Career change - social researcher (not academia)

[Eles78]

I’ve been advised by a career counsellor, that, based on my aptitude tests and interests, one of the careers I should consider is in social research. I’ve tried finding out as much as possible about the role, but I would love to hear from people actually working as social researchers (government, charities, corporate, etc...)
I don’t have a relevant degree with research methodology so I was thinking to do a psychology conversion degree. At 42 (more when I finish), what are my chances of finding a job? Are there any entry level positions? I’m also looking for part-time or flexible jobs, is that a possibility? Also, what’s the day to day job like and the environment? I’m an introvert and like roles where I work autonomously, I’m not interested in managing projects or people, I really just like researching.

I was a social researcher - loved the work. You may get a better response posting on the academic common room even if you don’t want to be an academic. Definitely worth getting a relevant qualification. I did Bsc psychology and an MSc social research before staying in academic (phd and lecturing) then leaving for government.
Once you have relevant research methods training you could try social / market research companies like Ipsos or NatCen (lots of smaller agencies too), charities, think tanks, NHS, universities or govt.
heaps of opportunities at all levels. If you want experience you could always do something like survey or interviewing for a company like NatCen (low entry requirements).
Definitely lots of autonomy in my experience, and flexibility. Age not an issue at entry. Fair pay, interest etc at levels that don’t involve managing people or projects. In govt that would be HEO grade mainly, in academia Research Assistant, poss Research Associate.
Have a look at the SRA website for careers advice and jobs, and jobs.ac.uk and civil service jobs.

I'm a senior analyst/social researcher within a Think Tank. I love the work. I have a 1st degree in management science, a maths PGCE and an MA in education. I also had a wealth of experience as an analyst/statistician before joining my current employer.

My work is interesting on a day to day basis, particularly thinking about policy implications of the analysis that I do. I have a range of work to do, both required within the annual plans for the organisation and my team as well as autonomy to carry out research to follow my own interests (as long as it is aligned with what we do).

I have fair pay, massive job flexibility and a really good work/life balance. The only concerns I have are about progression. To get to the next level (i.e. analysis manager), I need either to wait until someone leaves or go somewhere else.

@Levithecat @MaidofKent78
Thank you so much for your replies, both really helpful. I love social science. I guess at this stage I’m just scared to take the leap, commit into further studies (with 2 young kids), only to find out that at the end it becomes like any other office job, with impossible deadlines, heavy workload and office politics, but I guess that would depend on the organisation. 😌

@Levithecat thank you for the suggestion to post on the academic common room, will do that!

Sorry to piggyback on this but I'm also interested in social research. I've got a BA (well 2 actually) and an MA as well as various certificates but no PhD. Is that an impediment? I qualified years ago and have been working as many things including journalist and translator since. Would I need to go back to zero? Get an entry level job? Thank you!

@AbiBrown

Sorry to piggyback on this but I'm also interested in social research. I've got a BA (well 2 actually) and an MA as well as various certificates but no PhD. Is that an impediment? I qualified years ago and have been working as many things including journalist and translator since. Would I need to go back to zero? Get an entry level job? Thank you!

Not necessarily. Within the analysis team that I work in, some have PhDs, some not. I have an MA alongside my BSc and PGCE and the only person who thinks it is a problem is me!!!

It's the experience, skills knowledge, enthusiasm and ideas that you bring to the role that will be important, not the degree to which you are educated.