Skills needed for working in competitive intelligence

Are you interested in a career in competitive intelligence?

The industry is constantly growing as organisations recognise the value of mapping the competitive landscape, and quantifying the threats and opportunities presented by rivals. The prevalence of digital research tools may have accelerated the boom in this field.

It’s impossible to ignore the wealth of data available, and difficult to opt-out when the majority of your competitors are investing in systematic research and competitor analysis.

Aqute Intelligence is always looking for new analysts to join our global team.

How do you stack up against the job spec below?

Competitive intelligence analyst: job description

Competitive intelligence analysts must be self-motivated, deeply curious and tenacious fact-hunters. Having a sensitivity to nuance can also help you interpret findings and pinpoint the most valuable insights among the weight of data.

Core responsibilities

Intelligence gathering. Using a wide range of primary and secondary research tools and sources will be a significant part of your role.

At Aqute, we maintain an exhaustive list of resources to help you uncover the information our clients need, but some projects call for creative solutions to help you obtain hard-to-find numbers, names and details.

At the same time, you must remain cognizant of the laws and ethics of competitive intelligence gathering. Our general rule is: if you have to ask if something is legal, you probably shouldn’t do it.

Report writing. Having gathered data from multiple sources, you will need to present your findings in formats that our clients can use. At Aqute, we have a range of standard presentation templates, but on occasion we adapt these to suit specific customer needs.

By understanding your clients’ objectives, you can ensure that your research and reporting are optimised to support their goals.

Client liaison. You will be involved in client meetings, both to receive briefings and to share your findings. Clients may require additional context or have queries regarding your reports. Good communication skills are essential – both listening and relaying information.

Skills

Technology. Using tech is a cornerstone of the analyst’s role. In addition to being a fast-learner and proficient with online tools and office applications, it helps to be enthusiastic about adopting new technologies as they emerge.

Telephone interviews. Getting people talking can be one of the most challenging – and rewarding – parts of the role. While some people will always be too busy to talk, you will find that many people love to share their knowledge and are happy to chat about their area of expertise.

Perseverance. The most valuable insights are rarely on the surface. Through persistent digging and intelligent exploration you will join the dots and give clients information they can convert into action.

Flexibility. One day you are researching software companies in Singapore, the next you are studying the financials of pharmaceutical firms in Finland. While lesser analysts are getting whiplash, you are mining for gold-grade data in uncharted territory.

Analytical thinking. Data gathered is useless until it is interpreted, assessed and evaluated. You will need to be a clear-thinker who can cut through the noise of a cluttered spreadsheet to divine the story within.

Discretion. The world of competitive intelligence is nothing at all like espionage. But we do have to be discrete and mindful of the global corporations, startups and SMEs that we represent. Being sensitive to the implications of our actions means we can help to protect our clients’ brands and reputations.

Requirements

While many of our analysts are university graduates with several years of experience, we are open to applications from candidates who want to transfer from another industry or profession.

Are you interested in a career in competitive intelligence?

If you want to begin a career in competitive intelligence, you will find that many large companies have their own in-house competitive intelligence analysts. These professionals may work as adjuncts to other divisions, such as finance, sales, marketing or product, or they may form a centralised resource.

As a competitive intelligence analyst, you can also work for independent agencies like Aqute, which gives you the benefit of variety in terms of clients, competitors and research tasks.

Check our page for competitive intelligence analyst jobs if you would like to know more about our current and future opportunities.

 
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