Whatever you hear or read about a company, the people that work in it will always give you a far more authentic version. Here are some of our team to tell you a little more about what they think about the company and their roles.
Researcher, 8 months
In this role you are being paid to be interested and curious. At University I assumed loads of jobs would be interesting and challenging, but then realised this was definitely not the case. I was looking for somewhere where I would be challenged to use my brain, think, and learn.
One of the best things about being a researcher is the variety of work – everyday. Before my interview I wasn’t sure if people would be working on one project at time or multiple, and was excited when I heard that people work on 3+ projects each day – there’s never a chance to get bored or too comfortable.
Working with intelligent people who are great at their job and who really care about the work, as well as your progression, is great. And with the flat structure, being able to work closely with senior people every day and glean their wisdom is an amazing opportunity and very energising. You’re listened to, given responsibility and challenged to grow.
Researcher, 9 months
The things that really inspired me about RR and got me really excited about working here were the emphasis on making an impact, and the sheer variety of the work we do and our clients. Especially coming from Uni, where my work was only seen by very limited circles, being somewhere I could feel like I was doing something meaningful and potentially making a difference was really important. It was clear to me that RR were genuinely passionate about these things, and this passion is what made RR stand out for me.
In my relatively short time here, I’ve learnt so much about topics/areas I never really thought I’d encounter – I’ve researched topics from social media, to birth registration, to people’s experiences being hospitalised abroad, and elections! I learn so much every single day and I get to speak to so many different people from all walks of life – as well as developing skills in research, I’m really learning a lot about the world we live in too. RR is somewhere I feel I’m supported and encouraged to try new things, where I can really grow and develop. From day one, you get stuck in with real research and learn by actively doing things and working collaboratively with other people. The work we do is challenging but incredibly rewarding – I genuinely love everything we do and there’s never a day when I’m not excited to come into the office!
It is an endless learning experience, and a fun one. The fact that every team member brings a slightly different skill set, and it’s our different ways of thinking which makes such solid project teams and outcomes.
Senior Quantitative Researcher, 6 years
Life is really complicated, and so are the biggest issues we’re trying to deal with in this country. There aren’t any quick fixes, no matter what anyone tells you. And the idea that there is always a simple right and wrong goes out the window when you truly understand something, and the context around it. This job is about doing the difficult work of really trying to make change happen to make life better for people – not just talking about it.
Research (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic etc.) are some of the tools we use to do this – and learning them from some of the best in the business, and using them day in day out mean you will have amazing experiences. If you get stuck in, work hard, and are dedicated to learning about the world (the real world), then not only will you be contributing to making change happen, but you’re going to see everything differently. Because you’ll be exposed to more topics, ideas and evidence than most people meaningfully engage with in their lifetime.
Researcher, 8 months
I came into the company having studied anthropology with a real passion for research/ethnography. When I was talking to Damon in my interview, I was glad to hear that RR uphold themselves to high standards as a research agency, and that projects are only taken on after a discussion about whether the project will be helpful to society, and not contribute to any harm. It was different to interviews at other research agencies and as a grad, I liked how much the interview was about me as a person, rather than a checklist exercise, as it shows that the company values character and attitude a little more than what you have achieved on paper.
Since working here, one thing that has been striking to me is that everyone genuinely loves their job. I think until working here you don’t understand how rare this is! Everyone is so invested in the company and cares so much about what we do and is so proud of it all, and it’s a really nice atmosphere to work in. I like that people take an interest in projects they aren’t on rather than being focused solely on their own projects and how they’re going.
Senior Researcher, 2.5 years
The amount of work we do for charities, the public sector and government really appealed to me when applying for this role. Doing work every day that is focussed on making positive change happen is really rewarding.
The hands-on nature of the work makes the job so interesting, you get to meet a real range of people and aren’t stuck in the office all day every day. There’s also huge variation in what we do. You don’t get siloed into one thing and are constantly learning and trying out new skills. I’ve also found you get responsibility pretty quickly and feel right at the heart of things really early on. It was always a big worry for me that it would take years for me to find a role and company that I found genuinely interesting – turns out it didn’t take that long!
Ops Team, 2 years
When I came out of university, I knew I wanted to help run a business, but I didn’t really know where to look or how to decide where I should go. But when I saw Revealing Reality’s focus on a friendly culture and a company that genuinely cared about you as an individual I was hooked. I’ve been given so much opportunity in the time I’ve been here, much more than my friends in other similar roles. I’ve been involved in finances, marketing and communications, office management, recruitment, HR and writing bids for new projects to work on. The breadth of role is of great importance to me- I always feel like I’m taking on new responsibilities and adapting to new challenges, especially in the current climate.
Researcher, 6 months
Because I studied anthropology, I was directly interested in research and ethnography. I’ve always liked talking to people and finding out about their lives. You learn so much from each person you speak to, and getting to do this in people’s homes, in their own environments is what I wanted to do when I was thinking about careers while in uni. I also liked the idea of not being stuck at a desk 24/7 working monotonously, and that I would get to go out explore, learn, and then discuss it all with others at work.
