Career Analysis Report

Market Research Analyst vs. Logistician

Prepared for
Mark Treleven, PhD

Prepared by
Jared M. Donovan
John Carroll University
November 18, 2013

Nov. 18, 2013

To:

Mark Treleven, PhD

Fr:

Jared Donovan, Marketing Major

Re:

Career Analysis Transmittal Document

The purpose of this report is to compare and contrast Market Research Analysts to Logisticians so that I
can determine which career path to follow. The proceeding information will show that Market Research
Analyst is the best fitting career for me.
The report determined that Market Research Analyst is the best fitting career based on my criteria.
Research Analysts have a higher average income, better work hours, opportunities for advancement and
opportunities to brainstorm creative ideas. Logisticians only fulfilled one criteria, a trendy lifestyleoriented service.
Research data for the report is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, payscale, vault, career planning
and US News.
I was surprised that Logisticians were a more trendy-lifestyle oriented service. Logisticians coordinate
the many divisions of natural disaster recovery.
I hope that you will support the decision to follow the path of Market Research Analyst, any helpful
advice while choosing classes and/or finding internships would be helpful. To contact me, email to
jdonovan16@jcu.edu or call (440) 227-1234.

Table of Contents
Executive Summary........................................................................................................ ii
Purpose Statement......................................................................................................... iii
Research Strategy.......................................................................................................... iii
Background................................................................................................................... v
The Best Career Path for Jared Donovan............................................................................ 1
Conclusions and Recommendations................................................................................... 1
Regular Work Hours/Weekends off for Family and Friends....................................................1
Market Research Analyst.............................................................................................. 2
Logistician................................................................................................................. 3
Analysis of Regular hours/weekends off for Family and Friends...........................................3
Opportunity for advancement........................................................................................... 3
Market Research Analysts............................................................................................. 4
Logisticians................................................................................................................ 5
Analysis of opportunities for advancement.......................................................................5
Income......................................................................................................................... 6
Market Research Analyst.............................................................................................. 6
Logisticians................................................................................................................ 7
Analysis of Income...................................................................................................... 8
Opportunity to brainstorm/Develop creative solutions...........................................................9
Market Research Analyst.............................................................................................. 9
Logistician............................................................................................................... 10
Trendy/Lifestyle-Oriented Product or Service....................................................................11
Market Research Analyst............................................................................................ 11
Logistician............................................................................................................... 12
Analysis of Trendy/Lifestyle-Oriented Product or Service..................................................12
Works Cited................................................................................................................ 13

Executive Summary
The purpose of this report is to compare and contrast Market Research Analysts to
Logisticians so that I can determine which career path to follow. The report will be based off the
evaluation of five criteria; Regular hours/weekends off for family and friends, opportunity for
advancement, income, opportunity to brainstorm or develop creative solutions and a career
aimed at a trendy/lifestyle-oriented product or service. The result shows that Market Research
Analyst is the favorable option.
Criteria Met by Market Research Analyst
Working regular hours and opportunities for advancement in the Research Analyst field
are the top criteria of the report.
Market Research Analyst careers are more popular in urban environments, because many
large companies are based in large cities for better customer diversity. Because of customer
diversity, most Market Research Analysts work fulltime hours in order to collect research data
for their particular company. These types of work hours translate into my top criteria that
regular hours/weekends off for family and friends is most important.
Opportunity for advancement is available for most research analyst careers. According to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the job growth rate for Research Analysts is 41% which is
higher than many careers, including Logisticians which is at 26%, which means more job
opportunities are developing in the market research field.
Marketing Internships
Before entering the job world, gaining experience in the market research field is
important. Therefore, it is vital that I begin to search for marketing internships for the summer of
2014.

Problem
As a Junior in college I am looking towards possible internships and careers in the
marketing field. Market Research Analysts and Logisticians are two careers which are
prominent in my particular field of interest. I must decide between these two careers, which is
the best fit for me in relation to my personal career criteria.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this report is to compare and contrast Market Research Analysts to Logisticians
so that I can determine which career path to follow.
Research Strategy
The report includes scope, ranking of criteria, assumptions, limitations, research methodology
and definitions.
Scope: The criteria by which the careers are evaluated are: Regular hours/weekends off for
family and friends, opportunity for advancement, income, opportunity to brainstorm or develop
creative solutions and lastly, a career aimed at a trendy/lifestyle-oriented product or service.
Criteria ranking: Regular hours/weekends off for family and friends is number one in the
criteria ranking because my belief is that family and friendly relationships more important than
any career. Second ranked is the opportunity for advancement, because if a career path that I
have chosen does not provide the opportunity for me to advance and develop my skills, it will
become a dead-end job. Third ranked is the income the career will provide to support life and
reduce the stress of being in debt. Fourth ranked is the opportunity to brainstorm or develop
creative solutions because I need challenge to be interested in what I am doing. And lastly, a
career aimed at a trendy/lifestyle-oriented product or service is important. Something that is
relevant to society as a whole, makes the career trials and tribulations worth the hard work.

