University Portfolio: Managing People and Careers - Final Submission

This portfolio, submitted by a student, showcases their application for a Graduate Research Executive position at Ipsos MORI. It begins with a cover letter expressing interest in the role and highlighting analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills, supported by relevant experience in data analysis and sales. The portfolio also includes a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) outlining educational background, work experience, and skills, such as sales, data entry, and various software proficiencies. An application form addresses questions about the applicant's motivation for joining Ipsos MORI, group work experiences, problem-solving approaches, and time management skills. The portfolio further includes sections on interview and assessment center practice, demonstrating the student's preparation for the recruitment process. The student emphasizes their abilities to analyze data, work in teams, and manage multiple priorities effectively, making them a strong candidate for the position.

Managing People and
Careers Portfolio

Table of Contents
COVER LETTER ...........................................................................................................................1
CURRICULUM VITAE (CV).........................................................................................................3
APPLICATION FORM...................................................................................................................6
INTERVIEW PRACTICE..............................................................................................................9
ASSESSMENT CENTRE PRACTICE.........................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

COVER LETTER
Andrea Szaszi
Colliers Wood South London
(222)-28-234
[e-mail]
November 19, 2019
Michel Thomas
Director, Human Resources Department
Ipsos MORI
3 Thomas More Square
London, United Kingdom
E1W 1YW
Respected Sir,
I am applying for the position of Graduate Research Executive within Ipsos MORI about
which I get to know through the advertisement posted over its official website on 10
November 2018. My attraction toward this job remains because this is my interest area and I
posses the ability to deal with the responsibility that the Ipsos MORI offer under the
Graduate Research Executive. In order to become successful within the area of research, a
person must be good at analytical and critical thinking skills so that they can develop better
understanding regarding the presented data and represent it in a manner that project become
successful. I personally believe that I posses these abilities as while performing a project I
use to determine pros and cons of each fact or claims that are being performed over a
particular information so that it must be presented in more authenticated manner. This
support in performing an in-depth investigation over the particular area of study by consider
both positive and negative side of particular information presented. This shows my
capability of critically thinking and evaluating the information which is consider to be the
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core of any investigation. I also remains a person who maintained an experience of
maintaining healthy relationship with my seniors, peers, teachers, executives etc. which state
that I firmly believe that I am eligible for the Graduate Research Executive position.
The execution of research is my interest area which support me in performing the
investigation in more reliable manner. Despite of this I enjoy performing interpretation of
data gathered and then presenting the conclusion for determining the actually output of
study. I also posses good interest in statistical solutions in term of bar graph, line diagram,
frequency polygon, histogram etc. During my education in college I was quite active in
performing projects that are related with marketing as well as research where I make use of
my observational capabilities and analytical skills that support me in performing my work in
most effective manner and achieve good grades. In addition to this while working as a data
entry manger I came to know about several methods that are used for analysing the
information and evaluating them to determine the result. Throughout this tenure several
tasks was assigned to me where I have to arrange the data in systematic manner and
combined it to reach up to a result. For performing these tasks I make use of my technical as
well as researcher skills and when I deliver the presentation I get appreciation from authority
for my hard work and in-depth understanding. Therefore, I poses much interest within the
vacant position within Ipsos MORI as I believe that my academics and personal skills are
enough to support in fulfilling the responsibility for the job position of Graduate Research
Executive at company.
I hereby attached my Curriculum Vitae (CV) along with my cover letter so that required
information regarding my educational background can be assessed against the requirement
of this job.
Thank you for your time, here is my contact number (222)-28-234 and email
([e-mail]). I am looking forward to hear from you.
Thanks and Regards
ABC
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CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)
General Information
Name- Andrea Szaszi
Address- Colliers Wood South London
D.O.B:- 13/03/1986
Contact no.- (222)-28-234
Email id- [e-mail]
Career objective- My aim is to get successful in the field of my interest by presenting
my skills or competencies in best possible manner toward accomplishment of
organisational goals with my personal objectives.
Educational Background:-
Italian Course at I.D.M March 2017 – May 2017
Certificate of Higher Education in Tourism Sept 2001 – June 2005 – Traian Vuia College
– Oradea.
