Market research executives help clients find out about people's views on consumer products or political and social issues.
£20,000 - £36,000
37 to 39 a week (between 8am and 6pm)
You'll need:
You can get into this job through:
The type of subjects you can study depends on whether you're interested in quantitative or qualitative research. Quantitative research involves collecting numbers and facts. Qualitative research is about gathering impressions, opinions and views.
For quantitative market research work, you may find it useful to get a degree in:
For qualitative jobs, you may find it helpful to have a degree in:
Degrees in English or marketing are usually useful. A science or engineering subject may help for some specialist industrial jobs.
You'll usually need:
You could do a college course which would teach you some of the skills you need in this job. Relevant courses include:
You'll usually need:
You could do a Market Research Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, or a Social Researcher Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
These can take from 1 year and 6 months to 3 years and 6 months to complete.
You'll usually need:
You could work as a market research assistant or interviewer without a degree. You’ll still need to be very good at:
You could also start as a research assistant in an agency and get promoted to executive or account manager as your experience grows. You’ll usually be expected to take further qualifications.
You could get your first job as a market research executive through a graduate training scheme. Some larger employers run training schemes for new recruits.
You could also do specialist courses through professional bodies, like The Market Research Society.
You may be able to get a paid internship with a company where you're given a project to complete. This will allow you to develop your skills and show an employer what you’re able to do.
Being able to speak different languages could be an advantage for international work.
Whatever your qualifications, you’ll find it useful to have experience in:
You can find out more about market research careers from The Market Research Society.
In your day-to-day duties you may:
You could work in an office or at a client's business.
Company secretaries make sure that directors follow company law and finance rules.
Money advisers help people whose debts have become too large or difficult for them to handle.
Paraplanners help financial advisers with technical and administrative tasks.
Insurance underwriters decide whether to insure a person or company, and set out the details of insurance policies.
Revenues and benefits officers work for local councils and deal with housing benefits, rents, council tax and business rates.
Credit managers control the amount of finance offered by their company and manage the debts owed to it.
