How to Become a Research Analyst

Jobs like data analysts are growing more and more prominent as the study of data science is becoming more relevant. research analyst is an example of related employment. But, first and foremost, what is this position? What is the relationship between this role and data? More importantly, how to become an Analyst once you’ve made up your mind? In this blog, we will discuss the steps to understand how to become a research analyst, the skills required, and more!

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Who is a Research Analyst?

An analyst is in charge of gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data on markets, operations, finance/accounting, economics, customers, and other topics relevant to their area. A research analyst is usually very quantitative, analytical, logical, and skilled with numbers and data management.

What Does a Research Analyst do?

Research analysts can be found in almost every area, though some, such as the financial services business, are more common than others. They can be found in various departments and with a variety of job titles inside a firm. For example, if you work as a Financial Analyst for a financial firm like JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs, your job description might include doing economic analysis and developing models depending on market conditions. If, on the other hand, you choose to work as a Market Analyst for PepsiCo, you will be examining their consumer market and products to determine what the market wants and what the customer wants.

Read: How to Become a Business Analyst?

How does a Research Analyst Work?

The majority of analysts are office-based full-timers. There is little travel involved with this desk job. A research analyst might operate independently or as part of a team because the job is diverse. You work throughout regular business hours and occasionally thereafter to manage workloads and fulfill deadlines. Typically, you could work for financial institutions or a company’s finance division.

Types of Research Analysts

There are research analysts in almost every area, although some, like the financial services industry, use them more frequently than others. They may be found in many departments within a corporation, holding a variety of different job titles. The most common research analyst job titles are:

• Market Research Analyst (Marketing)
• Operations Research Analyst
• Economic Research analyst
• Financial Analyst
• Equity Research Analyst

How to Become a Research Analyst?

There are no clear-cut steps to answer your query about how to become a Research Analyst, as there are in many other aspects of life. Many people who work in this field come from a variety of disciplines, including computer science, finance, business, and even psychology. 

In other words, anything you’re doing now can always lead to this position. All you need is the specific skill set required, and you’ll be able to land your first job and start building a career. However, many have a Bachelor’s degree, and a Master’s degree is much more advantageous. Here are the main four steps to follow:

1. Education

If you are puzzled about how to become an analyst then start by getting the proper education. Obtaining a university education is the most straightforward way to demonstrate to potential employers that you are knowledgeable in this profession. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any of the subjects relevant to becoming a research analyst, such as Data Science, Finance, Computer Science, Business, and so on, is required. This degree will assist you in gaining the necessary data analysis skills. Statistical analysis, Python or R programming, data wrangling, data visualization, machine learning, accounting, and financial analysis are just a few of these skills.

2. Certifications

Many research analysts complete additional professional certifications after completing their undergraduate studies. There’s a reason why research analysts account for such a large percentage of CFA charterholders. The expertise you gain as a CFA charter holder is essential for conducting research analyst tasks daily. Others who want to be research analysts prefer to get their MBA.

Earning more qualifications will benefit you in two ways, regardless of the path you take. It will, first and foremost, improve your knowledge, skills, and capacities. Second, additional certificates show potential employers that you can take on and overcome challenging tasks and that you are committed to investing time and money in your professional development.

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3. Internships

It’s difficult to go straight from university to your dream job. That’s where an internship comes in, as it may give you valuable industry experience while you’re still a student and help you prepare for positions after graduation. Your university’s career listings and internship opportunities are excellent places to start looking for internships.

You can also use LinkedIn to build a professional network and expand your connections. You may not have any work experience at first, but your strong grades and exceptional projects can pave the road for that ideal internship and eventually a career.

4. Work as a Research Analyst 

By now, you must have realized the initial steps of how to become a research analyst; now is the time for the last and the most crucial step. Once you get a job in this field, your path is over, and you can only go up from there! An excellent internship experience, exciting assignments, and topic expertise all help you land a decent career in the sector.

It’s also crucial to remember that the first thing a hiring manager will see is your resume, so make it as impressive as possible. Hiring managers will also look at your LinkedIn profile, which acts as a digital resume, so make sure it’s up to date.

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Skills Required

To be effective in the field of research analysis, you must possess several crucial skills. While everyone is different and anyone can be a good analyst, there are key talents and characteristics that nearly all RAs have in common.

The following are the most common research analyst talents and personality traits:

• Number-crunching pro
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Curious
• Logical
• Organized

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Research Analyst Jobs

Jobs Sectors

Analysts are hired by a wide range of industries and businesses to conduct research. The following are some of the most prevalent types of businesses:

• Governments
• Consulting firms
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Insurance companies
• Banks
• Health Care providers

Top Companies

• Deloitte
• JP Morgan
• PepsiCo
• Goldman Sachs
• IBM
• Nielsen
• Futures First
• Beroe Inc
• Mordor Intelligence
• iResearch Services
• Google
• Boston Consulting Group
• Mckinsey and Company
• Flipkart
• Henkel

Average Salary of a Research Analyst

An average research analyst makes $2,63,551 per year. The organization, experience, credentials, skills, and area of employment can all have an impact on the salary. The highest paying sectors for research analysts frequently include the banking and financial sector, healthcare organisations, pharmaceutical firms, manufacturing facilities, and even information technology (IT) corporations. The average income for a research analyst in India is 4,48,345 INR, according to Glassdoor. These numbers are not exact; your payments may vary depending on your experience, job duties, and the employer you work for.

Why Getting a Job as a Research Analyst is Sometimes a New beginning?

• Your path to becoming a Research Analyst may seem to be complete after you land a position, but it is only the beginning, and you must continue to grow over time. This job requires dealing with constantly changing data, so you must be adaptable.

• In this professional path, you should be a lifelong learner who keeps an eye on new technological breakthroughs, changes in your company’s performance, market economic situations, and so on.

• Learning the tools and programming languages, you must also have a curious attitude that is focused on exploring the data and discovering new patterns that may not be obvious at first.

Becoming a Research Analyst is a great chance since this field is in high demand. From 2018 to 2028, it is predicted to expand by over 20%, resulting in thousands of new job openings.

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This was all about how to become a Research Analyst! Are you planning to start your career in Market Research but are unsure about the right college and the right course? Then, connect with Leverage Edu, our trained experts will guide you in selecting the right college and course as per your fit. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute consultation.