Research Analyst as a career? All that you wanted to know

Consulting, banking and financial services are the top employment generators for research analysts, according to TimesJobs dataThe demand for research analysts has seen an average 2 per cent rise since January 2016. It saw an average 1 per cent rise in the last quarter of 2015, finds TimesJobs.com data.

Apeksha Kaushik, TimesJobs.com

Consulting services, banking and financial services has been the top employment generators for research analysts, accounting for nearly 52 per cent of the total job postings. IT software, BPO/ITeS, advertising and marketing organisations also have significant demand for research analysts.

Healthcare, pharma and automobile sectors have also seen an upward trend in demand for research analysts since December 2015, reveals TimesJobs.com data.

Many public sector undertakings are also vying for research analysts.

Nearly 75 per cent demand is at the middle level for professionals with 2-5 years of experience followed by entry-level candidates with 0-2 years of experience. The salary ranges between Rs 2-3.5 lakh per annum.

With growing opportunities and prospects of a successful career, Prof. Anshul Jain, assistant professor-finance, MDI Gurgaon, shares how one can venture into a research analyst role and make a beginning.

Know the ins and outs of a sector of your choice: Go for further education related to a chosen sector and develop more knowledge about its internal workings. Read trade journals and magazines regularly to be up to date.

Experience the field: Opt for fieldwork in your current role, be it sales, project management or business development. This will help you develop an innate understanding of your area of expertise.

Comfort with numbers and excel: Most business decisions depend on quantifying the various factors in a situation, which is a task which falls to the research analyst. This doesn’t mean becoming great at high school math, but proficiency at day to day math is required.

Ability to write well: Being able to express your ideas clearly in writing is essential to this role. Without this you will not be able to communicate your views on the sector.

Be on the lookout for opportunities: One must be on a lookout for opportunities across various sectors and be prepared to take advantage of them. Keep an updated CV ready at all times and be prepared to give an interview at short notice.

Source:Techgig