Assumptions: The report will be written under the assumption that the reader does know the
basic information that he or she is reading.
Limitations: This report is limited to 20 pages and a time constraint of about three weeks.
Definitions: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Research Methodology: The secondary sources are provide by Vault, money.cnn, and
careerplanning.

Background
I am a junior Marketing Major at John Carroll University starting to determine which field of
Marketing I will follow as my career. I prefer to choose a career path that reflects my personality
and my specific career criteria. Both Marketing Research Analysts and Logisticians are very
important careers when it comes to the seller and consumer market in our world and they
contribute a lot to modern society, and for this reason these careers are very attractive to me. I
prefer a career in Marketing because I like to develop creative ideas, such as advertisements and
determining which type of demographic would fit a certain product. I would enjoy working in
mainstream consumer products and help to improve a companys profit. Marketing is my
original choice of major, however, logisticians and marketers are becoming more related
pertaining to business environments, and keeping an open mind while career searching is
important. Writing this report will provide further insight to both careers and create a more
educated decision while I search for a career that best fits my interests.
The Best Career Path for Jared Donovan
The purpose of this report is to compare and contrast Market Research Analysts to
Logisticians so that I can determine which career path to follow. The reports recommendation
will be vital to my future career path. I must follow the correct path or I will have wasted
valuable experience and time. The report is organized by criteria: Regular hours/weekends off
for family and friends, opportunity for advancement, income, opportunity to brainstorm or

develop creative solutions and lastly, a career aimed at a trendy/lifestyle-oriented product or

service.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The best career for me requires regular work hours and weekends off for friends,
opportunities for advancement and the amount of income. Market Research Analysts have an
above average income and depending on how much an analyst wants to work, regular work
hours. Logisticians have a higher median income than Market Research Analysts, however the
job growth rate is much lower.
The report recommends that I continue to follow my studies along the path of Market
Research Analyst.
Regular Work Hours/Weekends off for Family and Friends
Working regular hours and having weekends off for family and friends is the foremost
criteria because personal relationships are most important to me. Without personal relationships
with friends and loved ones, it does not matter what career I am pursuing. Therefore regular
work hours was rated the highest criteria after my self- analysis.
It is common in the job world for situations to require extra hours of work. However,
extra hours does not necessarily mean no free-time. I will manage myself well enough to still
have time for family and friends even when extra work hours are needed.
This portion of the report will be organized by the explanation of work hours and free
time on the weekends for both Market Research Analysts and Logisticians, followed by an
analytical comparison of the two careers.
Market Research Analyst
Market Research Analysts are very important when it comes to a consumer market. The
analysts study purchasing patterns and develop theories about how companies can use these
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patterns to alter a product or service. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, market
researchers commonly work regular work hours however there are occasions where deadlines
need to be met which may require over time.
Much of the work Market Researchers do is on computers entering data into databases in
order to come up with trends or patterns that could help company leaders alter their products to
fit the customers needs.
You can enter the Market Research field with a Bachelors degree and without any
professional experience (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). Being able to enter such a career
with minimal credentials is a positive because if many more credentials were needed, valuable
time would be taken away from family and friends.
Normally, an analyst will work a normal 40 hour week. However, according to
U.S.news.com MONEY Careers, market researchers working for high profile companies may
work up to 50-55 hours weekly, and up to 70 hours the maximum. These hours are based off of
the size of the company. The larger the firm, the more hours will need to be worked because as
firms get larger, their relevance and image get more important as well, and thorough data
collection is needed to maintain the companys image.
Logistician
Logisticians tend to also work regular hours weekly, depending on the company they are
working for. However, the hours may be much different than daily work hours. United Parcel
service (UPS) prides itself on its logistical department. However, having such a strong logistics
department comes with a lot of odd hours. Trucks must be loaded before sunrise in order for
packages to be delivered on time which requires work hours from 3a.m. to 9a.m. Working hours
like these may effect daily activities when it comes to spending time with family or friends.

