# What the heck is a Marketing Analyst? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 28, 2000, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288 "2000-01-28T20:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/1 "2000-01-28T20:42:00Z")
I’ve always thought of the GQ forum as more of a research question spot. That’s why I’m posting this question here. Next week I have an interview for a Marketing Analyst position with a major bank. The interviewer has seen my resume, knows my background (85% administrative), knows I don’t have a degree and has not disqualified me. It would be nice to have an answer to that question you **know** will come up: “So, why do you want to be a marketing analyst?” * * * You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/2 "2000-01-28T20:48:00Z")
_“So, why do you want to be a marketing analyst?”_ Don’t answer, “So it’ll look good on my resume.” 😃 * * * When danger reared its ugly head, He bravely turned his tail and fled ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/3 "2000-01-28T21:03:00Z")
Brave, Brave, Brave Sir Robin! (Only, like, my **favorite** part of Monty Python’s Holy Grail. You rock, AWB.) Oh and “Nyuk nyuk nyuk” to your answer to my query. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/4 "2000-01-28T22:00:00Z")
Before you sell a product you have to find the market for it. So you know who to market it to and for what price. Then you analyze all this boring data, fall asleep at the desk & drool on it. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/5 "2000-01-28T22:12:00Z")
Eww, that does sound boring and completely out of my scope o’ interest. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/6 "2000-01-28T22:15:00Z")
Screw it. I’m posting in GQ too. I need some help on this! ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/7 "2000-01-28T22:17:00Z")
Oh!!! You can go online here, ask a bunch of questions in MPSIMS, **and call it work!** Whatever you do, _get this job._🙂 * * * _It is too clear, and so it is hard to see._ ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Dirty\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Devil)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/8 "2000-01-28T23:14:00Z")
I’m a Financial Analyst for a law firm, and I still don’t have a clue as to what it means. Sure, I “analyze financial information”, but so do store clerks when they look at a tag and say, “Hey, I think that fully automatic four-slice bagel toaster/garden sprinkler combination is on sale. Let me check into this and maybe we’ll give you a discount.” When you find out what a Market Analyst is, will you please tell me? Maybe then I can finally figure out what these people expect me to do and why they pay me so much. ---
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2000, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/9 "2000-01-29T00:17:00Z")
The problem with generic titles like this is that every company means something different when they use it. We have the title of Marketing analyst where I work and it is sort of what Handy said, but it is also very different. A Marketing Analyst usually works in or with Marketing. I still have the title of Marketing Analyst even though I do not work in Marketing anymore, just because they do not have a title of Database Analyst. Then of course an Analyst analyzes (sp). However, it could be analyzing any number of things. Usually the research stuff is left to people with a background in research and maybe statistics. Most of the Analysts where I work have a specific product or service that they are responsible for and it is their job to go to meetings and deal with various groups related to their product and to produce reports and memos about their product. Usually it is not really as boring as Handy makes it out to be. Where I work, a lot is kind of administrative, though not necessarily everywhere. You might could get a generic answer off a job board, like [monsterboard.com](http://monsterboard.com) or [jobs.com](http://jobs.com) or another such board. Jeffery ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/10 "2000-01-31T20:58:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe then I can finally figure out …why they pay me so much. – Dirty Devil Ummm… (just a guess) 'cause you’re damned good at it? * * * **StoryTyler** “Not everybody does it, but everybody should.” [I Spy Ty.](http://sites.netscape.net/storytyler/homepage) ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Dirty\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Devil)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/11 "2000-01-31T21:14:00Z")
Story said: “Ummm… (just a guess) 'cause you’re damned good at it?” Hey, I never thought of that. Do you think? Nah, couldn’t be. I just keep them confused about what’s going on and they keep sending me a check. God help me when they actually figure what I do all day (“The internet? What’s that? No sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/12 "2000-01-31T21:30:00Z")
I have the same trouble with the job title I usually apply for: the dreaded “Administrative Assistant”. I always see this as a step up from the plain ol’ “secretary” but some people see it as “glorified receptionist”. Give me a break! I’ve worked hard to be able to run your life-give me credit for that! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-marketing-analyst/13288/13 "2000-01-31T22:06:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by BunnyGirl: > \*\*I have the same trouble with the job title I usually apply for: the dreaded “Administrative Assistant”. I always see this as a step up from the plain ol’ “secretary” but some people see it as “glorified receptionist”. > > Give me a break! I’ve worked hard to be able to run your life-give me credit for that! :D\*\* I feel your pain, Bunny. Oh boy do I feel your pain. I mean, it’s great that they pay me all these wads of dough, but sitting me at the GDMF front counter to answer phones and deal with walk-ins is NOT the job I applied for, nor is it something I like or am good at. GRRR!!! If I’d wanted to be a freakin’ receptionist I probably would have applied for a receptionist job… ya think?!? * * * **StoryTyler** “Not everybody does it, but everybody should.” [I Spy Ty.](http://sites.netscape.net/storytyler/homepage)