How I do get started in MR?
Email your questions about getting into, and getting on in, Market Research to careers@mrweb.com along with your name and we'll pass them to our two US careers MR experts: All rights reserved.

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Q.		Most of the ads that I see for research positions require at least a year of previous experience - how I do get started?
A.		Karen Morgan says: This is a tough one and always frustrating but there are ways to break through! Firstly, network, network, network. I would recommend joining associations such as the American Marketing Association. They have events at least once a month where you can learn about your industry and meet people in the community. Tap into any contacts you can. Recruiters won’t be able to assist you at this early stage as they are under the same constraints-their clients are also looking for candidates with previous experience. You are better off contacting potential employers directly and preferably through a personal referral. Generally, I would advise not applying online as you will rarely get a response and you will not know if your resume has reached the right person. Try to get names wherever you can, even if this means calling a company and asking to speak with the Research Director. Phil Reeve says: Apply directly to market research suppliers to get an entry level position. You can find a list of them at www.greenbook.org.