27 Aug How to Build a Career in Research
As August ends and autumn approaches, companies, and schools across the country are preparing for a return to business as usual.
Now two years out from the initial disruption of the pandemic, many workplaces are seeing a return to “pre-pandemic” routines like mandated in-person work and school programs. With a slow return to life as we used to know it, combined with a significant drop in national unemployment and an employee-friendly hiring market, it seems like a promising time to be a young professional beginning a career in research.
Equally promising is the wave of recent interest and growth in UX research. Life in quarantine spurred innovation in tech and media design that opened new possibilities of inquiry and investigation for UX research. With the research market evolving rapidly, it is worth considering – what makes a good researcher? And how can young researchers pursue a career in UX research?
Each research team may be looking for something a little different, and there are countless different ways to pursue a career in research. But whether you are interested in statistical analytics or immersive ethnography, these four tips may help you hone your targets in the job hunt.
1. Identify your skills
Whether a researcher has a background in humanities, social sciences, or STEM, all researchers possess a unique set of skills and a wealth of knowledge that they will contribute to a research team. Consider what sets of knowledge you have acquired throughout your academic and professional career. Everything you have experienced, whether it was an intensive graduate program, unpaid internship, part-time job, or one-off volunteer opportunity, has given you a unique perspective that you can leverage and apply to your research process. Do not sell yourself short for having a resume that may not match those around you – all experience is good experience, even those that may seem like they aren’t directly relevant to your field.
The emotional intelligence and consumer familiarity acquired from working years in customer service can be just as useful in a research setting as academic expertise acquired in a Ph.D. program. The best researchers know how to recognize value and insight from the everyday life experiences of not just others, but themselves as well.
2. Identify your passions.
Pursuing a career in research means you are pursuing a career in endless exploration. Every economic sector, nonprofit, and government branch needs research to function and grow. When considering a career in research, remember that the opportunities for research are endless – so you should make sure you apply for jobs in an area that truly speaks to you and your passion. Identify what social issues, industry sectors, or creative interests are most important to you. Chances are, there’s a company within that sector that needs research.
3. Identify your potential for growth.
Career building is an ongoing, dynamic process with many small decisions along the way that contribute to what will become your overall lived experience. When looking for a career in research, ask yourself in what ways you would like to grow. Do you want to work alongside designers to create and perfect ideas at one particular company? Or do you want to be on the research vendor side, leading many different projects across a variety of industries? The research positions you seek out should not just reflect your interests, but also offer an opportunity for your growth as a researcher. The types of routines, co-workers, and topics that stimulate you the most may be indicative of what industries and work settings would be the best fit. Be curious, and reach out to industry professionals who could offer insight. Considering how you think you may contribute to a team and the ways in which you could grow within it is essential.
4. Market yourself!
You may have noticed the last three steps were all about reflection. While you may not need to know exactly what you want to do in research, you do need to have a deep understanding of yourself and who you are. Hiring is a two-way experience – employees and employers need to have a significant understanding of who they are and their potential contribution to the other. In pushing yourself to identify who you are and what you bring to the table, you are practicing articulating those qualities. Self-expression is half the battle in job hunting, so be vocal! Share what makes you unique as a researcher, what research philosophies speak to you the most, and why you see value in gathering and sharing knowledge.
As the research industry blossoms alongside a recovering economy, know that the possibilities for growth as a researcher have never been more expansive and exciting. In using these tips to reflect and grow, we hope that your journey in research remains expansive and exciting as well.
Charlotte Beatty is a User Experience Researcher at Fluent, where she specializes in qualitative research design, implementation, and analysis.