What it does: Provides market intelligence to companies around the world
Staff stats: Employs over 30,000 data scientists, researchers, industry experts and support staff.
Best known for: Being one of the world’s most prominent market research agencies.
Financials: Recently generated US 3.82 billion, representing a roughly 4% decline on previous years.
The good: Diverse graduate programs. Excellent starting point for fresh graduates.
The not so good: Type and pace of work isn’t for everyone. Lacklustre career trajectory after your grad program.
Kantar began in 1993 as a response to the widespread need for granular market intelligence. With the backing of its parent organisation WPP Group, it quickly began proving itself capable of adapting and improving marketing strategies, including a viral ad campaign with Coca-Cola, and analysing data for the UK’s Royal Mail to discern which forms of communication were most effective. From analysing how often rural Indonesian children brushed their teeth to understanding telecommunications customers throughout the Caucasus, Kantar has had a diverse array of cases since its launch just a few decades ago.
The company has since attracted many more high profile clients, including over half the Fortune 500 list and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They seek to attract talent from diverse backgrounds to continue being unique thinkers with timely solutions.
Graduates from all disciplines are welcome to complete a two-year research associate rotation between different departments in whichever country they’re situated. Exposure to market research, analytics processes and project management pertaining to Fortune 500 companies is common, making it a way to begin a career in data consulting. It’s one of the largest in the sector, making it recognisable on your resume. Graduates who enjoy detail-oriented analytical work will enjoy their time here.
That said, the pacing can be nerve-wracking for some. Despite the size, there’s still not as much in the way of the strict procedure when it comes to the daily routine. This is a chance to thrive and build your own processes as much as it is an opportunity to get lost. If you’re a fairly independent, motivated thinker this will be an ideal environment, but if you’re used to stringent orders and guidelines, Kantar may be a challenge to get used to. Past and present employees around the world uniformly report long, volatile hours, making this best suited to someone who thrives in this environment.
While experiential learning comes thick and fast during the graduate program, with plenty of mentorships throughout, training opportunities beyond that are limited. So regularly ask yourself if you’re still learning during your time at Kantar. If the answer is ‘no’, think about heading elsewhere. But until then, if you can weather the stress, you’ll come out with plenty of new analysis and research skills for data-oriented consulting, as well as knowledge of international companies and their needs.
Kantar normally makes their presence known on university campuses across the Asia-Pacific and Europe. This is a great way to get in touch with the personnel from the company and put in your CV, either in person or through your university’s job portal if they have one. If they haven’t appeared at your campus, you can apply for junior roles through their website or third-party source. One common way in is via the research associate position, either qualitative or quantitative. Although there are many more, we’ll use this position as an example of what to expect through the rest of the recruitment process.
If they like your CV, next is a phone interview with HR. This is basically just a screening stage. They’re looking to see you’ve done your homework on the company and know the role. If you get through this, you’ll then be sent through a data packet and asked to prepare a presentation pertaining to a case study. You’ll be presenting in-person, in front of a panel of managers. Make sure to practice and become familiar with the data they give you. It’s a little bit of work, but somewhat represents the kind of thing you’ll be working on if you get the job. If you succeed, you’re in!
Kantar’s mission is to be a brand that inspires success stories. It hopes to achieve this through its values: curiosity, precision, courage, imagination and togetherness.