Now, 6 months into my role I can confirm that the job is as interesting and exciting as it was presented as! The range of projects and clients make it easy to maintain momentum and continue to think critically, and it means that the work never gets tedious. It’s impossible to work here and not feel enthusiastic about what you are doing, and the change you are bringing to the world.
Not only this, but this is also the most supportive environment I have ever worked in. All your colleagues really want you to be your best, encourage you to try new things and step outside of your comfort zone, and trust you with responsibility. Although this can be daunting at first, it has been crucial to developing my confidence in this role. I cannot believe how much I have grown and learnt over the last 6 months; I have become more organised, more confident, more creative, more critical. I don’t think I would have had that opportunity working at a bigger company where I wasn’t able to regularly check in with directors, senior staff and other colleagues.
Researcher, 11 months
A researcher role at RR means working on a huge variety of projects in the public, private and charity sector. I’ve been quickly exposed to the dynamics of these different sectors and a organisations and understand how they work.
It’s great that you don’t get pigeonholed into one role/ task and get to be involved in all aspects of a project, from recruitment to full project management very quickly. I feel like this can be lost in big agencies where you might have to specialise in a particular thing. No two projects have been the same and the diversity of people you get to talk to is something that limited jobs will ever offer. From spending time with young Somalian teenagers in deprived areas of London to wealthy Indian marketing executives, I’ve been given extensive insight into a wide variety of lives, jobs, places.
A huge amount of effort is put into training and self-development. You learn how to develop research skills very quickly with support from seniors and get trained in using cutting edge film equipment that helps you capture respondents lives. This is an extremely fun environment with a young, committed team where creating a culture of high quality work and having a laugh while doing it is prioritised.
As the company is focused on how to make change happen, there is a constant feeling of excitement and that we’re on the precipice of making an important impact, which is highly motivating.
Ops Team, 4.5 years
When I applied for an operations role at Revealing Reality I had very little idea of what I wanted to do. As an English grad I at least knew I wanted to utilise my writing skills, but I was also determined find a job where the work was genuinely interesting, had a positive impact on the world and provided opportunities for learning and growth – qualities I was really struggling to find in any of the organisations I was applying for at the time!
From the get-go it was clear I’d found those qualities here. Starting off in an operations role I was able to quickly pursue my interests and explore new-found talents. I was encouraged to take responsibility for the comms outputs of the business, get involved in bid writing for new work – which involves tackling a huge range of complex research problems, such as how to measure online wellbeing through to how to engage non-English speaking migrants – and eventually oversee the quality of written outputs for projects.
During my time here I’ve helped to produce and launch reports to inspire country-wide change, spoken to people from all walks of life – from asylum seekers to aphasia sufferers – and, most importantly, learnt about issues, individuals and organisations that you wouldn’t get the opportunity to learn about in any other sector or workplace.
Associate Director, 7 years
I was originally attracted to working at Revealing Reality because I wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone. The prospect of exploring the world for your job – in care homes, hospitals, schools, towns and cities and the homes of ordinary (and extraordinary!) people across the UK – was a daunting and exciting idea.
Several years on, I can confidently say I have been pushed way beyond what I thought I was capable of at that age! I now sit at the centre of a business that punches way above its weight in terms of social change and impact, that leads thinking and insight on issues you can’t help but feel passionate about, and constantly strives to be better.
Beyond research, I have been able to develop skills that span leadership, strategy, storytelling, design and consultancy – none of which I would have seen myself being good at (or even knew what they were) when I joined Revealing Reality. I’ve learned that you can achieve a lot more in the world by investing in a team and the people around you. You don’t have to be good at everything yourself if you can learn how to trust and inspire others.
Working here will probably leave you changing your mind about almost everything you thought you already knew. It is all a lot more complicated than it’s made out to be, and making change happen is harder than most can imagine. Constantly challenging what you think, learning about the world and figuring out what to do about it is not easy, but it is a lot of fun.
Researcher, 1.5 years
For me, the best thing about this job is getting to do work that matters and is so varied and across so many topic areas. I love that one day I’ll be interviewing a 16 year old about their media habits and the next speaking to someone about how they manage their arthritis.
People are at the centre of everything we do, from the research with respondents, working with clients and the team at Revealing Reality. So if you like learning about other people it’s really a great place to be! Working here means you’ll have the opportunity to be exposed to so many different subject areas, people and tasks so you get to grow and develop skills really quickly.
Researcher, 1.5 years
Everyone who wants to work here knows there are things that need to change in the world and has some ideas about how to get started. However, one of the main things you’ll learn at Revealing Reality is that there are challenges and ways to make change happen that you would never have thought of before. I think before I started here, I felt pretty certain about what I thought was right / wrong and important / less so – but pretty quickly realised the world is far more diverse and interesting than I’d ever imagined.
One of the best things about working here is that you’re part of a team who are incredibly invested in everything they do – from delivering impactful projects, to building relationships with clients and their teams, to sharing learnings with your colleagues – it’s just enjoyable to be around people that care and want to do their best in things.
