Research Analyst - Chicago

Korn Ferry; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry is seeking a Research Analyst in the United States to support executive search projects and business development. You will help prepare company overviews, research target lists, and identify potential candidates to enable senior teams to win new opportunities.

You will contribute to market intelligence and data quality while collaborating with partners and consultants, with a pathway to Associate or more senior roles based on performance.

Qualifications

• Must be genuinely curious about people, business, and industry.
• Willingness to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong research and information-gathering abilities.
• Proactive and results-driven with strong communication.
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with high integrity for confidential data.

Responsibilities

• Prepare company overviews for account teams.
• Research companies and build target lists.
• Identify potential candidates from multiple sources.
• Call companies to understand organization structure.
• Support business development with search strategy.
• Assist in candidate identification and tracking.

Skills

Curiosity

High Energy

Research Skills

Communication

Team Collaboration

Persistence

Job description

Application Deadline

15 September 2026

About Us

Korn Ferry is a global consulting firm that powers performance. We unlock the potential in your people and unleash transformation across your business - synchronizing strategy, operations, and talent to accelerate performance, fuel growth, and inspire a legacy of change. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking companies across every major industry turn to us - for a shared commitment to lasting impact and the bold ambition to Be More Than.

Headquartered In Los Angeles, Our Over 9,000 Colleagues Globally Serve Clients In More Than 50 Countries. We Offer Five Core Capabilities That Span The Full Talent Lifecycle

• Organizational Strategy
• Assessment and Succession
• Talent Acquisition
• Leadership Development
• Rewards and Benefits

Job Description

The Research Analyst position marks the entry point for a uniquely powerful career development track – one that can truly lead anywhere. As one of us, you will have endless opportunities to innovate, make an impact, and work with the best. You will also have plenty of freedom to chart your own course, as you grow and develop with our business.

Our Culture

Talent Matters At Our Company. So, We Have Created a Colleague-centric Culture Where Everyone Can Make An Impact – On Our Business, On Our Clients’ Businesses, And On Their Own Careers. Some Of The Things That Make Our Culture Special

• Creativity – We look to one another to generate innovative solutions, not only for our clients but also for ourselves.
• Collaboration – We work in an open environment with a borderless mentality, sharing the expertise of our team members around the world.
• Performance – We are committed to exceeding client expectations, so high performance levels are a given.
• Inclusivity – We encourage everyone to contribute to the success of the business; there is no role at that is insignificant.
• Integrity – We believe that how you go about business is as important as business results.
• Agility – We work in a fast-moving, dynamic industry where change is the only constant and flexibility is key to our success.

Key Responsibilities

The primary focus of the Research Analyst is supporting the practice in preparing for business development meetings and delivering on executive search projects. Typical job focus includes:

• Preparing company overviews for account teams
• Researching companies and developing target lists
• Identifying potential candidates from a variety of online and proprietary tools
• Calling companies to determine organization structure

A successful Research Analyst career path typically includes opportunities for promotion to Associate, which has extensive client contact and business development expectations. Career paths for successful candidates may also include a more senior Research position (e.g. "Knowledge Manager") for a sector or COE cluster.

Additional Responsibilities For a Research Analyst May Include

• Searcher™ Data Quality Management and Entry: Consistently inputting and updating highly confidential candidate records in our proprietary Client Resource Management (CRM).
• Business Development Support: Actively participating in designing the search and business development strategy with the Partner and Consultant; pro-active involvement as a valued team contributor throughout the search process from pitch to candidate development.
• Candidate ID: Providing research in support of candidate identification and business development activities of the practice. Develops appropriate candidate "target" lists for Senior Associates using the phone, print materials and a wide range of online information resources.
• Internal/External Call Participation: Attending and/or listening in on kick-off meetings, suggesting possible targets, and attending client briefings/meetings when possible; Attending or listening in on all applicable sector and practice meetings/calls.
• Focus on Client and Candidate Service: Developing a full understanding of the search and the research needs of internal clients; Developing confidence and trust of both internal and external clients.
• Market Intelligence: Teaming up on "proprietary" market intelligence projects in a Research Analyst sector and/or COE industry concentration; Proactively identifying and tracking organizational, industry, and/or functional trends and reporting findings.

YEAR ONE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Learn the researcher role and become an effective member of the search team.

Master ability to identify relevant candidate backgrounds from a variety of sources including:

• Searcher Express™ (proprietary candidate database)
• LinkedIn, Capital IQ, BoardEx, Pitchbook, ZoomInfo, etc.
• Industry associations and trade publications

Manage time effectively to simultaneously balance research requests from multiple search teams. Actively engage with colleagues of all levels to create a culture of transparency, collaboration, respect, execution, and professionalism.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• Intelligence and Intellectual Curiosity: Must be genuinely interested in learning about people, business and industry characteristics/needs. Need the ability to quickly learn industry fundamentals and understand criteria for success. Importantly, they must have a high "EQ" (Emotional [Maturity] Quotient). Need sufficient conceptual skills to understand broad industry concepts and analytical skills to "drill down" to determine depth of experience.
• High Energy Level: Must work on multiple assignments simultaneously, adhering to best practice guidelines. Must be willing to work hours required to complete the assignment. "Street Smarts" The ability to quickly discern the criteria most important for candidate success in a particular search and think in a non-linear fashion so as to work smarter and creatively; Listen to and process candidate information in such a way as to determine likely fit with the opportunity and quickly "close" the conversation to specific next steps or additional source or candidate identification.
• Contribution to Resources: Adds to and updates Searcher. Conducts a thorough evaluation of the outcome of research provided on a search and ensures that results are recorded in Searcher. Actively contributes to the practice knowledge system as well as to practice and research meetings.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Works with minimal direction; is a self-starter but at the same time knows when to, and is comfortable with asking for direction when necessary. Provides meaningful feedback and when appropriate offers value-added suggestions for approaching the search in a different way. Provides research support in business development efforts.
• Efficiency and Need for Closure: Work with multiple managers and prioritize task effectively. The ability to understand to complete searches quickly and at the highest quality standards, while making a profit consistent with the value delivered.
• Persistence and Thoroughness: Ability to work in a fast-paced and unstructured work environment, able to assertively navigate organizational structures, but with sensitivity and finesse. Associates must reliably complete necessary paperwork and follow procedures effectively, especially those involving protecting key assets, such as proprietary databases.