Why Most Market Research CVs Fail
The vast majority of market research CVs are a chronological list of job titles, responsibilities and educational qualifications. They describe what the candidate did — but say almost nothing about the impact they delivered. Hiring managers are not looking for a job description. They are looking for evidence of value.
The Structure That Works
1. Professional Summary (3–4 lines): Start with a crisp, confident summary of who you are, your specialisation and your career level. Avoid clichés like "results-driven professional" — be specific. "Quantitative research specialist with eight years of brand tracking and segmentation experience across FMCG and financial services" tells a story.
2. Core Competencies: A concise skills section that lists your methodological expertise, software proficiency and industry knowledge. This is keyword-rich and scannable — critical for both human readers and ATS systems.
3. Professional Experience (achievement-focused): Each role should lead with the most impressive, quantifiable achievements rather than generic responsibilities. "Managed a portfolio of twelve client accounts worth £2.4m" is infinitely more powerful than "Responsible for client management."
4. Education and Certifications: List your degree and any relevant certifications prominently. IIPMR, MRS and CAIP credentials should be clearly highlighted.
The Keywords That MR Recruiters Search For
Ensure your CV includes relevant methodological terms: CATI, CAPI, online surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, brand tracking, conjoint analysis, MaxDiff, NPS, segmentation, TURF analysis. Also include software: SPSS, Q, Dimensions, Confirmit, Qualtrics, Decipher.
One Final Rule
Keep it to two pages maximum. Any longer and the most important information gets buried. Any shorter and you risk appearing inexperienced. Two pages, well-structured, achievement-focused and keyword-rich — that is the formula that gets market research CVs to the top of the pile.