Of course, not all logistics departments are up to the same standards as UPS. When
applying for a logistics career, a bachelors degree is required. Additionally when entering into
the logistics field, 1-5 years of experience is required by most firms (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
2013). Having to develop an extra 1-5 years of experience before actually receiving a feasible
job offer will take a lot of time away from family and friends, while earning a small quantity of
money.
Analysis of Regular hours/weekends off for Family and Friends
After analyzing the data, the conclusion is that Market Research Analysts will take less
time away from family, friends and weekends.
Market Analysts may need to work overtime occasionally to meet deadlines, however the
extra hours worked depends on the determination of the analyst himself. Logisticians may
commonly work consistent hours per week but the times of which shifts could begin are
detrimental to daily activities. Furthermore, Market Research Analyst allowed a direct path to a
career whereas Logistician requires 1-5 years of prior experience which also would limit time
with family and friends.
Opportunity for advancement
Opportunity for advancement is extremely important when searching for my potential
career. Opportunity for advancement provides an employee with incentive to work harder in the
work place. If an employee has no motivation to do the best work he or she can, then their work
habits will not be efficient and the quality of the work will be poor.
I feel that if there were not an opportunity for advancement in my career of choice I
would be less motivated to work. I want to better myself as much as I can in order to work my
way up the job ladder. Without potential promotions, raises and other job offers, the career
would be a dead-end job, which is not a position that any employee wants to be in.
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Market Research Analysts

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth rate for Market Research
Analysts is currently at 41%. The average job growth rate in the United States is currently at
10.6%. This means that jobs in the marketing field are developing 34% faster than other jobs
throughout the United States. As a soon-to-be college graduate a higher growth rate is much
more attractive to me because it means that there will be more jobs available in the field of
Marketing. Furthermore, when I am already working in the field a higher job growth rate could
create more prestigious job opportunities and ultimately a higher income.
As new products are developing this also creates more opportunities to find jobs. In a
2010 data collection, it showed that there are over 250,000 Market Research jobs available. The
large amount of jobs may have to do with growing advancements in technology. Technological
companies such as Apple are becoming the front runner of the technology world. And as
advanced as Apples technology is, they still need to market their products and get feedback on
how to make their products even better.
Becoming a market research analyst requires at least a bachelor's degree. However, many
who enter the occupation do so with degrees from a wide range of studies, including statistics,
math, computer science, and business administration, among others (MONEY careers, 2011a).
Jobs in the Market Research field are not necessarily based off of how much professional
experience an applicant has. Because of this characteristic, opportunity for advancement is more
plausible even at an entry level position. Advancement will be based off of work ethic and desire
to help the company, although earning a Masters Degree in Marketing is never frowned upon.
Logisticians
According to the Bureau of Labor statistics the current job growth rate for Logisticians is
currently 26% which is above average. Logistician jobs are growing 15.4% faster than the U.S.

average growth rate. Most logisticians start with a bachelor's degree in a field such as business,
supply-chain management, process engineering, or industrial engineering. As logisticians rise
into the management ranks, many get an M.B.A. or certification in various specialties (MONEY
careers,2011b).
On-the-job experience counts for a lot, too, and logisticians should stay current on
evolving technology like RFID tracking systems or new inventory-control software. Many
logisticians also have a military background, since moving material under adverse conditionsa
military specialtyis excellent training for the challenges of commerce (MONEY Careers,
2011b).
Logisticians overall require a lot of experience and extra education to advance in the
field. Secondary fields of study are recommended in order to receive the best paying jobs, which
makes advancement much more difficult.
Analysis of opportunities for advancement
In conclusion, Market Research Analyst provides the best opportunities for advancement.
New developing products create more jobs for marketers. The career does not require anything
more than a Bachelors Degree, with further studies optional.
As a Market Researcher spends time developing their skills in their career, opportunities
for advancement will make themselves available. Developing research skills is important to the
advancement process because it will show that as a researcher continues their job duties, they are
also earning valuable experience which will create opportunities.
Logisticians have a much more difficult path to job advancement. The opportunity to
enter upper level positions is based on previous job experiences. Also, an extra few years of
education will be needed, and the level of these extra years of education can include industrial or

