Managing People and Careers Report - Ipsos MORI Application

This report provides a comprehensive overview of managing people and careers, focusing on a job application for a Graduate Research Executive position at Ipsos MORI. It includes a detailed cover letter, answers to application questions addressing the candidate's reasons for applying, experiences in teamwork, problem-solving, and time management, and persuasive skills. The report also features a CV summarizing the candidate's qualifications and experience, and reflections on seminar interview practices and assessment centre exercises. The content demonstrates the candidate's skills, experience, and suitability for the role, offering insights into the job application process and career management.

Managing People
and Careers

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
COVER LETTER............................................................................................................................1
APPLICATION QUESTIONS........................................................................................................3
1. Reasons for working with IPSOS Mori..................................................................................3
2. Experience of working in a group to achieve an objective.....................................................3
3. Situation when new approach was identified for solving a problem......................................3
4. Manage a number of various priorities and tasks in short amount of time.............................4
5. Project worked where others are persuaded to the point of view...........................................4
CV....................................................................................................................................................6
REFLECTION ON SEMINAR INTERVIEW................................................................................8
REFLECTION ON ASSESSMENT CENTRE...............................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
This report is a study on Managing people and careers. For this Cover letter is been
prepared which can be a first impression of an individual candidate to potential employer. Cover
letter include information like contact, detailed information about educations and experiences
and competency of an individual. Answers for job application questions are been given, such as
reason for working with a particular company or organization, previous experience to solve an
issue, etc. Reflections for in-seminar interview practices and assessment centre exercise practice
are been assessed.
COVER LETTER
MARTIN SCHOFIELD
44, Guild Street, England, UK
Mob: [phone]
[e-mail]
Claire Timmins
303-Piccadilly House
49, Piccadilly, Manchester
England, UK – M1 2AP
August 30, 2018
Subject: Application for Graduate Research Executive position.
Dear Ms. Claire,
I write to introduce myself, Martin Schofield, for the position of graduate Research Executive in
your company Ipsos MORI. I have always been hoped for been able to work in Ipsos MORI,
and now I feel enthusiastic while applying for a position or job with my cover letter and CV.
I have about one year of experience as Research Analyst and have gained experiences and skills
which are needed to excel and offer in this position at your company. I have a good command
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on most of the research processes and equipment. I also know how to test different methods and
products and know how to use revised hypothesis for troubleshooting and action for measurable
results and ensure success. With the ability to look and study data and see large picture that it
presents, I am an organized critical thinker. I have a better communication skill due to which I
can obtain data by speaking to varied populations. To perform my duties of Research Executive
with your company I am very much confident in my abilities.
I have highly analytical mind, well - educated, diligent and hard working. I have my master
degree in M.Sc. International Relations from University of Surrey, UK in 2016. Graduated with
distinction in Advanced Qualitative and Quantitative Research methods, Globalization and
international Political economy studies. I have done my Bachelor of Science in International
Politics, from University of Surrey, UK in 2014 and submitted a dissertation on topic - “A
Critical Analysis of the British Press - Orientalism.” I have completed my Secondary
Education, A-Levels in 2010 from Monkton Combe School, Bath, Somerset, UK. In which I
have scored B grade in English language, Psychology and photography. I also have a Level 1
certificate in Spanish in 2014 from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain and
scored highest in class.
My CV and application copies are enclosed with the cover letter. Please review this cover letter
and resume to learn more about my specific skills required for Research executive and about
my background. After considering my CV, please contact me from the information given above.
I look forward to hearing from you, thank you for the opportunity that you have provided for
apply for this position and for your consideration and time.
Yours Sincerely,
Martin Schofield
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APPLICATION QUESTIONS
1. Reasons for working with IPSOS Mori
I would like to work in Ipsos MORI, as the career in market research have a lot of scope
and Ipsos MORI is a leader in the field of research. I always wanted to discover and study new
things and curious about lots of things. As Ipsos MORI helps various companies with their
research activities, I would like to work with all those popular brands to develop their innovative
products. Like to get involved in evolution of finance and IT industries, helps them to make
marketing and advertising plans and assist them to target the perfect customers for advertising
(Goldratt, 2017). I have always been fascinated by different behaviours of people, market and
societies, have an entrepreneurial spirit and get to learn from top level companies. Working with
large global companies could be of great value for my personal development. I could develop a
strong skill of consulting by working with IPSOS Mori, as a researcher based on the results of
my study I have to convince and inspire clients. Personal consulting skills are sharpened by
giving presentations in board room about customer demands or market situations (Malinowski
and Howkins, 2018). As a young graduate, I can bring a lot of new fresh ideas.
2. Experience of working in a group to achieve an objective
Previously I was working as a business associate in Research Stories, we all in our team
work as a group during the time of workloads as everyone have huge amount of work and
projects to handle. Each one in our team pulls a few shifts of overtime and we organise our work
together. We have carefully and systematically planned each and every projects and allotted then
accordingly and prepared a deadline for each projects to be get completed (Becker, 2014). We
avoided any wastage of time and help each other’s to understand and complete their project. As a
mentor I have guided and motivated persons under me to complete their projects, within the
allotted time. With the team or group efforts we have achieved our goals in the predestined time
