As part of the 2016 researcher salary survey, Quirk’s looked at the state of the industry from the perspective of the unemployed. While optimism continues to hold steady within the marketing research industry, there are still those who dealing with the frustrations of pounding the pavement in today’s MR job market.
From downsizing departments to shifting budgets, the survey points to a surplus of unemployed, highly-experienced researchers. Forty-one percent reported being a college graduate; 51 percent a master’s program graduate and 8 percent hold a Ph.D. Twenty-two percent hold a professional or industry certification related to marketing research (RIVA, PRC, Burke Institute, etc.).
The survey’s most thought-provoking (and colorful) findings are – unsurprisingly – from respondents’ answers to the open-ended question, “What do you think is the greatest difficulty in finding employment?” Respondents reported everything from poor recruitment techniques to economic uncertainty:
“The process is broken. You have HR people who don't understand the discipline they are recruiting for and yet they control whether or not you proceed in the process.”
“Getting access to the companies that are in need of my specific qualifications. Sometimes it's the company’s technology that is not getting me to face-to-face contact. I have found truth in my statement by submitting a paper application rather than an online application.”
“Age and assumptions about the knowledge you have or don't have accordingly. I also specialize in ethnographic research which is too often viewed as too expensive by prospective clients.”
“I did not move around so I have extensive research expertise but narrow industry expertise. At this stage of my career, broader skills are expected. I stayed too long in one place.”
“Working experience period. Most marketing vacancies ask for more than 5 years of working ‘experience.’”
“Too much emphasis on tactical and too little on strategic … U.K. uncertainty around the vote to leave the EU is suppressing recruitment.”
Of those surveyed who said they were unemployed, 62 percent were 46 years of age or older (Figure 1). Respondents reported that ageism is still rampant in the industry, along with the difficulties of being labeled as “overqualified” by potential employers:
“I am over 60 years old. I might as well be a leper.”
“Being a senior researcher with more than 15 years of experience competing against younger people with less experience with companies not willing to pay a high salary.”
“Ageism and the general societal perception of youth that someone in their early 50s does not know tech. I have been in tech the majority of my career ... but doesn't help in the bias against me of age, often described in interviews as ‘not a good cultural fit.’ In other words, you are not in your 20s, don't drink beer with us in the office and don't use Tinder for dating ... ugh!”
“Age discrimination. Employers want cheap young employees.”
While 79 percent of unemployed respondents reported that they are expanding the job search outside of the marketing research industry, a few are still holding out hope for a MR-related position:
“The big factor is age; I'm 72. To boost my skills and marketability, (I’ve) taken a research-based, European MBA.”
“Zero difficulties. In pharma, recruiters call you back within 24 hours.”
“Just reaching out to my network and filling out applications. It's just a different muscle to exercise :)”
The marketing research salary and compensation survey was conducted online from April 26 to May 26, 2016, among Quirk’s subscribers. For complete survey results and information on methodology, visit quirks.com/tools/salary-survey.