Market researcher : Career development

Tweet

More in this section

1. Job description
2. Salary and conditions
3. Entry requirements
4. Training
5. Career development
6. Employers and vacancy …
7. Related jobs

Print all pages in this section

Case studies

• Senior market researcher: Lisa

Featured advertisement

The Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing has a worldwide reputation for the quality and practical nature of its training and qualifications. Our services - for individual marketers and businesses - are in demand worldwide. Get training and qualifications from The Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing.

Generally career progression in market research can be relatively rapid, with many market researchers being given the opportunity to advance to a more senior post within two or three years of entry. Promotion is usually based on merit, professional qualifications gained, experience and specialism.

Progression often takes the following route:

• research executive;
• senior researcher;
• account director.

Responsibility for client contact, presentations, and project and team management increases with seniority, often with a corresponding decrease in the level of field work undertaken. If working client side, progression may mean moving to another organisation. Even with agencies departments are typically small, so progression may mean moving between agencies.

It is recommended that entrants gain a range of experience before specialising in order to enhance career development and/or job mobility later in their careers.

The rapid growth of international business and developments in information technology has created worldwide opportunities in this field. Market researchers with a good level of experience in their specialist area can progress to working as research practitioners, either independently or in partnership.