It’s a Long Way to the Top – building a research career in the 21st Century

Whether you’ve been around almost as long as AMSRS itself or are just starting, we feel you’ll find something worthwhile in Teri Nolan’s and my presentation on the first afternoon of the 2015 AMSRS Conference. With me looking back 30 years and Teri looking forward the same, we’re part of the “Passion of Research” session. We’ll look at….

Developments in three key areas have impacted the industry and career progression

1. Consumer markets (from mass markets to targeted one-on-one marketing)
2. Mass media (from single set households to ‘three screens per person’)
3. Data depth (from surveys of hundreds or thousands to Big Data, Internet of Things and The Quantified Self)

The researcher’s life in 2020 and beyond

1. Career expectations and changes in the workplace. Disruptions and uncertainty as opportunities
2. Varied experiences – Jack-of-all-trades, master of one, or a master of some? Work routines and ‘off the job’ learning
3. Specialists & Polymaths
4. Re-engineering & re-branding
5. More boutiques, specialty agencies, so more roles ‘at the top’ for those in research