Do you work in market research?

Question

How do you like it? Is it easy to transfer in to from the advertising/marketing/comm field? What is the best way to break into the field? Are the hours long? What types of people have you worked with - in the office, not your client base?

Answer 1

I used to work in market research field. It really depends on what kind of research you are doing. For example, if you are doing market research for a retail chain..expect there to be longer hours during the holiday seasons..since you need to do data analysis on the products and trends. There are two main divisions of market research. Client side and supply side. In client side, you are focusing on your companies products. In supply side, you are focused on delivering reports to clients..which may vary by field. Many clients want things done on time at the end of the season..so its common to work long hours during December. However, it can be rewarding as well...I enjoy the data analysis and number crunching part of the job (different from the previous poster). I am trying to get back into the field right now.

Well, the main difference from marketing/advertising to market research is that there is an analysis side involved. If you enjoy doing some qualitative or quantitative analysis..working with data or surveys..then I think the transition should be fine. If not, it may not be the job for you. You should take some courses in SPSS, SAS, and SQL to improve your technical skills. These software programs are most commonly used.

The hours can be 40-60 hours a week..it really depends on the deadlines and schedule. I worked with engineers, product development, and coders.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Market research is a demanding field with very long hours at times - especially during the holiday season, depending on what kind of products you're dealing with. The number crunching is considered the worst part. But trying out new products before the public is the best part of the job. Be prepared to work in a matrix environment - many people don't adapt to that very well. With the right education and experience, the job won't be hard but expect a high stress level day after day. With some product releases, expect longer hours and weekend hours.