Sales & marketing

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly
• specialist courses run by a professional body

College

You could do a college course, which may be useful when looking for a job. Courses include:

• Level 1 Certificate in Customer Service
• Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Working in Customer Service
• Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Marketing

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• search for courses|/find-a-course

Apprenticeship

You could apply for a place on an apprenticeship to get into this career. Examples include:

• Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Customer Service Specialist Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Multi-channel Marketer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Volunteering and work experience

Charities often recruit volunteers to help with market research activities. This could give you valuable experience for job applications. You can find opportunities on sites like Do It.

Direct application

You could apply directly for jobs. Experience in marketing, call centre operations or customer service may give you an advantage. Employers will be interested in your personality, your enthusiasm and your communication skills.

Other routes

You can do market research courses through The Market Research Society, which may help you get into this job.

More information

Career tips

Experience in sales or marketing could help you get into this career. For some roles it may be an advantage to be able to drive.

Further information

You'll find more advice about working in market research through The Market Research Society.

View all vacancies in this region

With experience, you could become a supervisor or area fieldwork manager. You could also become a research assistant in a market research agency or social research organisation.

Some market research interviewers choose to specialise in areas such as medical research. There may also be demand for interviewers who are fluent in other languages.