The learning track for ACs to earn a promotion to Consultant is broken. We cannot learn the necessary skills needed to operate at a higher level when most of our days are filled with urgent admin work that contributes little to our career development. The title “Associate Consultant” is a dishonest representation of what the entry-level position here actually entails. “Administrative Assistant” would be a much more appropriate title.
Common tasks that are delegated to you as an AC include reposting discussion prompts, QAing surveys, fulfilling data requests, recruiting research participants and sending support tickets. It is also your responsibility to handle almost every single customer service and/or PR problem— which are very common. Eventually you'll want to get out, but leaving without a promotion is exceptionally difficult because you've learned 0 valuable skills in this role.
The internal software is in a dire state, which often results in simple tasks taking much longer than you expected, which makes time management very difficult. Additionally, it can be another stressor when clients or colleagues are relying on you for urgent action, but all you can do is submit a Helpdesk ticket asking for the bug to be fixed. It is clear that minimal investment into the company over the past 10 years has caught up to us.
Additionally, MDs need to be much more aware and willing to take action against underperforming ADs/Ds/VPs, even if they are work friends! There is nothing worse than working for an account lead that can’t be bothered to do anything beyond hosting weekly client calls and occasionally reviewing reports. For this business to be sustainable, mentally or otherwise, everyone MUST do REAL work. Why many ACs feel they are held to higher standards than senior employees who are earning much more (with years of C Space experience to boot) is beyond me. Please do not just phone it in once you’ve reached a certain level here. We are paying attention, and will not forget this when the corporate job market turns around. You might have us hostage now, but this will not last forever.
Lastly, compensation at C Space is horrific. Almost all ACs make 50k (even worse in UK), which has not been changed as the starting salary for years. This does not justify requiring you to live in one of the metro areas they currently have an office in. Additionally, Escalent provides us with TERRIBLE benefits, including expensive or downright risky options for health insurance and a paltry 1.5% 401(k) match. Have fun retiring earlier with that extra ~$700/year! Would even 2% have killed you?
Advice to recent college grads, or those looking to get into the market research industry:
Don’t. While C Space presents a lot of uniquely horrible experiences to its employees, the industry as a whole is struggling to provide value to clients when AI, raw data, and outsourced labor are so much cheaper. Market research is among the first expenses to get cut when budgets get slashed, and the resulting chaos that happens at companies like this is not worth your mental health. Please do not join this race to the bottom and consider other career paths.