process engineering. Many successful logisticians have even been enlisted in the military, which
many employees would prefer to avoid.
Income
A job with a high income is important to me because I want to provide for my future
family and relatives. This criterion was ranked third behind regular work hours and opportunity
for advancement because family should be put first and opportunities for advancement will
provide an opportunity for a higher income.
This section will be organized by studying the income of Market Research Analysts and
Logisticians, followed by an analysis of the two careers income.
Market Research Analyst
The starting salary for a Market Research Analyst is on average $37,000 to about $41,000
(payscale, 2012). According the BLS, market research analysts earned $60,250 in 2011. The
best-paid earned $112,560 while the lowest-paid earned less than $33,490. Areas of the industry
that pay well include motor vehicle manufacturing, semiconductor and other electronic
component manufacturing, and computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing (MONEY
Career, 2011b).
For an entry level position with a Bachelors Degree, a salary of $37,000 is a decent
starting point. Between the lowest and highest paid, there is approximately a $79,000 difference,
showing that there are plenty of ranges at which a Research Analyst can find a career. Below,
Figure 1 shows the average starting of salary of Market Research Analysts based off education.
Figure 1: Payscale salary report shows the average starting salary based off education for Market Research Analysts
(payscale.com).

The amounts in the chart are merely statistical averages and by no means completely
accurate, however it provides legitimate information about how well a beginning analyst will be
paid.
Logisticians
The starting salary for Logisticians is on average $41,000 to $51,000 (payscale.com).
Logistician jobs pay better than average; median annual earnings in 2011 were $71,910, with the
lowest-paid 10 percent earning less than $44,830 and the highest-paid 10 percent earning more
than $110,720. The top earners for this profession live in the metropolitan areas of Bellingham,
Wash., San Jose, Calif., and Santa Rosa, Calif (MONEY Career, 2011b).
With a starting average salary no lower than $41,000, logisticians make a strong starting
salary, taking into account they have only received a Bachelors degree. Between the lowest and
highest paid Logisticians there is an average $65,700 dollar difference. The difference in the

amount of pay is based off of education and extra logistical experience. Figure 2 below shows
the average starting salaries of Logisticians based off education.
Figure 2: Payscale salary report shows the amount of income based off of education for Logisticians (payscale.com)

The amounts in Figure 2 are statistical averages and may not always prove true, however
they provide valuable insight about the beginning salaries for Logistics positions.
Analysis of Income
After review of the above information, it must be concluded that Market Research
Analyst provides better income than Logistician. Although Logistician averages a higher
starting salary at about $41,000-$51,000, Market Research analysts will be able to earn more.
The highest paid Market Research Analysts will earn up to approximately $112,000
whereas Logisticians will earn up to $110,000 dollars.

Opportunity to brainstorm/Develop creative solutions

Having opportunities to challenge myself in the workplace will be vital to my career
choice. Challenges present opportunities to come up with ideas that could show Management
that the job task is important to me which could raise my value within the company.
I also find it important to be challenged to develop creative solutions because it makes
the job more exciting. With every bit of stress there comes an excitement to get a job done, and
once that job is completed the rewards could be significant.
Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts analyze data to figure out what products are in demand, who
wants them, and what consumers are willing to pay for them. Different methodologies are used
to collect information, including surveys, questionnaires, and/or opinion polls. Collection is
followed by analysis (MONEY Career, 2011a).
The Marketing Field overall is made up developing creative ideas. Market Advertisers
must develop ideas for attractive advertisements that will entice customers into buying their
products. Market Research Supervisors must come up with ways to collect data efficiently and
decide on how to collect said data. And of course, Market Research Analysts develop ways to
find patterns of consumer purchases in order to increase a companys market value.
It is important to understand that Market Research Analysts may not be limited to one
job. Researchers may need to collaborate with Market Advertisers and/or Market Supervisors in
order to maximize creative efficiency.
Logistician
Logisticians are the ones who make sure the necessary equipment, supplies, and skilled
technicians arrive quickly and with the right tools at their side. Their skills lie in making such
impressive, behind-the-the scenes undertakings appear effortless, so companies and governments
can continue running smoothly (MONEY Career, 2011b).
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Logisticians ultimately coordinate the flow of information throughout a business or other

