What they do all day? A market research analyst might test a TV show for the entertainment industry one day and interview health care professionals about a new medication the next. To gain insight into consumer behavior, analysts may do anything from running small focus groups to reviewing masses of data from large surveys.

How to get the job? Social research and statistics skills are good to have in the tool belt. The ability to think outside the box is valuable as well.

What's great? What's not? Jumping from project to project, research analysts gain deep knowledge in many industries. But sometimes they meet resistance from people who are protective of their privacy and don't want their data collected. --G.W.

What they do all day? A market research analyst might test a TV show for the entertainment industry one day and interview health care professionals about a new medication the next. To gain insight into consumer behavior, analysts may do anything from running small focus groups to reviewing masses of data from large surveys. --G.W.