Netflix- Your search is over for your next Consumer Insights Research Analyst.

So you want a Consumer Insights Research Analyst, do you? Well, I can't think of a better person for the job. I mean, really. If there is anything that I can consider myself an expert on it's human behavior. I've got a very expensive advanced degree from a great school that says so. More importantly, I've been studying and conducting research for such a long time, I think I do it in my sleep now. There will be some naysayers out there who will be quick to point out that the majority of my experience has been in Psychology and not Marketing. This is true, naysayer.

However, if one really understands the empirical method, particularly in social sciences, they will quickly see the similarities. Hypotheses are formed in the same way. The definitions of independent variable and dependent variable do not change, they just measure sales instead of sleep, for instance. When it comes to survey design (which is a large part of market research), the fundamentals are completely the same. Good questionnaire design ensures reliability, validity and weeds out the nonsense without putting the respondent to sleep. Certainly, the statistical analysis of data does not change from one subject to the next, either. The big lessons I have learned in making the transition from clinical research to market research are:
1). Time is not on your side, oh no it isn't.
Deadlines are inflexible and budgets are tight. Often times this means you have to speed up the empirical method and make cuts where you can and where it won't be detrimental to your study.
2). The client is always right, even when they aren't.
Okay, maybe not always but remember that the client has often invested a great deal of money in some result. It is not exactly your job to test their hypothesis as much as it is to help them find a better direction. In the end, if they decide that they want to throw all of your data out and go with what they want, you say:
SOUNDS GREAT!


But I've gone off topic. I'm convincing Netflix to hire me. As you can see, I know how things work despite the fact that a great majority of my research experience has been in a different field. What is more important is that I do have market research experience and feel very comfortable in a fast-paced corporate culture. I love developing surveys almost as much as I love analyzing them. I consider myself the Sherlock Holmes of consumers. Who are they? What makes them use the product? Do they like it? If we change this feature, how will they react? What is more exciting to me is that this information can be measured, in numbers! It's really quite fascinating.
In truth, I have been browsing the Netflix job listings page on and off for years now hoping that one day a perfect position would pop up. I could hardly contain myself when I saw this one. Obviously, there will be a flood of resumes that will come pouring in and may very well drown mine. There are some unbelievably qualified people out there. Truthfully, I don't know how to compete. Which is why I write this. I hope that someone finds this and sees my potential. I wish that my enthusiasm, experience and smarts win me, at the very least, an interview. So, if anyone at Netflix can hear me, give me a call! You won't be disappointed.