Market research executive

Career path and progression

You could move into people or project management, or become a self-employed market research consultant.

You could also work in advertising or marketing promotions.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• analytical thinking skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths knowledge
• the ability to use your initiative
• customer service skills
• excellent written communication skills
• business management skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Mathematics - Market research executives work with numbers constantly – calculating sample sizes, analysing survey data, and interpreting statistical results to spot meaningful trends. Quantitative research relies heavily on percentages, averages, and statistical significance to turn raw data into useful insights for clients.
• Business - Market research executives work closely with businesses to understand their goals, manage project budgets, and advise on strategy based on research findings. Understanding how companies operate, compete, and make decisions helps them design research that answers the right questions.
• Psychology - Market research executives need to understand why people think, feel, and behave the way they do – especially when designing qualitative research like focus groups and in-depth interviews. Knowledge of cognitive biases, motivation, and decision-making helps them design better questions and interpret responses more accurately.
• Sociology - Market research executives study how different social groups – defined by age, income, culture, or location – hold different views and behave in different ways. Understanding social structures, identity, and group behaviour helps them segment audiences and make sense of patterns in survey data.

Also relevant

• Economics - Market research executives often investigate consumer spending habits, pricing sensitivity, and market trends that are rooted in economic principles. Understanding supply and demand, consumer choice, and how economic conditions affect behaviour helps them interpret research in a business context.
• English Language - Market research executives write detailed research proposals, design clear questionnaires, and present findings in reports that clients can act on. Crafting precise, unbiased questions and communicating complex results in plain language are essential parts of the job.
• Geography - Market research executives often analyse data by region, looking at how location, demographics, and local conditions affect consumer attitudes. Skills in gathering and interpreting spatial and population data – common in geography – translate directly into this kind of research work.
• Modern Foreign Languages - Market research executives who work on international projects may need to design surveys for different countries or interpret findings across cultures. Speaking other languages is a real advantage when coordinating research teams abroad or understanding nuances in translated responses.
• Computer Science - Market research executives increasingly work with large datasets, online survey platforms, and data analysis tools that benefit from an understanding of how data is structured and processed. Some roles involve scripting surveys, automating data cleaning, or working with databases to manage complex research projects.