Who is a sociologist and what does he do?

Despite the fact that sociology seems to be a purely humanitarian science, representatives of this profession should be well versed in mathematics, as well as know the statistical calculation methods and probability theory. Sociologists who can not only understand what is happening, but also predict the development of events in society, can be involved in almost any field.

A sociologist is a specialist whose main job is to study, analyze and evaluate the processes taking place in society. The description of this profession suggests that the first sociologists appeared in antiquity, because the Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato just discussed the problems of society. However, the formation of sociology as an independent science occurred only in the 20th century.

Any sociologist, on the one hand, engaged in scientific workbut on the other, it does the same thing: collects and systematizes data obtained by observation or experiment. The main tools of a specialist are considered polls and questionnaires.

The types of professional activities of a sociologist are quite extensive. These include work in sociological centers for the study of public opinion, political research, marketing research, teaching, administrative work and much more. A sociologist-analyst is often invited as an expert in the development of large-scale economic or managerial tasks, and a good manager is engaged in personnel work in large organizations.Of course, many sociologists find their place in government bodies at the state and municipal levels.

One of the main advantages of the profession is its labor market demand current, as well as projected demand for the future. However, this is relevant only for large cities, but in the province, finding a job for a sociologist will prove to be a rather difficult task.

Socially significant specialty allows a specialist to choose whether to engage in scientific activities or to pursue a career in a commercial or state-owned enterprise. By combining both directions of development, a person will be able to achieve a high income and secure creative self-realization. The profession of a sociologist involves constant interaction with people, allowing you to develop a skill that is useful for all areas of life.

As for the shortcomings, the possible difficulties may arise with finding work outside the country, since the level of training of specialists in Russia is considered not high enough. To improve their own skills and ensure demand sociologist must constantly evolve in related fields, for example, in political science, psychology, statistics, philosophy and other disciplines. Minus can be called inability to work as a self-employed specialist or an individual entrepreneur.

However, The sociologist is quite able to organize his own business. As a rule, having worked for several years in the profession, the specialist has the skills of a manager and organizer, a broad outlook and the ability to establish contacts, which will allow him to create his own socially oriented business. Also a given profession allows you to organize courses of personal growth or to train other sociologist professions.

The duties of a sociologist are not limited to conducting research in a particular area. Its functions may include participation in the creation of organization development plans, the creation and conduct of research programs, as well as the development of recommendations for improving work. If the specialist has the appropriate competence, then he can be involved in the development of incentive measures, the study of staff turnover, as well as the analysis of violations of labor discipline. Often the job description of a sociologist includes the development and implementation of activities whose main goal is to eliminate social difficulties.

The specialist’s activities should take place as required by the professional standard, as well as take into account the requirements of Russian legislation and internal standards of the organization. A sociologist must know the data processing programs, as well as own research methods. (interview, experiment, focus group and survey).

In general, the main work of a specialist is based on the same scheme. Having received a request from the customer, he determines how many people will need to be interviewed, after which he selects and studies the methods of interviewing. In accordance with the set deadlines, a research plan is formed. Immediately after the survey, primary data is processed and the questions or questionnaires are corrected. Having received the final data after this, the sociologist must systematize them.

The character traits necessary for a good sociologist, of course, include sociability, since all work is based on interaction with people. In addition, a person must possess perseverance and attentiveness, because you have to work with a lot of information.Well, if it is the owner of an analytical mindset, equally prone to both the exact and the humanities.

Very important ability to concentrate on important, "Cutting off" all unnecessary, highlight patterns and special cases. Sociologist should be responsible a person, since the success of projects depends on the results obtained by him.

A sociologist should base his conclusions on the obtained empirical material, and not on his own conclusions. This means that, in addition to a broad outlook and knowledge in different industries, it is important to have well-developed communication skills. It is important for a specialist to be able to make contacts with people, attract attention and interest, speak clearly and clearly. Developed logic and flexibility of thinking, as well as the ability to focus for a long time on one object will always be useful.

In Russia, it is recommended to receive the profession of a sociologist only if a person plans to build a career in a big city. They teach this specialist in many universities of the capital. For example, it makes sense for school graduates to enter the State University of Management, G.V. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, which just has a faculty of sociology.

Previously, you will have to take the exam in three subjects: mathematics, the Russian language and social science. Of course, on the specialty "Sociology", but you can choose the direction in accordance with your own interests, for example, “Economic sociology” or “Social theory and applied sociology”. Obtaining a bachelor's degree takes 4 years, and a magistracy lasts 2 times less.

You can undergo retraining in the leading educational institutions of the capital. For example, the Russian Institute of Professional Education “IPO” allows you to remotely not only take part in a professional retraining program, but also improve your qualifications. The second category is assigned to the sociologist who has received higher education in this specialty, as well as having worked in this field for at least 3 years.

Sociologists with higher education can choose one of several ways for further development. In the first version the specialist goes into science and is engaged in research, publishing in journals and collections of scientific direction. Such sociologists also often become participants in international and national conferences.

In the second option, a university graduate chooses a role for himself specialist in state or commercial organizations, engaged in social research. In these cases, sociologists work in companies such as the All-Russian Center for Public Opinion Research, Levada Center, Zircon, and GFK Rus.

Very often, the necessary vacancy is also found in organizations not related to the required direction. A sociologist can find employment in the police school, the media, state authorities, private consulting organizations, public relations companies and advertising services, as well as publishing houses. A bachelor can eventually claim a salary of 30 to 55 thousand rubles. For example, even without experience as an assistant in a commercial company, you can get about 37 thousand rubles.

A project track record is required to obtain a project manager position - in this case, the monthly salary can reach about 75.6 thousand rubles. The salary of a specialist in the field of marketing or advertising in million-plus cities reaches 100 thousand rubles. The average salary of a sociologist in Russia is from 20 to 51 thousand rubles, but in Moscow is in the range from 40 to 100 thousand rubles.