2 days and counting

No it's not a line from the latest bond film - you have just two days left to take part part in our online survey.

If you haven't received an invite or reminder from the MRS, drop us a line at researchingacareer@gmail.com and we'll get a link to you.

The clock is ticking!

3 Days to go........

Yes, just 3 days left to take part in the quantitative survey about Researching a Career (survey closes Midnight Wednesday).

All MRS members should have received a link to the survey - if you haven't, drop us a line and we'll get one sorted for you.

Coming soon - our survey for all researchers

We are just in the process of finalising our online survey to go out throughout the research industry. If you are a signed up member of the MRS you'll be sent a link. If you aren't, you are still more than welcome to take part in the survey.

All you have to do is send us an email to our project hub at researchingacareer@gmail.com and we'll arrange for a link to be sent to you.

Thank you - The Researching a Career team

An attendee's view of our first session

Below is a short report from one of our attendees, Andy, who shares a few observations from his point of view.

The Elizabeth Normal International (ENI) and Chime Insight and Engagement (CIE) event was enjoyable on a number of accounts. Firstly I got to catch up with some people I’d not seen in a long time (research is a small world!), but secondly, the opportunity to be put into a mini research-workshop myself was very revealing!

From the discussions we had I think one thing that really shone through was that although nobody in research has a day structure quite the same as the next person, we all got frustrated by similar things. But what was perhaps more interesting was hearing about the different things that motivated people – for some it was all about seeing a job well done, for others seeing their work enacted upon, and for the likes of myself the social dynamic.

It was quite apparent as well, from a number of people, that market research is very much something you ‘fall into’. You may have a first class sociology degree when you leave Uni, but you don’t necessarily have a remote idea that the Market Research industry exists, let alone that you’ve got a degree that lends itself quite nicely! So Market Research ends up being the coolest job that no one ever seems to know about. There is something about that which enables you to feel quite self-satisfied and smug admittedly, but also I think we all learned that there was more effort needed for Market Research, as an industry, to branch out.

How would you promote the Market Research Industry

As part of our work on this project, we have been asking ourselves:-

How would you promote the Market Research Industry?

It would be great to hear what you think  - there is one catch, it's got to be 20 words or less!

Are you up to the challenge?

Use the comments box below to tell us what you think or tweet @mrxcareers

A moderator's view of our first event

What do you think happens when you put a bunch of young researchers in a room together?

If you’d have said “speed dating” or “deciding to embargo the term ‘market research’” or “designing an advert for the market research industry featuring none other than Chris Tarrant”, you’d be on the money.

Ok, so some pretty amazing things happened in that room of young researchers but it turns out, whether you’re a client-side or an agency-side researcher, specialising in qual, quant or a bit of both, you actually have a lot in common. Perhaps the most striking is young researchers’ bright-eyed eagerness to change the world. It’s one of the main reasons they were interested in research in the first place, and it’s one of the greatest sources of satisfaction in their work.

It’s about creating shockwaves, and jolting people in powerful positions into listening to the people that matter. Thy word/ethnographic video/crossbreak is thy weapon, and beware he who flies in the face of research…

Our bunch of young researchers also relish a challenge, which is fortunate really, as they see one of the greatest challenges to be overcome is the sheer lack of awareness or appreciation for the work that they do. Our young researchers don’t work all the hours God sends for the money alone (“what money?” some asked); they do it in the hope that the man on the street lives a happy, wholesome existence, but knows that it would not be so if there were not researchers out there looking out for him. 

Who else would be able to tell the powers that be that he needs to go to the doctor’s quite urgently but puts it off because he knows how much effort it will take to get an appointment; that he worries about sending his two children to university and doesn’t know what financial help is available; that his day would be so much easier if his mobile phone coverage actually allowed him to make telephone calls? 

To the man on the street, these improvements would happen as-if-by-magic.

He wouldn’t be far wrong.

Our first event

Last night we held our first event  - a great turnout and loads of really good input.

Here are a couple of photos – the Angels and Demons session seemed well received and the Diary Room was busy all night.

The pitch session involved the role of research in launching a new beer, a press advert featuring Chris Tarrant, the "Decision Tree" and finally a short and punchy radio advert.

