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Research career questions

  • 31-10-2010 9:59pm
    #1
    Dostoevsky
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,023 ✭✭✭


    I've been a researcher for over 5 years, much of which was spent doing my PhD (which I was awarded). My doctorate was in socio-political-economic history.

    I'm now looking for research jobs in the "real world" but, as I look at adverts, I don't even know the actual type of research I've been doing. Historical, certainly, and not quantitative (because that's mathematical/statistical?). Is it qualitative research? Basically, I was reading loads and loads of original documentation, academic studies and sometimes using theoretical frameworks and anthropological studies to broaden perspective. All the time, I was building up a thesis through analysing the information or "data", identifying problems and contradictions and offering solutions. I'd then have to write everything up and offer creative solutions, interpretations and arguments based on this. I created maps, tables and charts with data for the completed work.

    What sort of research jobs could I apply for with the above skills? 'Historical' is out; I want a job where I can use all these skills to research, and gain expertise in, something more valuable in today's society.

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    cerebus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 447 ✭✭cerebus


    Dostoevsky wrote: »
    All the time, I was building up a thesis through analysing the information or "data", identifying problems and contradictions and offering solutions. I'd then have to write everything up and offer creative solutions, interpretations and arguments based on this. I created maps, tables and charts with data for the completed work.

    What sort of research jobs could I apply for with the above skills? 'Historical' is out; I want a job where I can use all these skills to research, and gain expertise in, something more valuable in today's society.

    Thanks.

    It sounds to me as though qualitative research is probably the best description for what you were doing from the various labels/tags you suggested.

    Maybe look at some of the strategy consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain and BCG - these firms might be interested in the skills you have developed over the last five years.

    They tend to be very selective with their hiring (and they also like applicants to have some quantitative abilities) but they are great places to launch a career in industry.


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