20 Ipsos Interview Questions and Answers

Ipsos is a global market research company that conducts advertising, loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research. The company has a wide range of clients, from small businesses to large corporations. Because of this, Ipsos interview questions can vary greatly depending on the position you’re applying for.

If you’re interviewing for a position in advertising research, for example, you may be asked about your experience with designing and conducting research studies. If you’re interviewing for a position in media research, you may be asked about your experience with media measurement and analysis.

No matter what position you’re interviewing for, it’s important to be prepared to answer questions about your experience, your skills, and your knowledge of the market research industry. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample Ipsos interview questions and answers.

Ipsos Interview Process

The interview process at Ipsos can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require an initial telephone interview, followed by an assessment day. The assessment day may include a training session, as well as an actual assessment of your skills. If you pass the assessment, you will be offered the job.

1. How would you handle a situation where your client disagreed with an analysis that you provided?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and challenges in the workplace. It’s important to show that you’re willing to stand up for your work, but also know when it’s appropriate to do so.

Example: “I would first try to understand why they disagreed with my analysis. I’d ask them questions about their reasoning and see if there was anything I could learn from their perspective. If they still disagreed after our conversation, I would explain that I understood their point of view and would be happy to provide a new analysis based on their feedback.”

2. Why should we hire you over other applicants?

This question is a great opportunity to show your knowledge of the company and how you can contribute to its success. You should research the job description thoroughly before going into the interview so that you can highlight your relevant skills and experience.

Example: “I am an extremely organized individual who has excellent time management skills. I have worked in this field for five years, and my previous employer always praised me for my attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines. My communication skills are also strong, which makes it easy for me to work with others on projects. I am eager to learn more about Ipsos’s marketing strategies and would be happy to take on any additional responsibilities as they arise.”

3. What are the most important skills for a project manager to have in the research field?

As a project manager, you will be responsible for managing the research team and ensuring that projects are completed on time. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. Before your interview, think about what makes a good project manager. Make a list of these skills and compare it to the job description to see if they match up.

Example: “I believe communication is one of the most important skills for a project manager to have. As a project manager, I would need to communicate with my team members regularly to ensure everyone is working efficiently and effectively. Another skill I feel is essential is organization. In this role, I would be responsible for organizing all aspects of the research process, including data collection, analysis and reporting. Having strong organizational skills allows me to stay on top of everything.”

4. What do you think is one of the biggest challenges facing the market research industry right now? What can we do about it?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can help solve a problem.

Example: “One of the biggest challenges facing the market research industry right now is that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for companies to find qualified candidates who have experience in conducting surveys. This means they’re having to train new employees, which takes time and money. I think we can address this issue by encouraging more people to pursue careers in market research.”

5. Do you have any experience working as a team leader?

Ipsos is a global company that requires its employees to work as part of a team. The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you have experience working in a team environment and how well you can lead others. In your answer, explain any leadership roles you’ve had in the past and what skills helped you succeed in those positions.

Example: “In my previous position, I was promoted to be the leader of our research team after only six months on the job. This opportunity came with many challenges, but I learned so much from the role. I developed strong communication and problem-solving skills while leading my team. I also became more confident in my abilities as a researcher.”

6. Describe how you might approach creating a new survey from scratch.

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work independently. It also allows the interviewer to see how you might approach their specific job duties.

Example: “I would start by researching what other surveys have asked similar questions, then I’d create my own survey based on those results. Next, I would test out the survey with a small group of people to make sure it’s clear and easy to understand. Finally, I would send the survey to a larger group of people for feedback.”

7. What do you consider to be some of the best and worst qualities of Ipsos?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can fit in. Ipsos values employees who are passionate about their work, so it’s important to be able to explain why you’re excited about working for this company.

Example: “I think some of the best qualities of Ipsos are its commitment to innovation and creativity. I’ve seen many examples of Ipsos’ research being used to create new products or improve existing ones. The worst quality would have to be that sometimes there isn’t enough time to do everything we want to do. We often have to prioritize our projects based on what clients need most.”

8. Tell me about a time when you presented data on a project, but there were flaws in the data. How did you handle this?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to handle challenging situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you used the data to make an informed decision despite its flaws.

Example: “In my last role as a market researcher for a large advertising company, I was tasked with presenting data on our client’s target audience. However, when analyzing the data, I noticed that there were some inconsistencies in the information. Rather than ignore these issues, I brought them up during my presentation. This allowed me to explain why the data had flaws and what we could do to improve it.”

9. If a colleague was doing something unethical at work, what would you do about it?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your moral compass and how you would handle a situation that could compromise the company’s reputation. In your answer, try to show that you value honesty and integrity in the workplace.

Example: “I believe it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that our work environment remains ethical. If I saw someone doing something unethical at work, I would first approach them privately to discuss my concerns. If they did not change their behavior after our conversation, I would report the issue to my supervisor so we could address it together.”

