Life @ RySense

I had been working in finance for some time and decided to explore something different to broaden my skill set and seek new challenges for growth. When I heard that the field team in RySense was looking for someone who could help to automate sample management for field interviews, I thought I could give it a try. Embarking on a new career path can be daunting, but returning to RySense was like walking blindfolded with the support and guidance from familiar colleagues, making the transition more seamless. Thanks to my patient and supportive colleagues, I was able to develop confidence in my new role.

Doing sample management is refreshing and exciting as each day I am challenged to think of creative solutions to satisfy the quotas for each project. Every project is unique and the process is dynamic, requiring me and my team to adapt to challenges on the ground. This fosters my ability to think on my feet and navigate complex situations. I also appreciate the freedom I am given to explore and experiment to come up with solutions. The sense of accomplishment at the conclusion of each project is very fulfilling.

Before joining RySense, I worked in the field of academic research for two years. I was looking to do work with greater relevance to real world issues and impact on society. With its focus on social research, RySense offered me the opportunity to make the switch to a career that aligns more with my personal values.

My journey here so far has been rewarding. I run polls on a variety of socio-economic issues, the findings of which provide insights to our clients and the general public on the thoughts and views of Singaporeans. I am also motivated by the fact that the research I do helps to inform decision-making that can result in positive change for Singaporeans.     

What I like about working in RySense is the close collaboration across the different teams. Through working with colleagues with diverse expertise, we get to learn from one another and hence grow professionally. I also appreciate that RySense values the learning and growth of employees. Attending the Research Foundation Programme, one of our targeted training programmes for researchers, I was able to develop my technical competencies and soft skills. As a result, I am equipped to perform better at my job and to tackle challenges in the long term in my career.

Staff welfare is also a priority at RySense. We enjoy good healthcare benefits and activities for staff bonding such as company-wide festive celebrations and family days. These ‘perks’ of being a RySense staff make me feel appreciated for my efforts and motivated to do my work better.

I have been with RySense for five years. It was an interesting journey from the start, as I joined RySense during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Singapore. The nature of commissioned research pieces we do are understandably coloured by the pressing Singaporean issues of the moment; being able to observe the evolution and cycles of research topics throughout the COVID-19 pandemic also gives me a good sense of how we move forward in our broader journey together as a nation.   

As a researcher in RySense who is heavily involved in generating insights for our clients, I appreciate that every research piece is built on a solid foundation – data quality. As someone with many years of experience in the market research industry, I can safely say that the standards of data quality at RySense are top-notch. Being able to stand by your findings and insights with utmost conviction in the quality of data is not something that is to be taken for granted in this industry, and I am truly glad to always have that conviction as a researcher in RySense.    

I define myself as a problem-solver, and my years in RySense has given me many opportunities to grow in this aspect. The intrinsic satisfaction of being able to do good by your clients and play a part in helping them address the social issues they’re working on, no matter how big or small, is something I treasure a lot. In addition, being able to work closely with a diverse group of researchers with individual domains of expertise in research methodologies helps me greatly in becoming a holistic researcher, and to best advise clients on the most effective route towards addressing their research problems/objectives.

All in all, I have treasured the many opportunities to guide junior researchers, bounce ideas off my team mates to get the best solutions for our clients, and being able to play a significant role in helping to triangulate solutions to the concerns/issues we face as Singaporeans.