Work Experience: Experienced
July 2017 – Present French Connection House of Fraser
Post:- Sales assistant
Roles & Responsibilities
 Maintains the record related with the sales performed.
 Provide recommendation, select and help in obtaining merchandise as per
customer need and desire.
 Describe merchandise and explain team about the operation and care of
merchandise to customers.
 Welcoming customers and ascertain actual need of customers.
June 2013-June 2017 Integer Document Management
Position: Data Entry Manager
IDM - Italian Company based In Romania
Roles & Responsibilities
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 Presenting data entry for different departments
 Assisting departments with general administrative support
 Managing data base for the company
Sept 2011-April 2013 Terranova (Retail)
Position: Sales Assistant
Roles & Responsibilities
 Opening and closing the cash registers
 Performing tasks like counting money, separating charge slips, coupons and
vouchers.
 Managing knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding the
exchanges and payments.
August 2008-August 2011 Roza Oro Collection (Jewellery shop)
Position: Cashier/Sales Supervisor
Roles & Responsibilities
 Arranging display over window and show cabinets
 Customer services
 Using It system for managing customer accounts and controlling stock
Language
 English – Intermediate
 Romanian – Native
 Italian – Intermediate
 Hungarian – Intermediate
 Spanish – Basic
Computer proficiency
 MS PowerPoint
 MS Word
 MS Excel
 HTML
 SAS
 Internet Explorer
Skills and abilities
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 Quick learner and self motivated
 Good at team working and management
 Having good logical abilities and critical thinking
 Strong observatory capability
 Good communication skills verbal and non-verbal
 Adaptive to changing environment as well as emerging technologies and trends.
 Good at problem solving related with critical situation.
Technical Knowledge:
 Taxation
 In-depth knowledge of Company Law, Securities Law and Labour Law
Other basic information
 Hobbies: Basket ball, Hiking, Reading books, Listening music, exploring new
things.
 Natural Abilities
 Driven and energetic
 Sense of urgency
 Competitive nature
 Data Entry specific programmes
 Driver licence - B
DECLARATION:
I hereby declare that information disclosed by me above are all true as per my knowledge
and understanding. All the certificates mentioned are being issued by recognized
board/university and are achieved by me. I am able to provide all these documents
whenever required.
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APPLICATION FORM
1. Why do you want to work for us?
Ipsos MORI is one of the largest market research company with in UK which get formed
by the merger of Ipsos UK and MORI. It perform survey over larger number of organisation as
well as other market research engine. It is an organisation who have higher corporate reputation
and stake in marketplace throughout the world. In addition to this it is also operates its business
in around 89 countries and consider as one of the largest survey company in world which is one
of the greatest opportunity for me to work with such a repute organisation that help me in
personal as well as professional development. Despite of this, Ipsos MORI also put more
emphasis over effective management of human resources in term of both staff as well s corporate
clients by formulating effective policies toward promoting the welfare of employees at
workplace. It also focuses toward developing a healthy environment for staff members so that
they can perform operations in more productive manner which support this organisation in
achieving success in near future. These all things reflect that the company work toward effective
management of internal employees so that they can manage and satisfy the external stakeholders
or the organisation's client. I am searching for an organisation which support me in exploring my
field of interest and be able to develop my skills or competencies. I posses good analytical skills
that are consider to be most crucial for performing an investigation effectively. Despite of this I
am experience in sales field which is consider to be most complicated job as decision are taken
after evaluating several thinks. In addition to this I also have an experience in data entry and
analytics. These all support me in conducting the investigation and evaluating the data in more
effective manner which proves to be a complimentary skills along with researcher skills for me
while performing task for the Ipsos MORI. In addition to this it will provide me an environment
to grow and learn new things along with developing my successful career.
2. Tell us about a time you worked in a group to achieve an objective (what did you do
and what was the outcome?)
