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Market Research Executive

Do you want to become a Market Research Executive? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Market research executives make sure the right questions are asked of the right people, to ensure that research undertaken is effective. Market research is used by government, businesses and organisations to find the preferences of people they are dealing with.

There are two different research methods:

• quantitative research - investigates how many people do, buy or think something and is statistics based.
• qualitative research - investigates why some people do, buy or think something and is topic or problem based.

Market research executives usually work a 35 hour week, although on some jobs extra hours, evening and weekend work may be needed to meet deadlines. Most work is office based.

Salaries range from £17,000 for newly-qualified market research executives, to £45,000 or more for senior market research executives.

A market research executive should:

• have an analytical mind
• be well organised and able to work with data, statistics and computers where appropriate
• have strong communication skills and be positive in presenting proposals
• understand the different ways people think and behave
• have specialist knowledge of the types of work in which they are involved.

There are around 2,000 market research agencies, mostly based in London. Other employers of market research staff include manufacturing companies, large retailers, government departments and research institutes. Most market research executives hold a degree or higher national diploma. There is no upper age limit to enter the profession and some universities or colleges do not require the full entry requirements from adults with relevant work experience, eg a sales and marketing, statistics or economics background.

Most training is on the job and through short courses organised by professional organisations. These include the British Market Research Association and The Market Research Society, who also have membership schemes and can provide information on training and ongoing development.

Market research executives can progress quite quickly, eg to a senior research executive after around three years in the job. Most organisations then base further promotion on the merit of each person.

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