Thanks!
Career Paths and Entry Salaries
The type of positions available varies considerably between organizations and is very much dependent upon one’s level of education. In addition to research-related positions, which usually require an MA or PhD and specialized expertise, many organizations utilize interns and individuals with BA and MA degrees for a range of administrative positions. Entry-level positions for individuals with MA degrees include:
Program Manager/Assistant: Coordinates and handles logistics for major program events, meetings, conferences, and international visits, and manages a range of program support functions, including communications and publication work. Starting salaries can range from high 20s to mid 30s depending on the organization and level of responsibility.
Research Assistant: Provides research support to Fellows and Senior Associates, drafts documents, manages database records, handles correspondence and provides general administrative support. Salaries average in the high 20s to mid 30s, depending on the size and funding base of the institute.
Research Associate: Develops and implements research plans, prepares funding proposals, analyzes data and synthesizes findings, publishes and presents findings to various audiences. Starting salaries can range from mid 30s to 40s, again depending on experience and the organization.
Advancement into senior positions usually requires education at the Ph.D. level and/or extensive specialized expertise, so it is common to see those in junior level positions leaving after 2-3 years to pursue higher education and professional opportunities in academia, government, private corporations, and consulting firms.
Qualifications Necessary to Enter the Field
Higher education, at a Masters and Ph.D. level, and experience in the field is generally required for substantive research positions. Strong communication skills, both written and oral, are essential. One must be able to write concise briefing reports as well as longer, academic works. Presentation skills are also important, as is comfort in addressing an audience of experts. Competitive candidates will also be able to demonstrate proficiency in foreign languages and will have a solid command of word processing and spreadsheet applications and the Internet. Many positions require solid quantitative skills and knowledge of statistical packages.
You should check these out and send them your resume if you think you really want to change careers. If you’ve written policy review papers or other research reports, I would send pdf copies along.
http://think-tanks.findthedata.org/d/t/Conservative