Forrester Research is hiring — Become an Analyst or Researcher

I just got back from Forrester’s Finance forum, according to one of our long term attendees Steve blogged it was a success. This is one of the perks of the job, being able to meet interesting folks and hearing how you’ve helped them be better at making decisions.

For those that have been reading for a while, or following me on Twitter, you’ve noticed I’ve been very busy helping clients, conducting research, and sharing what I’ve found with the press and media. After 8 months as an analyst the questions from the market have just increased, between helping clients and managing this blog, I’m operating at an efficient speed where things go very well. Having successfully launched their book Groundswell fly even more than I do, delivering the POST methodology to individuals that want to learn how to approach social computing and social media.

I’ve received news from Cliff Condon (my boss boss) that based upon client needs, we’re expanding the team. We’re going to be adding some additional roles in the Analyst and Researcher position (each job performs a different function) in order to meet our clients needs. The job descriptions are available for the Analyst and Researcher position, and if you’re qualified, please submit your resume to the website, and reference that you saw this from my blog.

I can’t speak for the researcher role, but being an analyst was the logical step for me in my career, while a very challenging job, you’ll have the opportunity to touch all parts of the industry, make sense of chaos, and define a path for companies to ventures towards. You’ll have access to Forrester’s immense survey data, work with smart people, help clients, travel, and grow your career a few steps up, I often tell folks being an analyst is like a “Living MBA program”. Not only do you study business, you get to help clients apply your knowledge.

Josh provides a bit more information about the jobs, do read his posting.

I’ll update this post when we fill the position, so you’ll know when it’s filled.

I hope you apply!

9 Replies to “Forrester Research is hiring — Become an Analyst or Researcher”

  1. You seem to genuinely enjoy your work – that is refreshing and it boosted my decision to apply for one of the positions. And while I did so before you posted this, I still put your name in as my reference from your tweet earlier today. I hope you find the very best fit for these new roles!

  2. Forrester Research, Interactive Analyst- Wow! Let’s check out the PD- hmmm…this looks interesting. Hold on. Stop right there:

    *A strong record of academic achievement: B.A. or B.S. minimum, M.B.A. or M.S. preferred.

    Why is this a problem?

    Degrees are a common, even automatic requirement in professional level PDs. This filter, or “barrier to entry”, is either a. keeping highly skilled individuals from either flooding market or b. Stifling innovation, workforce development, and income/class mobility.

    One may argue, a formal research organization, could be considered pseudo academia and that systems of control help to protect the older and “professional” work force (dentist, or a doctor, research, etc). But, as an outsider, a part-time college student, working full-time (Sr. Developer for a health non-profit); I am personally frustrated by these antiquated barriers to entry.

    Sure, I’ll graduate God willing…..in four or so years. But. come one now, lets look at the more realistic downside (or upside) to this: Highly skilled, self-managers will continue to strike out on their own, and larger organizations will continue to miss out on the opportunities to glean from this work force.

    Do I apply, hoping the employer didn’t really mean “Requirement”?

    P.S. I am not alone in this critique- I consider 37signals and ally and constant champion for the individual in my situation.

    http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/700-ask-37signals-is-formal-education-important

    I covered a lot in a short post- I hope this doesn’t come off as a crazy rant :).

  3. Annie thanks!

    Benjamin, this really is a very ‘academic’ job that requires study, analysis, many presentations, and publishing reports much like term papers.

    To me, school is an indicator, but isn’t the sole factor in determining, ‘what you can do for Forrester’, or more precisely, what one can do for our clients.

    For what it’s worth, I didn’t do that great at college, but thrived in the workplace, and I made the cut, so I hope this is inspiring, chin up.

  4. Jeremiah,

    Thanks for the response and encouragement. So far, 4.0 in school , with a full part-time scholarship. 🙂

    I posted the comments in hopes, that I would be able to influence from the inside out- not that I would, but, I had to try.

    You see, I “made the cut” too- without a high school degree. But not everyone has that opportunity. Personally, I work in a very academic organization, my office mate attended Berkly and had his MS by 25. Here, I try to shift those perceptions- not be cause I need them to, but because the “enterprise” needs to.

    As George Carlin would say “try to come in through the side door, the side window, to come in from a direction theyâ„¢re not expecting, to see something in a different way.”

    I believe I may have some small influence. We are hiring another developer, and a degree is not required.

    🙂

  6. P.S.S

    I understand why this particular position requires agree, as opposed to a CS or marketing position.

    Research/analysis is very pseudo academia (as you said).

    Love your blog, keep it up!

  9. Annie thanks!

    Benjamin, this really is a very 'academic' job that requires study, analysis, many presentations, and publishing reports much like term papers.

    To me, school is an indicator, but isn't the sole factor in determining, 'what you can do for Forrester', or more precisely, what one can do for our clients.

    For what it's worth, I didn't do that great at college, but thrived in the workplace, and I made the cut, so I hope this is inspiring, chin up.

Comments are closed.