Coming soon is our second event (16/10/13) for those in the industry with over 4 years experience (more details below in earlier post) as well as an online quantitative survey we’d like everyone in the research industry to take part in.

Subscribe to the blog to keep updated with the latest news.

Confirmed date for our second event

Good news - we now have the date for our 2nd project deliberative event.

So if you have over 4 years insight and/or research experience on either client or agency side (or both!) then you are more than welcome to come along to the event on Wednesday 16th October 2013.

It'll be a 6.30pm for a 7pm start at the MRS offices in London.

More details will be available nearer the time but for now all we need is for you to register your interest by emailing membership@mrs.org.uk with the following information:-

1. Your name
2. What’s the name of your employer?
3. What is your role/job title?
4. How do you define your role? (Choose a-d)
  a) Mainly qualitative
  b) Mainly quantitative
  c) A mix of all methodologies
  d) Operational research role

Nearer the time you'll be contacted by the project team and given more details.

Be great to see as many people from right across the industry getting involved.

Two events - lots of opportunity to get involved

Yes, whether you are under or over 30 years of age, you can still get involved in one of our deliberative events (details of events shown in our earlier blog posts). All you need to do is drop an email to membership@mrs.org.uk with the following information:-


1. Which event you'd like to attend?

2. What’s the name of your employer?

3. What is your role/job title?

4. How do you define your role? (Choose a-d)

  a) Mainly qualitative

  b) Mainly quantitative

  c) A mix of all methodologies

  d) Operational research role

Note for the under 30 event, we are closing the booking window at the close of play on the 19th , so you do need to get your email in fairly soon!

For the over 30 event, we have to still set a date but you can register your interest now via the above email address.

Go on, you know you want to!

Over 30's - here's how you can get involved...

We are keen to hear the views of everyone in the industry and so we are starting to look at arranging another event in early October - follow this link to see how you can get involved in this exciting project.

Confirmed - details of our first event - your chance to get involved

On Monday 23 September the first event will be held.  A mini deliberative event amongst those under 30 in our industry to get their views. There will be fun and interactive exercises including 'Speed Datingesque' and 'RIP Research', plenty of wine and food to go round, and a diary room to share your personal thoughts.  Date and time: Monday 23 September 6pm for drinks, event to run from 6.30pm until 9.30pm. Venue: MRS Training Suite 4th Floor 15 Northburgh Street  London EC1V 0JR If you or anyone you know under 30 in the industry would like to take part, register your interest by emailing membership@mrs.org.uk answering the three questions below: 1. What’s the name of your employer? 2. What is your role/job title? 3. How do you define your role? (Choose a-d)   a) Mainly qualitative   b) Mainly quantitative   c) A mix of all methodologies   d) Operational research role Please register your interest by Friday 13th September. You will then receive an email by 17 September to confirm your place at the event.

Welcome

ENI and Chime Insight & Engagement are exploring the relationship between the research and insight industry and the research/insight professionals that drive it, and we’d love to get your opinions.  

We have big questions we want to get your views on:

On the 23rd September 2013 at 6pm - 9pm we will be having our first event.  A mini deliberative event amongst the under 30’s in our industry to get their views on the landscape of employer options in our industry.

We're conducting this project in conjunction with the MRS and Rnet at the MRS offices in Northborough Street. 

Address:

Training Suite

Market Research Society

The Old Trading House

15 Northburgh Street

London

EC1V 0JR

For a map please click here

Would you or someone within your organisation be interested in coming along?   

If you aren’t under 30 don’t worry, we be giving everyone an opportunity, regardless of age to give us their views over the next few months. But we wanted to begin by getting the view from fresh talent into the industry.






If you wish to get involved, please register on our LinkedIn Group or follow us on Twitter at @ResearchCareer

If you have any questions about the event, please contact: caroline@cie.uk.com or liz.norman@elizabethnorman.com

We will keep the blog up to date with information from the study, and dates of future sessions – so you can participate even if you can't make it to the first event.

We'd also welcome your views and comments online so feel free to add comments to any of the articles that appear here. We'll be watching!