What does a market research consultant do?
A market research consultant specializes in developing and recommending strategies to optimize a company's marketing operations. They perform extensive market research and analysis, gather and analyze client feedback, spearhead surveys and studies to determine how the current marketing projects affect the consumers, and develop social media techniques to raise brand awareness and public interest. Using their research findings, a market research consultant develops conclusions and recommendations that adhere to the company's goals. Moreover, there are instances when a market research consultant participates in planning and creating marketing programs and materials.
Market research consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real market research consultant resumes:
- Manage existing client relationships and provide support during origination process which improve overall customer relations.
- Develop and enhance existing SQL queries to complete business processes.
- Deliver the results in interactive PowerPoint presentations and 'leave behind' custom reports.
- Extract data from existing data stores using data query technology (SQL).
- Study and assess first hand responses towards Facebook posts conduct by businesses and organizations (ex.
- Pull, manipulate and interpret large amounts of data via SPSS and provide meaningful and actionable analysis and reports.
- Used statistical tools like SPSS and MATLAB to analyze sales patterns and suggest necessary changes to company's advertising model.
- Perform ad-hoc tasks for ongoing projects as contracted, including creation of PowerPoint presentations, data checking, and general quality control
- Develop understanding of SEO practice and methodology- including architectural and design competencies, content, and off-page lining and promotion understanding.
- Retrieve and analyze historical data using SAS.
- Perform lead generation, account management incorporating calyx software and conduct research using sas software.
- Develop understanding of SEO practice and methodology- including architectural and design competencies, content, and off-page lining and promotion understanding.
Market research consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Market Research Consultants are proficient in Client Facing, Risk Management, and PowerPoint. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Market Research Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Client Facing, 17%
Conduct quantitative research through custom-designed client facing and customer-facing surveys and diagnostics.
- Risk Management, 7%
Served as a consultant providing risk management and credit analysis for domestic and international clients.
- PowerPoint, 6%
Structured financial data output in Excel for use in Steering Committee PowerPoint decks.
- Project Management, 5%
Delivered project management tools and enhanced client's project delivery capability in enterprise technology unit.
- Financial Services, 4%
Market Research Specialist Inside Account Rep Managed business-to-business and consumer research studies for a leading financial services company.
- Data Analysis, 4%
Performed a co-leading role in telephone interview moderation, data analysis and final report development for 7 research initiatives.
Common skills that a market research consultant uses to do their job include "client facing," "risk management," and "powerpoint." You can find details on the most important market research consultant responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a market research consultant to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "market research analysts must evaluate large amounts of data and information related to market conditions." Additionally, a market research consultant resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "performed in-depth analysis to respond to clients' market risk related inquiries. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling market research consultant duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "market research analysts must be able to clearly convey information when gathering material, interpreting data, and presenting results to clients." According to a market research consultant resume, here's how market research consultants can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "enhanced communication through computer-assisted telephone interviewing (cati) which improves performance and quality in market research data collection. "
Detail oriented. market research consultants are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to market research consultant responsibilities, because "market research analysts must pay attention to minutiae to evaluate data." A market research consultant resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "performed statistical analysis and created comprehensive reports detailing research findings and recommendations. "
The three companies that hire the most market research consultants are:
- Sedgwick LLP52 market research consultants jobs
- U.S. Bank6 market research consultants jobs
- Accenture4 market research consultants jobs
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Market research consultant vs. Research director
Research Directors oversee the research initiatives of the company. They are usually deployed in the academe, research facilities, or companies with research and development departments. They set research goals aligned with the company's vision. They also ensure that all research activities are significant and would have an impact. They usually aim to complete research work that would contribute to the advancement of their field. Research Directors provide strategic direction on how to complete their research goals. They guide their team of researchers to work more efficiently and more productively. They also lead the team in networking activities.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, market research consultant responsibilities require skills like "pricing strategy," "risk management," "emerging technologies," and "capital markets." Meanwhile a typical research director has skills in areas such as "research projects," "patients," "research studies," and "research initiatives." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Research directors tend to reach similar levels of education than market research consultants. In fact, research directors are 3.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 9.7% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Market research consultant vs. Research leader
Research Leaders are academicians who oversee a group of researchers conducting a study. They are usually well-known researchers in their field of study or area of interest. They manage the group throughout the whole research process. They may orient them at the start of the engagement to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Research Leaders direct the group in identifying the resources needed, finding these resources, and eventually managing them. They also guide the team in conducting the research properly by providing strategic direction, sharing techniques, and helping them analyze the gathered data. With their experience in the field, Research Leaders usually provide frameworks that the team may work within.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that market research consultant responsibilities requires skills like "client facing," "pricing strategy," "risk management," and "project management." But a research leader might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "python," "human centered design," "research methods," and "user experience."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Research leaders tend to reach lower levels of education than market research consultants. In fact, they're 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 9.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Market research consultant vs. Research manager
A Research Manager performs research, data collection, and economic, statistical, and demographic analysis. They also determine and implement research and development strategies, policies, and plans.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a market research consultant is likely to be skilled in "risk management," "financial services," "capital markets," and "crm," while a typical research manager is skilled in "analytics," "patients," "research studies," and "facebook."
Research managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to market research consultants. Specifically, they're 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Market research consultant vs. Consultant
Consultants are individuals who were tapped by a company or an organization to work on a specific activity, depending on their field of expertise. They act as guides for the organization in undertaking projects that are related to their field. Consultants would usually assist organizations in planning, often giving advice when the need arises. They would, at times, take the lead in activities that involve data gathering and interpretation of data gathering results so that they can provide solid recommendations on actions that the organization may undertake. They may also guide the organization in implementing any changes brought about by their consultancy and in evaluating the effectiveness of the changes.
Types of market research consultant
Updated January 8, 2025











