Wouldn’t You Like to Know?

Hi MoM. The year so far has flown by and the semester is almost at an end. With half the cohort about the finish their studies, some students about to graduate and the rest of us well into our degrees, it’s time to ask ourselves the dreaded question, ‘’What am I going to do with myself when I finish my degree?’’

There might be some of you who have already figured it out, but for the rest of you, have you ever thought of a career in research? Going into research to start your career, gives you time to find your ideal industry or figure out if you want to specialise. You might not be aware, but there is a shortage of skilled marketing researchers in Australia. It also might interest you to know that there are bountiful opportunities for those with the right drive.

I sat down University of Sydney’s distinguished researcher and lecturer, Stephen Jenke to ask why you should consider research as a career.

Who are the AMSRS?

The Australian Market & Social Research Society (AMSRS) offers students membership for a small fee of $15 for students and includes three free webinars. Besides allowing you to stay up to date to enhance employability, members gain access to an extensive professional network and great resources. 

So if you don’t know where you’re headed in life, look to AMSRS to help you choose the right career path for you. You can find all the building blocks of a great career, such as professional development opportunities, inspirational articles from industry gurus, and even job postings.

There is also a young researchers society for students that is ran differently to the formal side of the industry. What’s more, members have an access to free webinars on topical subjects for essential research skills that are relevant whether you are a professional or not.

What does it take to be a good researcher?

Good researchers need to always be out there searching and looking. Being aware is critical, that’s why it’s important to stay up to date, especially in business. If you aren’t interested, or possess a natural curiosity, don’t go into communication or marketing.

While marketing is part creativity and part strategy, understanding the neuroscience behind emotions, how the brain remembers and connecting latent interactions are the keys to effective marketing.

You must also be disciplined, like people and be willing to find a niche or a unique selling point. It’s important to build your personal brand and manage your profile to build credibility.

Why is it necessary to be up to date?

In marketing, you’ve got to be abreast of what is happening. These days society is constantly changing and there is a lot of disruption. Market researchers are often the cause of this disruption. Ask yourself, do you know how society is behaving, what the social context is and how it effects consumers responses to marketing campaigns? 

What does a researcher do?

On the supplier side there is a lot of variety. Researchers need to design the research materials and know how to talk to the right people. Contrary to what you might think, researchers don’t sit it an office or a library cut off from the world. In fact, they really need to be ‘people’ people, meaning that they must be interested in what people do and why they do what they do. 

If you are interested, then who do you talk to?

Would you like to know more? If you would like to go into research as a start into your career, you can visit the AMSRS website, go in person to student service or get in touch with Pennie Frow or Stephen Jenke.