After a rigorous six-month training programme, the third and latest intake of graduates at Join the Dots have moved into the client-facing research teams, having completed their MRS accredited training.

As part of Join the Dots’ commitment to training researchers to the highest standard, the programme has trained 18 junior researchers so far and consists of 130 hours of formal training courses, hands-on project experience and placements with the market trends teams.

The accredited programme is aligned to the MRS professional development competency framework, which gives graduates the knowledge, skills and attitude to have the best possible start to their research careers, ensuring they are well placed to start delivering for clients earlier and all in the ‘Join the Dots way’ of doing things.

Ellie Merrigan, one of the eight graduates to recently complete the six-month programme, has reflected on what it meant for her: “From the outset, the Join the Dots programme has fuelled the creativity and curiosity of all the graduates here. The training sessions have introduced us to the best methodologies and techniques available to researchers, whilst also incorporating other skills such as understanding consumer psychology and behaviour. Armed with this knowledge we have been empowered to answer our clients’ business objectives and put theory into practice through hands-on experience on client accounts."

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"I am well positioned to look forward on my journey as a researcher and have clear career goals.”

"Before starting, I was aware of MRS and its importance to both the providers and users of research. Having completed the programme, I can appreciate how the alignment of the learning programme to the MRS professional development competency framework (which included important sessions on the Code of Conduct for example), means I am well positioned to look forward on my journey as a researcher and have clear career goals.”

Recruitment for the next intake of graduates, with a start date of September 2016, is well under way. With a development programme accredited by MRS, Join the Dots has set itself apart from other companies in the increasingly competitive graduate job market. The programme attracts high-calibre graduates who value undertaking recognised training and development which will help them have successful careers.

Find out more about having your company's training accredited by MRS here. Join the Dots will be sponsoring three MRS networking events in Manchester in 2016, register for details here. 

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