In my current job of sale assistant I have to work toward managing the merchandise and
explaining sales team about the activities they have to perform. There was a situation when
merchandise are being changes by the employer in order to deal with the decrease in sales of
French Connection. At that time the crowd to the store suddenly get increased and the demand of
consumer also get increased among the consumers. As a result of which it become harder for the
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sales team to manage the work, but if these things get ignored at that time then it may result into
sever loss to the organisation and may affect its profitability. So at that we are assigned with the
sales target by forming up a team by the sales manager and I was the leaders of team. In order to
deal with this situation I divided the work among the team mates and set up certain guidelines to
work in order to provide satisfactory services to the consumers with an aim to recall the sales. I
asked each sales persons to regularly maintain they record in term of sale which then I observe in
order to predict the demand as well as next expected requirement of merchandise so that orders
can be already remain in the stock when customer arrive to the store. In addition to this, after
closing of store I use to direct the staff members regarding the presentation of merchandise so
that highly demanded dresses easily catch attention of customers which support in enhancing
sale as well as also support in reducing time spend by consumers in search of product with their
choice.
3. Tell us about a time when you identified a new approach to solve a problem. (what did
you do and what was the outcome?)
When I use to work as a data entry manager, I assigned with the work where I have to
manage and combine the data which is gathered after performing survey over 100 people who
gave their opinion regarding the quality of services for company. After combining and
presentation of data will be then presented in front of my seniors within a week for further
actions to be taken in term of improvising the services. As the data contains numerics I required
to present the information in non-technical form so that it can be easily understood by the group
members. For this I performed a detailed study about the survey presented and try to arrange
data in organised manner and then aid the data by making use of bar graph, pie chart, histogram
so that data can be easily analysed by the interpretor without putting much efforts. After
presenting this work they appreciated me and congratulate me for implementing the difficult task
in such an effective manner and wished me good luck for my future work.
4. Tell us about a time when you had to manage a number of different priorities and
complete a number of tasks in a short amount of time. (what did you do and what was the
outcome?)
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While my college period I was assigned with a project to study and present information
over MNC in UK along with their working pattern. Along with this I have assigned with some
improvement over my previous project and apart from this I also have to prepare for my exam
that are about to organised after three weeks. These 3 tasks are urgent which make it more
difficult for me to prioritise the work Thus, I made a plan to determine the time required by each
task and their superiority in term of execution. After determining time I decided to firstly
complete the old project where I require to make modification. In next order I decided to
complete the project assigned to me and after completing the project I will started studying for
my examination. In this manner I prioritise my project and become successful in completing task
within set time frame.
55 Tell us about a project you worked on that required you to persuade others to your
point of view. (what did you do and what was the outcome?)
In the beginning of job as a sale assistance at French Connection, I have to work with the
team of sales representative and ensure their working to be performed as planned by the sales
manager. While working with them I have analysed that there is not any arrangement of
merchandise which is attractive or gain attention of people quickly. As they use to display only
those design that have high sales history but as these designs get common so customers do not
choose to purchase them. So I suggested them that their must be regular rotation of merchandise
which is to be highlighted over dummy or in front of line as when regularly new merchandise get
presented in front of consumers they like to revisit again and again. After listening to this idea
they get agreed with it and my manager appreciated me for this idea. In this manner I get
successful in persuading them to perform work as per my view.
INTERVIEW PRACTICE
During my college days, there was a seminar organised by out teachers in order to
provide us guidance over career growth. For this large number of professionals are being called
from various background in order to share their experience during the time of interview. These
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spokespersons who came from several universities and professions gave lecture in seminar where
they provided with few essential points to be consider:
 It is crucial for an individual to carry their all kind of certificates and documentations
with themselves that are related with working experience and educational background.
 In order to leave a good impression over interviewer, individual must focus over its
gesture and body movements.
 While speaking or presenting something there must be not remain any sign of low
confidence or nervousness.
 A student must reach before time at the interview place an hour before in order to show
punctuality and dedication top the interviewer.
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ASSESSMENT CENTRE PRACTICE
While my college period, I attend a seminar which is about guiding the students about
things and behaviour to be consider while interview. After that another seminar was organised
next day for having a discussion over assessment centre. The major things learnt from seminar
were-
 While going through testy at assessment centre, an individual must stay confident and
motivated in order to demonstrate the given task in effective manner.
 An individual must also posses an adaptive and spontaneous approach toward the
assessment of task so that I can perform the task as soon as it is assigned to me.
Additional, one should make use of formal language while conversation in order to
convey the views and opinion in more efficient manner and leave with a positive impression.
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