10. When was the last time you had to deal with a difficult or unhappy customer? How did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and challenges. It’s important to show that you’re willing to take responsibility for your actions, apologize when necessary and learn from any mistakes you make.

Example: “In my last position as a customer service representative, I had a client who was unhappy with our services. They were calling me multiple times per day about their concerns, which made it difficult to focus on other clients. I apologized for not being able to respond to them more quickly and explained that we would be hiring additional staff in the future to reduce wait times. This helped ease some of their frustration.”

11. We want our employees to perform high quality work. Can you describe a time where you implemented a process to improve the quality of your work?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to improve processes and implement new ideas. When answering this question, think of a time you implemented a process that improved the quality of work or helped your team achieve its goals.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating a survey for our client’s website. After completing the survey, I noticed some questions were unclear and needed to be reworded. Instead of sending out the survey as-is, I decided to rewrite all of the questions so they would be more clear and understandable. This resulted in higher response rates from users who took the survey.”

12. What type of work environment do you prefer?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you would be a good fit for the company culture. It’s important to show that you’re willing to adapt to different work environments and can perform well in them.

Example: “I prefer working in an environment where I have autonomy over my projects, but also collaborate with others on ideas and feedback. I find it helpful to get input from other people because they often see things differently than me and offer new perspectives. In my last position, I worked alone most of the time, but occasionally collaborated with my manager or team members.”

13. At Ipsos, we are very focused on delivering results to clients. Have you ever been asked to deliver results before a deadline?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to meet deadlines and deliver results. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time you met a deadline in the past.

Example: “In my last position as a market researcher, I was tasked with delivering research on a client’s target audience before a presentation. I worked hard to gather all of the information needed for the report and delivered it to my supervisor two days before the presentation. My supervisor was very impressed with how quickly I completed the task.”

14. Give us an example of a time you successfully worked with a diverse group of people.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to collaborate with others. To answer, think of a time you worked with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Explain how you used your communication skills to help the group work together effectively.

Example: “At my previous job, I was part of a team that conducted research for an advertising campaign. My manager assigned me to work with two other researchers who had very different opinions on what would be most effective for the client’s brand. We met several times before we started our research to discuss our ideas and develop a plan. By collaborating with these colleagues, we were able to come up with a marketing strategy that satisfied both parties.”

15. What’s your least favorite thing about working in market research?

This question can help interviewers understand your personality and how you might fit in with the rest of their team. They’re looking for someone who is positive, friendly and willing to work hard.

Example: “My least favorite thing about working in market research is that it’s sometimes difficult to get accurate data from consumers. Sometimes people don’t want to answer questions or they forget what they’ve done recently. I always try to find ways to make this process easier by using technology to collect information.”

16. How would you go about explaining complex information to someone who doesn’t understand it?

This question is a great way to test your communication skills and ability to simplify complex information. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you would explain something that’s difficult to understand in simple terms.

Example: “When explaining complex information, I find it helpful to start with the basics and then build on those points until the person understands everything. For instance, when working as a marketing consultant for a large company, I was tasked with creating a campaign to increase sales among millennials. The client wanted to know why their millennial sales were so low compared to other age groups.

I started by asking them what they knew about millennials and what they thought made them different from older generations. After we discussed some of the common stereotypes about millennials, I explained that many of these assumptions are actually false. From there, I went into more detail about the differences between millennials and other age groups and how our company could use that information to create better campaigns.”

17. Tell me about a time where you completed a project under budget. What strategies did you use?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to work with budgets and how you complete projects on time. Use examples from previous jobs where you completed a project under budget or helped your team meet their goals within a set budget.

Example: “In my last position, I was tasked with creating a survey for a client that would take place over several weeks. The client wanted to know what consumers thought about their product after using it for a few months. I created a plan that would allow me to collect data throughout the entire process without spending more than the allotted budget.”

18. In the future, what role do you see yourself having at Ipsos?

This question is a great way to determine if the company’s future goals align with your own career aspirations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any specific job titles you hope to achieve in the next few years and how you plan on achieving them.

Example: “I see myself as an Ipsos senior researcher within five years. I would like to continue working on projects that help companies understand their customers better so they can create more effective marketing strategies.”

19. What makes you excited about coming to work every day?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and values. Ipsos wants to know that you’re passionate about your work, so they want to see what motivates you. Your answer should show that you are excited about learning new things and helping clients solve problems.

Example: “I love working in a fast-paced environment where I can make an impact every day. I’m always looking for ways to improve my skills and help others do the same. I also enjoy being part of a team that supports each other. At my last job, we had monthly lunches together where everyone shared their successes. It was a great way to celebrate our wins while getting feedback on how we could improve.”

20. What does success mean to you?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s values and goals. It can also help you determine if they are a good fit for Ipsos, which prides itself on its commitment to excellence in research.

Example: “Success means different things to me at different times. In my current role as an account manager, success is meeting client expectations and exceeding them. I want to make sure that our clients are happy with their campaigns and that we’re delivering what they need. For me personally, success is being able to provide for myself and my family while doing work that I love.”