In a similar vein, it is really nice to work somewhere that feels like they care about you. You’ll learn about new and different topics quickly, be put into situations with responsibility early on, and develop new skills constantly. So long as you’re interested and show willing, you’ll get a lot in return for working here.
Senior Design Researcher, 3.5 years
What I appreciate the most about working at Revealing Reality is that the work we do truly contributes to positive change in the world, and that we do it with a team that shares a vision of what a great world looks like and work together to achieve it.
On top of that, the people are awesome and we have so much fun together!
Production Manager – 3 years
I love how the company challenges you in different ways, pushing and encouraging you out of your comfort zone and allowing everyone to try.
Everyone at all levels of the business can contribute to all aspects of the business; including new business proposals, creative aspects of projects, inputting ideas into the best deliverables, even drawing workshops. It is truly a team effort.
I think the fact that everyone is working together towards positive change being made in the world as a common goal is amazing. I like how we constantly challenge opinions and get to listen to so many peoples stories challenging different perspectives around the world.
I like how one project approach is never the same as another. We never settle for an approach just because we have done it before, it is always because it will have the most positive impact and benefit the people it affects in the best way possible. We aren’t afraid of trying something new, and everyone has a voice into how that might look like irrespective of how junior you are to the business.
I feel everyone is likeminded in the sense of a high work ethic and drive which means your colleagues challenge you in positive ways. It’s a fast paced environment, driven with excitement, commitment and passion for what we know we can achieve.
It is an endless learning experience, and a fun one. The fact that every team member brings a slightly different skill set, and it’s our different ways of thinking which makes such solid project teams, and outcomes.
Researcher, 2 years
I was really enthusiastic about the idea of not having a ‘boring office job’ and doing something that had a positive impact.
Revealing Reality is a place where everyone’s voice is heard and there is no such thing as a silly question. You are encouraged not just to accept things – but always to ask why. Why do people not understand the asylum seeker process? Why do people stay up all night gaming? Why do people feel like they can’t speak openly with their GP about their health conditions? Why do people open up new bank accounts to hide their gambling addiction from their partner?
These are the questions you’ll find answers to working as researcher. You will speak to everyday people about everyday challenges. You’ll hear stories that will stay with you forever and become an expert within a matter of weeks on a topic previously unfamiliar to you.
Researcher, 2 years
What really attracted me to the company when I applied is that social impact is prioritised across the projects we do, which helps you grow and learn as a researcher but also as a person.
An important characteristic of our culture is having an innovative and dynamic approach to everything we do, where we can learn in a fun but challenging environment. Everyone’s input and opinions are really valued here – we all do a bit of everything – you may be doing a task that someone more senior is doing too and you work together as a team.
There is also a big opportunity for progression – here we recognise that everyone has potential and the ability to learn and do great things, and their ideas/opinions are listened to. There’s a focus on developing as individuals, and you do that with the support of the whole team, receiving honest feedback that enables you to grow and improve.
For me, a new discovery was seeing the impact of Qual vs Quant, as I was coming more from quantitative background. I’ve discovered the value of in-depth conversations and how powerful individual stories are. Having the opportunity to hear about stories that can change the way you think about many things, gives you real perspective.
Senior Production Manager, 4 years
Coming from the world of commercial marketing I found the nature of the work at Revealing Reality really inspiring. The chance to make change happen and improve the lives of people versus just selling more stuff was a refreshing change of pace and is a big reason why, three years on, I’m still excited to come to work every day.
In a relatively short time, I’ve already worked with some of the largest services providers in the UK and some of the most influential companies in the world. (NHS, BBC, Sky, Google, UEFA, just to name a few) My first project sent me to King’s Lynn and now I can add rural towns in Kenya and refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon to that list – all through working at RR.
I can also honestly say that the company is truly multidisciplinary. We have an in-house design team, film team, illustration and animation team which means that our work has the greatest chance to be seen and heard. We develop our findings not only into debriefs decks and reports but also films, events and immersive experiences. There’s never a dull day at RR!
Senior Researcher, 4 years
As a researcher at Revealing Reality I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with a diverse range of people, understanding what life is like for them. From talking to young people about their use of pornography, to those living multiple health conditions about the challenges they face, to spending time with police officers understanding their use of different tactics to tackle knife crime.
I’ve not stopped learning about new topics and parts of life, and continue to have my assumptions challenged!
The research has taken me across the UK and beyond – doing research in people’s homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, sporting events (from local 5 aside football matches to the Russia World Cup!), music festivals, casinos and many more.
As well as the chance to meet interesting people and explore new places, I’ve been supported to take on increasing responsibility within the business. As a graduate, I assumed it would be years before I was in a role where I was managing and developing other people, alongside developing my own skills. But with ongoing guidance and close support from the senior team over the past four years, my day-to-day job now involves leading teams and focusing on improving the skills of others.
Similarly, I’ve been able to take responsibility for building relationships with clients, innovating in how we design and carry out research, creating high quality and impactful outputs, and winning new work. Across the business there are always opportunities to get involved and push yourself to grow if you want to.
Each project we do is an opportunity to positively change something in the world. Whether it’s influencing policy, inspiring the design of a new product or service, or helping clients to create positive behaviour change.
