What do you do if your market research career takes a major hit?

Assess your options and explore alternative career paths or opportunities within the field of market research. Consider freelance or consulting opportunities, part-time roles, or transitioning into related areas such as data analysis, marketing, or business consulting.

It's important to stay positive and resilient. Take some time to reflect on what happened, learn from the experience, and consider new opportunities. We always need to remember that setbacks can lead to growth and new beginnings.

It's easy to try to dig into all the little things that happened to figure out what went wrong, or to blame yourself. While its definitely important to be realistic about where you factored in and to look for indicators of how you could have done better, sometimes its just as key to acknowledge that decisions are often made where there is no finger to point. You should regroup, concentrate on your wellbeing, and as you assess what happened, you don't forget to prioritize yourself or your mental health.

Mention any relevant professional organizations you’re a part of or networking events you’ve attended. This shows your commitment to staying current in your field.

One of the most interesting things you could do (that not many people do) is to actually contact some of the people you worked with and reported to and ask for direct feedback - ask what you could have done better, what you did well, and what the expectation was that maybe you couldn't get a whole picture on when you worked there, but can now. Sometimes those perspectives can help alleviate your feeling of guilt while at the same time providing clarity on what you can improve on going forward.

Cultivate resilience. It’s the ability to bounce back from failures and setbacks. Resilience can be built by maintaining a positive attitude, practicing optimism, and developing strong problem-solving skills.

Consider including a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website where potential employers can see a more comprehensive view of your professional brand. If possible, include references or testimonials from past colleagues, managers, or clients who can vouch for your skills and accomplishments.

sometimes, an unexpected break in the chaos of everyday tasks and deliverables is just the spark you need to pursue other interests that might have been on hold. Now is the time to explore similar interests, take up classes, or pivot to topics that you feel might help support your current portfolio or branch it out to other possibilities.

Set realistic short-term and long-term goals for your career recovery journey. Break down your goals into manageable steps and take consistent action towards achieving them, even if progress may seem slow at times.