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Market research executives are responsible for planning, coordinating and administering market research projects.

Market research helps to identify what people do, think, buy or believe and why. It is used for new product testing, assessing customer preferences, evaluating competition and monitoring staff or customer satisfaction.

Market research executives are responsible for:

• consulting clients about project requirements and objectives

• designing research methods such as interviews and questionnaires

• carrying out qualitative or quantitative research

• agreeing timescales and budgets

• supervising staff

• monitoring work progress

• writing reports, including client recommendations

• analysing, translating and presenting results

• advising clients on how they can best make use of results

The work offers high levels of responsibility and excellent opportunities for promotion into senior managerial positions.

Qualifications and training required

There are routes into this profession for university graduates and school leavers.

Any degree discipline is acceptable for entry into the profession, although some employers prefer subjects that include the study of statistics. A number of institutions offer specialist postgraduate marketing qualifications, which can be advantageous. Some jobs, particularly those in industrial market research, necessitate a scientific or technical background.

Key skills for market research executives

• Commercial awareness

• Excellent analytical skills

• Organisational skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Numerical skills

• Verbal communication skills.

Typical employers of market research executives

• Market research agencies

• Management consultants

• Government departments

• Advertising agencies

• Commercial organisations

• Manufacturers