I discover the Social Research Association

How did I not know about the Social Research Association? Last night they put on a really good Careers Evening with speakers from NatCen, UCL and the Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

I recognised at least 2 current King’s PhD students in the audience – but there may have been more. It took place at the splendid offices of GfK (better known as NOP) We were on the top floor on Blackfriars Road – overlooking the thames and with a staggeringly beuatiful view of London on a summer evening – the grey edifices looking diditnguished in their sunlit grey – not drab as is sometimes the case.

I learned that Assocaition has a good job site.

Most people at the seminar seemed to be at Masters level – some already working in the field, some just completing courses.

 

www.the-sra.org.uk

Looking back over recent vacancies the head of the Association said that employers on the whole did not specify what Social Science discipline they wanted. They often asked for a mix of qual and quant experience (Quol and Quont is the accepted argot in the profession as i gathered). They wanted good report writing and presentation skills and evidence of stake-holder and customer relations.

2 researchers (1 qual , 1 quant form research giant NatCen spoke. The qual started her caree as a volunteer on an oral history project before spending 2 years with IPPR. The quant had done  a politics degree (so not a quant degree) and had started as a researcher for an MP. NatCen has 360 staff of whom half are researchers – 115 on the quant side, 31 on the qual. Specualtive applications were welcome

Alison, from Government social Resarch commented that in Government you tended to move between projects – so you got variety, at the expense of being able to specialise. Jobs in this sector were plentiful at the moment – evidence based policy making relies on the gathering of lots of ‘evidence’.

Cath from UCL explained about the career path of acadmic social researchers and the necessity to ’switch’ to the academic track because you became an expensive ‘weight’ on research bids as your salary increases. The publish or perish issue. In her group looking at sexual behaviour / health only 3 of the group of 20 were on permanent contracts.

Bottom line – great website for jobs- including entry level jobs.