How to become a market research analyst

To become a market research analyst you need to get the right education, gain an entry-level position, and obtain professional certifications. There are also many skills you need to develop and hone in this field.

Here are the steps to becoming a market research assistant:

• Get the right education. Most employers require at least a bachelor's degree for this role.

  You should seek to obtain a bachelor's degree in marketing. This helps you gain foundational knowledge in the field and learn about many topics, including:

  • Marketing principles

  • Macroeconomics

  • Consumer behavior patterns

  • Business communications

  Another option for potential market research analysts is to get a bachelor's degree in a social science field that relates to marketing, such as psychology or business administration. Degrees in these fields can help you to better understand consumer behavior and habits.

  And finally, you could also pursue a major in a more technical field, such as computer science or mathematics. The knowledge of data, statistics, and economics that comes with these degrees can be beneficial to this career choice.

  Also, if you want to get on the career track for a high-level role in marketing, you might also consider obtaining a related master's degree.

• Gain an entry-level position. Many market research analyst jobs are not entry-level roles.

  First, you need experience, so consider a marketing-related internship program or an entry-level role like account representative or marketing assistant.

  Internships provide a great opportunity to gain professional experience in the marketing field and help to build out your resume.

  Here are some other entry-level roles to consider:

  • Media assistant

  • Communications specialist

  • Social media coordinator

  • Account coordinator

  • Public relations coordinator

  • SEO specialist

  • Sales representative

  These roles represent great opportunities to break into the marketing field and gain the necessary experience and skills.

  Here are some of the key skills you should hone early on in your marketing career:

  • Communication

  • Critical thinking

  • Attention-to-detail

  • Creative

  • Computer skills

  • Organization

  Gaining an entry-level role or internship in marketing is crucial to developing the right skills and jump-starting your market research analyst career.

To obtain certifications in this field, you must first gain the required amount of professional experience.

One of the most common and useful certifications is the Professional Researcher Certification (PRC).

To gain this certification you must pass the Marketing Research Association (MRA) exam. You also must have worked in the marketing field for at least three years and have finished 12 hours of courses.