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Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Under the title Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, workers research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. One core duty is to prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text. Its interest code is ECI. Enterprising leads at 5.5 out of 7, so expect leading, persuading and making business decisions, with Conventional next at 4.6. Plan on a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience; O*NET labels this considerable preparation. Strength in writing, reading comprehension, and critical thinking helps most here. The job can ask you to seek and provide information to help companies determine their position in the marketplace. It tends to suit people who want leading, persuading and making business decisions, and it offers little for anyone seeking hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world.

What they do

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

Main tasks

  • Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
  • Seek and provide information to help companies determine their position in the marketplace.
  • Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
  • Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
  • Devise and evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires, or arrange to obtain existing data.
  • Gather data on competitors and analyze their prices, sales, and method of marketing and distribution.

Skills

  • Writing
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Judgment and Decision Making

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
  • You are comfortable relying on writing and reading comprehension.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather not persuade, sell or manage other people.
  • You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 1.1 out of 7 here.
  • You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ECI takes the three highest, and Enterprising comes first here.

Preparation

Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.

Also called

  • Business Development Specialist
  • Communications Consultant
  • Communications Specialist
  • Content Strategist
  • Market Analyst

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.