Starting a new career can be both exciting and overwhelming – especially when you’re diving into a field as varied and fast-paced as market research.
In this blog, Millie Holliday, one of our apprentices here at STRAT7 Researchbods, reflects on her journey so far. From unexpected skills to honest insights about learning curves and imposter syndrome, she shares the five key things she wishes she’d known before getting started.
Whether you’re considering a market research apprenticeship or supporting someone who is, we hope Millie’s experience helps shed light on what it’s really like.
Things I wish I knew before starting my market research apprenticeship
When I started my market research apprenticeship, I had a vague idea that it involved data and asking people questions. That was…technically true. But what I didn’t realise was how much more there was to it.
So, in the hope of helping out a few future apprentices, here are 5 things I wish I knew before starting my market research apprenticeship.
1. It’s not just spreadsheets and surveys
While I have become well acquainted with Excel over the past year, research is just as much about people as it is about numbers. Whether you’re running focus groups or analysing survey data, you’re digging into human behaviour, opinions and motivations.
And no two days are ever the same. One week I was packing 400 bags of sweets for a taste test; the next, I was deep in a discussion room thread about people’s opinions on loo roll. Now that’s variety.
2. You’re not expected to know everything
3. Storytelling is the real skill
Whether you’re pulling together survey stats or summarising qualitative themes, what really matters is how you communicate your findings. You can have brilliant insights, but if you can’t tell the story effectively, they can easily fall flat. Clients rarely want a data dump – they want to understand the why behind it. Bringing insights to life is a skill and it’s not one you master overnight.
4. Feeling clueless? Totally normal
Imposter syndrome is real, especially in the early days when everything feels new and everyone else seems to know exactly what they are doing. Throughout my apprenticeship, I’ve learnt that even the most experienced people have days of uncertainty. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask for help and remind yourself that you are learning something new every single day.
5. It’s a marathon, not a sprint
An apprenticeship is all about learning and growing in a completely new environment. Sometimes that’s tough but you don’t have to do it alone. Having a team around that supports you makes all the difference and I’ve been so grateful to have that at Researchbods. From patient explanations to genuine words of encouragement, they’ve helped at every step of this journey.
Why apprenticeships matter at Researchbods
Since the MRS Research Executive Apprenticeship launched in 2022, we’ve been proud to be early adopters of the scheme. So far, we’ve welcomed three apprentices and recruited two additional team members through apprenticeship recruitment days – five brilliant people in total who’ve joined us via this route.
Investing in apprenticeships is a vital part of our commitment to attracting more diverse talent. They’re an excellent way to widen our talent pool and open up new pathways into the industry -bringing us fresh perspectives, energy and ideas that challenge us to keep growing.
“There are very practical reasons to adopt the MRS Apprenticeship programme into your business – not least that it enables you to develop talent from the ground up and train people with the exact skills the business needs. But for me, the most valuable benefit of the apprenticeship programme is that it brings in fresh perspectives. Whether it’s a school leaver, a parent returning to work after a period of childcare or someone looking to start again in a new industry, those perspectives bring enthusiasm, curiosity and new ideas that challenge us, help us innovate and stay relevant.”
