Which Non-Technical Skills Will Market Research Agencies Be Looking For In Your Next Job Interview?
1) Client Management – communication is an attribute that a market researcher needs for a number of reasons and client management is one of those. Are you going to engage and successfully manage the clients’ expectations? Have a think about difficult clients you’ve managed and relationships you have developed.
2) Problem Solving – the answer is rarely easy. Think about when you had to go the extra mile to find a solution.
3) Project Management – market research agencies are generally busy and employers are going to offer you a job they want to know that you can manage your time and resources properly. Have some examples to hand of difficult (but successful!) projects that you have managed, particularly ones where you have played a major part.
4) Curiosity – not only in terms of research but also new technologies and methodologies.
5) Creativity – not only in putting together research projects but also in delivering effective and engaging presentations. Can you tell the story?
6) Commercial Awareness – ultimately you will have to prove return on investment to the client and make commercially sound recommendations so evidence of this at interview will always go down well. The responsibility for this increases the more senior your job title.
7) Mentoring Abilities - whether it’s now or in the future, recruiting managers need to have staff that more junior employees can look up to. To do this you need to show good technical skills but also the people skills to engage, encourage and lead. Even if you are fairly junior, showing these personality attributes will show your potential as a future leader.
This list is by no means comprehensive and intentionally misses a couple of the more obvious points, but may give you something to think about before firing up your laptop and trying to dig out that old CV.
If you want to have a look at the questions I’m advising my clients to ask at interview why don’t you have a look at my previous blog here.
If you are thinking of moving jobs or would simply like to discuss your options for the future, please contact Matthew Finlay at Calibre Search in Leeds on 0113 234 6047 or drop me an email on matthew.finlay@calibresearch.co.uk I recruit to both client-side and agency within the market research industry at all levels.