include programming, mathematics, technology, and broader business acumen.
As you pursue a career in the market research field, you’ll need to develop yourself in three primary categories. These are:
- Data analysis techniques like descriptive and predictive analytics.
- Data collection methods like interviewing, surveying, and digital research.
- Communication skills such as interpersonal communication, human psychology, and data visualization.
You’ll apply all kinds of technology to assist you in these functions. Learning these tools and utilities now will help you cultivate the technical fluency you’ll need for a flexible career as a market research analyst.
But before you can apply your powerful new skills, you need to be able to showcase them in the application process. This requires perfecting your resume.
Perfect Your Resume
To become a successful market research analyst, you’ll need experience. Obtaining that experience is only possible through leveled-up job applications capable of impressing your prospective employers.
You may already be able to expertly predict risk-resistant opportunities in falling markets, for instance, but if your resume doesn’t show it, you’ll miss out on potentially life-changing job openings. Avoid this by perfecting your resume, tailoring your professional summary, work experience, and skills to the wording of the market research job description.
Then, supplement your perfected resume with materials like cover letters, references, and portfolios, all tailored to the job listing. This will be a vital step in your pursuit of a career in market research, so don’t underestimate the application stage.
From here, you’ll be ready to thrive as a research analyst, connecting businesses to insights and strategies that transform their outcomes. In this business, you have the power to build wealth across organizations, streamline business processes, and improve workplace scenarios across the board.
Start building your data and communication skills now to make a difference as an analyst.