organizations. Delivery companies rely heavily on their logistics departments to make sure that
orders are received, filled, and delivered on time with minimal to no complications. UPS is well
known for their logistics department. They recently launched a campaign emphasizing to its
customers their We Love Logistics slogan.
Logistics mainly uses data to find out how to help businesses function efficiently.
Common sense has a lot to do with being a good Logistician, which means that creative thinking
is not a strong characteristic among the logistics careers. In other words, logistics uses more
quantitative information rather than qualitative.
Analysis of Opportunity to brainstorm/Develop creative solutions
In conclusion, Market Research Analyst provides the best opportunity to brainstorm and
develop creative solutions. Market researchers study the patterns of consumer buying in order to
maximize company profit, and with consumer preferences changing and becoming more
demanding researchers must come up with creative ideas to give customers the products they are
looking for. Also in relation to researchers is advertising which may need to use the information
market analysts find in order to create Advertising campaigns that customers will enjoy.
Logisticians are more geared towards quantitative data and literal information. They use
common sense to provide the best service to their company, not necessarily creative thinking.
Trendy/Lifestyle-Oriented Product or Service.
Entering a career with a trendy or lifestyle-oriented product or service is relevant to my
career search because it will make me feel more legitimate in the job world. When I think of
trendy I think of something that is relevant to todays society. When I think of lifestyle I think of
something that others will consider important to themselves just as I do.

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Having relevance will boost my morale because I believe that I am making a difference
and that whatever career I choose is career that contributes to society and all of its needs. Many
employees have jobs, which leads me to believe they do not enjoy what they do. My goal is to
find a career not a job.
Entering a field that I will enjoy and is relevant to todays consumer market will make
working in my field of choice more rewarding.
Market Research Analyst
Gauging why target audiences might be attracted to a particular product requires some
understanding of people on a more human and personal level. Those in the profession may begin
their careers either at the corporate level or working for a smaller research company (MONEY
Career, 2011a).
The demand from a broad range of industries, including research companies, colleges,
and government agencies, for data leading to the most effective marketing strategies will lead to
a growth in the field of marketing research analysts (MONEY Career, 2011a).
Ranging from multiple aspects of society, Market Research is highly relevant to current
society. Market Research has an effect on companies, which have an effect on consumers, and
consumers which have an effect on the overall economy of the U.S. and the world. Market
Research creates a link to the economic success of a country.
Logistician
Logisticians populate almost every field, from retail to finance to government. In the
private sector, they are charged with handling shipping, distribution, warehousing, and quick
deliveries to customers. While logistics is a relatively narrow field, job growth is likely to be
higher than average as supply and distribution systems grow increasingly complex (MONEY
Career, 2011b). Logisticians are very important when it comes to society. It is up to them to
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determine the most efficient means of transportation to save money and any negative impacts on
the environment.
Ever wonder who coordinates the response to major weather-related events, such as
Hurricane Sandy? Or plans cleanups of environmental disasters, such as the Gulf oil spill of
2010? Logisticians are the ones who make sure the necessary equipment, supplies, and skilled
technicians arrive quickly and with the right tools at their side (MONEY Career, 2011b).
Analysis of Trendy/Lifestyle-Oriented Product or Service.
In conclusion, Logisticians have a more direct impact on our society which makes it a
lifestyle-oriented service. Many disaster revivals experienced within our nation were
coordinated by logisticians in order to get immediate help to those in need.
Market Research Analysts have a trendy and lifestyle-oriented service, however its
impact is less direct than a Logisticians impact, which could potentially save lives in extreme
situations such as national disasters.

Works Cited
Best Market Research Companies. (2013, October 13). Retrieved from Vault:
http://www.vault.com/rankings-reviews/company-rankings/advertising-marketing/bestmarket-research-companies.aspx
CNN Money. (2013, October 13). Retrieved from moneycnn.com: http://money.cnn.com/pf/bestjobs/2012/snapshots/7.html
McKay, D. (2013, October 13). Career Planning. Retrieved from career planning:
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/mkt_rsch_analst.htm
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MONEY Careers, Logistician. (2013). Retrieved from US News:

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/logistician
MONEY Careers, Market Research analyst (a). (2013). Retrieved from US News:
http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/market-research-analyst
Occupational Outlook Hanbook, Logisticians. (2012-2013, March 19). Retrieved from Bureau of
Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/logisticians.htm
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Market Research Analysts. (2012-2013, March 19). Retrieved
from Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Business-and-Financial/Marketresearch-analysts.htm
Salary and Benefits, Logistician. (2013, October 15). Retrieved from Payscale.com:
http://www.payscale.com/mypayscale.aspx?app=SalaryAndBenefits&pid=954663d04159-4fe2-b21b-3b0585177d6d(a)
Salary and Benefits, Market Research Analyst. (2013, October 15). Retrieved from Payscale:
http://www.payscale.com/mypayscale.aspx?app=SalaryAndBenefits&pid=26d828dc548a-42f8-ba92-c6729c515567(b)

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