Skills you need to see results in your research career

If you want to ensure a long and varied career in the research space, these are the skills you should add to your repertoire.

Research careers are, for obvious reasons, extremely varied. However, there are a number of skills that all researchers, regardless of their industry or path, should consider learning. 

Problem solving

There is hardly a job on the planet that does not benefit from having someone in charge with strong problem-solving skills, but for those in the research field it is an absolute must-have. 

It is a key aspect of a researcher’s job to query, investigate and understand uncharted waters and to do that they need to be able to figure out the roadblocks that have previously prevented others from reaching a conclusion. Those with a keen mind, a love for puzzles and problem-solving abilities are far more likely to find success. 

Data analysis

Knowledge of data analysis isn’t the only data-based skill that benefits researchers, pretty much any ability in the area of data is useful to a researcher. Because the nature of the job means that professionals are often dealing with large banks of information that have to be carefully compiled and interpreted, skills such as data literacy, storytelling visualisation and compliance are among the most useful.

Market research

While not every research career will require skills in market research, it is still a very useful area to have foundational knowledge of, especially if you want to prepare for the future or a potential career pivot. Market research skills enable professionals to gather and analyse data and experts can transition into careers in marketing, advertising, the media, business development and business analytics. 

Artificial intelligence

AI, when it is used ethically and responsibly, is a wonderful tool. Especially for people in fields where professionals often find themselves under immense pressure to create results, such as research.

Artificial intelligence can be used to gather information, generate ideas, expand upon existing ideas, create a visual example of workflow and even assist people during the writing stage to ensure accuracy, among other useful features. However, it is important to note that AI can only ever offer assistance and it is not a replacement for human work and ingenuity. 

Not only that but AI proficiency is an in-demand skill in virtually every STEM-based career and it is a sure-fire way to future-proof yourself and stay ahead of the crowd.  

Ethics and compliance

This is another skill that is relevant to a range of careers in the STEM space, but is of particular importance when talking about developing a research career. Anyone operating in the research space should know how to follow the guidelines that enable them to conduct themselves ethically and responsibly. 

To become skilled and knowledgeable in this area, professionals should strive to be honest, objective and transparent, with a respect for intellectual property and strong social responsibility. Basically, it is important to keep up to date with the law and to always tap into your wider sense of right and wrong. 

For example, as we become a society where AI is at the very core of everyday life, researchers with a clear understanding of ethics, compliance, frameworks, policies and regulations will find themselves at the forefront of ensuring the fair and proper use of AI technologies. 

Time management

In many cases, soft skills are as important as hard skills to a long and successful career and the research space is no different. Because a role in research often depends on strict deadlines, data analysis, specimen maintenance and real-time updates, time management is of the utmost importance. 

If you aren’t naturally a strong timekeeper why not consider using some time management tools until you have developed stronger abilities in this area. Whereas many roles within the STEM space enable you to be more flexible, because research is so often dependent on the availability of result-oriented funding, poor time management could be highly detrimental and could greatly limit further career progression or your academic studies. 

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