Analytical Sector

The demand for analysts in the UK has seen significant growth over the past ten years as businesses understand the need for greater consumer and market intelligence in their own specific sector. In a recent survey of UK business including healthcare, pharmaceutical, energy and retail, eighty nine percent of businesses agreed analysis was vital or at least very important for their organisation. In short, analysis is a company's "eyes and ears" providing market and consumer data central to all business strategy.

The remit of analysts in industry is to supply market research, business intelligence and management consultancy to an extended range of stakeholders. Typically analysts work in a specific segment of industry researching the broad development of that market and identifying the opportunities and risks within it. Today no industry is exempt in its need for analytical expertise, with growth seen in all industries. The media and the natural resources industries are seeing large growth in this sector and many of the multi-national energy companies are increasingly using analysts to assess their business strategy in the volatile market.

 

A successful career in an analytical role will see a graduate become an industry expert. Graduates will become capable of providing consultancy to organisations within that specific sector in all aspects of their dealings with the market. As a result, graduates will become highly prized sources of information and offered good packages to join companies working in their specialist field.

The Graduate Recruitment Bureau are currently recruiting for graduate analytical jobs within energy, commodity, IT and financial organisations.

 

Graduate recruiters seek thorough individuals and often strong numerical skills. In addition to good UCAS points, successful graduates are generally required to hold a strong BSc degree. Highly sought after degrees include Physics, Engineering, Mathematics and Engineering. Economics, Psychology, History and Geography graduates are also favoured degrees.

Within assessment stages, graduates are required to demonstrate:

• The ability to understand data and identify trends
• Strong communication skills: the ability to communicate findings into a business case
• Good presentation skills: the ability to present data in layman's terms

Overall, successful candidates tend to be strong all-rounders who are naturally inquisitive.

   

Graduates can expect a starting salary of between £20,000 and £25,000.

 

Graduate analyst roles are available both in-house and in consultancy establishments. The recruitment process will vary, but most will accompany verbal reasoning and numerical testing with a competency-based interview.

 

Chartered Financial Analyst Institute www.cfainstitute.org
The Institution of Analysts and Programmers www.iap.org.uk
Association of Public Analysts www.the-apa.co.uk