and get positive feedback from our clients. Our group efforts have benefited the company by
satisfying their clients and our efforts were identified and rewarded.
3. Situation when new approach was identified for solving a problem.
I worked for Bournville as a customer service provider. There was one large retailer that
carried our chocolates and had a deal to get our new products first, before other stores. That
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arrangement worked fine until we produced too many of our new Chocolate product and by
mistake products were sent to other stores, but not our major retailers. It caused a huge crisis for
our firm. I was in Customer Care so I got the call. I have spent an hour on the phone for calming
our client down and for explaining situation that have occurred in the firm. I handled the
situation by managing the crisis and let management know about that and I got two rush
shipments out to the account, and I sent a lengthy email detailing the problem and our solution
and everything was okay.
4. Manage a number of various priorities and tasks in short amount of time
While I was working with Research Stories, as a Team leader. We get projects which we
have to complete and submit it on deadline. I have to properly assign it to my team members and
ensure it would be submitted on time. One of the greatest challenges for me, as a team leader was
to accurately prioritize the projects or work that are important on a day to day basis. I aim for
starting the more difficult and lengthier tasks of a project early in a day instead of waiting until
the end which could stand a chance of running out of time. I collected or identified a list for all
tasks that have to be done and then identify and arrange them on the basis of important and
urgent tasks, that requires immediate attention. After important and urgent work is been
categorised, projects which carries the highest values for the company are identified or tasks with
top priorities are considered over others (Soundararajan and Shicong, VMware Inc, 2014). I then
arrange them in order according to tasks which requires more time and efforts to complete. Large
parts of the project is been divided into small parts for making it easier and simpler to do. This
help me to achieve my target goals and complete projects before deadline.
5. Project worked where others are persuaded to the point of view.
While working with Bournville, company asked for bids for new machinery for our new
plant. In very close to their bids, two companies came in, and most of the staffs in the department
wanted to go with previous vendor who would supply us in the past. It was clear that the decision
taken was wrong by other after I have looked into the proposals. I succeeded in changing the
minds of staff members by talking to them individually with each member and purchased the
best product that saved money, provides the best quality and higher productivity. For this I have
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used SAR technique for persuading others to my point of view. Where SAR refers to Situation,
Action and Result (Gass and Seiter, 2015).
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CV
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MARTIN SCHOFIELD
44, Guild Street, England, UK
Mob: [phone]
mail: [e-mail]
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Gender: Male
DOB: 25 June 1993
Marital Status: Married
Nationality: British
SUMMARY
Young graduate professional with communication and practical skills, having a background in
research, seeks position in a reputed firm in a qualitative, creative and inspiring role.
EXPERIENCE
Research Analyst: Research Stories, London
May 2017 to July 2018
 By being responsible for work with team over project priorities and weekly updating
timetables and meeting team agendas, ensured effective resource planning and project.
 Supported team with preparing and processing reporting data, questionnaire produced
and administered.
 Through transcription analysis of raw data and categorizing qualitative research finding.
 Created PowerPoint presentations for data visualization for better and easy
understanding for clients.
Internship: Bournville, London
January 2017 to March 2017
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 Worked as customer care provider, redressing clients or customers complaints, taking
feedback, promotion, and help.
 Working in research team for carrying out in-depth quantitative and qualitative market
evaluation for the company.
QUALIFICATION
Course University Year
M.Sc.: International Relations University of Surrey, Guildford, UK 2016
 With distinction graduated in international political economy and globalization
study, Advanced qualitative and quantitative research method.
B.Sc.: International Politics University of Surrey, Guildford, UK 2014
 Submitted a dissertation on topic - “A Critical Analysis of the British Press -
Orientalism.”
Secondary Education Exam:
A-Levels
Monkton Combe School, Bath, UK 2010
 Passed with B grade in English language, Psychology and Photography.
Certificate Level-1 Spanish University Autonoma de Barcelona,
Spain
2014
 Scored highest in class.
PERSONAL SKILLS
Languages: English, Spanish and French
Computer skills: Basic computer knowledge, competent with MS Office, internet skills.
Other skills: Communication skills, organizational or managerial skills.
INTERESTS
Playing football, hiking, traveling, cycling and listening to musics.
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REFLECTION ON SEMINAR INTERVIEW
Following are some reflection of in-seminar interview practice:
 From in-seminar interview practices I have learned some basic rules and strategies for
interview. Such as
◦ I have to study the company deeply before going for an interview. As interviewer can
ask questions about company.
◦ Study job description for the position which I am going for interview.
◦ Have to study and know my CV or resume before interview as interviewer can ask
questions from my resume or CV.
◦ To build rapport and need to have a proper body language and maintain eye contact
with interviewer.
◦ Using concrete examples, I should display my skills to interviewer (Risku, 2016).
 In-seminar interview helps me to prepare for an interview.
 It helps me to know various types of interview that I may encounter in different
organizations while interview process.
 In-seminar interview helps in to identify various factors that an interviewer controls and
how I can create a positive influence on interviewer during interview process.
 In-seminar interview act as a stimulation program for preparing structure of my response
and helps me to prepare answers for main questions asked during interview.
 I can prepare for what to do if something goes wrong during interview with in-seminar
interview training (my-first-assessment-centre-experience 2015).
REFLECTION ON ASSESSMENT CENTRE
Following are reflection on in-seminar assessment centre exercise practice:
 Meeting and briefing session acts as an ice breaker for all other exercise practices. With
this I could get an initial sense of what could happen in overall practice exercise. It helps
to interact with each other.
 With competency interviews, I can demonstrate skills and core competency that is
required for company.
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