The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Graduate Scheme / Internship Programme
6-12 monthsSkills to master
- Basic survey programming, data cleaning in Excel, note-taking, understanding research briefs, foundational knowledge of GDPR.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers accurate work on time.
- Asks thoughtful, clarifying questions.
- Shows initiative in learning new tools and methodologies.
- Demonstrates a strong work ethic and attention to detail.
- 2
Data Entry / Junior Analyst in a different department
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Advanced Excel skills, basic data manipulation, understanding of data quality principles, clear communication of basic findings.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven track record of handling and cleaning large datasets accurately.
- Ability to identify and flag data inconsistencies.
- Strong organisational skills for managing data files.
- Expressed a clear interest in moving into market/product research.
- 3
Marketing Assistant with Research Exposure
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding of marketing campaigns, basic customer segmentation, experience with CRM data, exposure to market trends.
You're ready to move on when
- Demonstrated curiosity about customer behaviour and market drivers.
- Experience supporting small research projects or data requests.
- Ability to translate marketing questions into data needs.
- Proactive in seeking out research-related tasks.


