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Abstract

ents. For me this was extremely tempting, so without a second thought I applied for their interviewer position.</p><h2 id="cac0">Recruitment process</h2><p id="1621">This was my first time applying for a job and I carried nothing but extreme hesitation and zero experience, yet the way I received an immediate response and request for a video interview was pleasantly surprising.</p><p id="cf19">Somehow someone in the recruitment team saw beyond the immediate and gave me a chance.</p><p id="c199">To say the least, I was excited. I didn’t know if I would get the job or not but I really enjoyed recording the video interview. Once I was done, I wasn’t happy with it as it was very spontaneous and I thought of so many things that I could have said to make it better, but the video was sent.</p><p id="37ce">Within a week I got a response and an invitation for a live trial.</p><h2 id="ad07">Start of a journey</h2><p id="3c08">Let me put it this way, interviewing isn’t for everyone but I enjoyed talking to new people. I loved the trial, and my trainer was amazing.</p><p id="bb9a">The trial was a success and I started with my training period.</p><p id="b526">Like anything in life, there are variations and difficult situations. Some days were more difficult than others but one thing was for sure if I ever had a problem there were people I could turn to and seek guidance.</p><h2 id="b75f">Tech Support</h2><p id="4ff4">To date, I see this lot as a team of magicians. From the first day when I started installing my virtual machine and software for telephone dialling, I have been referred to them almost every other day. At times even several times a day. I can’t help but wonder how they deal with so many of us simultaneously. One thing has been certain for all these years no matter how they do it, they end up solving your problem and saving the day.</p><h2 id="b0f5">Human-first approach</h2><p id="60ff">Over the past couple of years here at IFF Research, I came across the term “human first” many times. I did not know

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the real meaning of this term until recently.</p><p id="a7a9">Last year in July/August I was given an opportunity to become a team leader. I had my training session and booked my first shift to lead a team.</p><p id="ce1d">I was very enthusiastic about this position but life has its own arrangements. On the exact day when I had my first team leader shift I ended up in the A&E unit and had a 10-day stay in their surgical ward.</p><p id="9674">I was heartbroken and angry at myself but there was hardly anything I could do. I informed my managers hours before my shift, they had nothing but kind words and good wishes for me.</p><p id="84bb">Soon after I returned home from the hospital I got contacted by both my line managers and their affection and understanding brought me closer to the company and its ethics.</p><h2 id="7d59">Team Leader</h2><p id="c5ef">For the past six months, I have been working at IFF as a team leader. Being a new team leader, I came across uncountable hurdles but in each situation I found my colleagues and seniors to be extremely supportive.</p><p id="7e98">Every time I made a blunder I had several private messages in my inbox telling me how to sort it out.</p><p id="99f0">There are so many names I would like to mention here including my colleagues, managers, researchers, recruiters, trainers and executives for their inexhaustible support but I don't have permission from anyone to mention their names publicly.</p><p id="d377">In the end, I would just like to thank IFF Research for providing me with a work environment where I know I am valued and supported.</p><p id="4a78"><b><i>P.S.- This story is written solely from the author's personal experience.</i></b></p><p id="e3d5"><i>Not a Medium member? You can join Medium with my referral link. It’s only $5 a month for access to all the stories on Medium. <a href="https://medium.com/membership/@rizwan-sumaira?source=publishing_settings-------------------------------------">Click here</a> if you wish to join.</i></p></article></body>

IFF Research

My experience as an employee

IFF Research is an independent social and market research agency that has been helping organisations make better-informed decisions since 1965.

Robust, reliable and independent insight that stands up to scrutiny

This is how the official website of IFF Research describes itself.

How I got to know about the organization

As most of my readers /medium friends already know, I am a mother of 2 with a degree in computer sciences but I didn’t pursue my career due to SLE and its complications.

2020 was the year when the thought of working from home crossed my mind and with a simple google search came up “ IFF Research”. For me, it was a match made in heaven.

What attracted me towards this position

There were three main things that attracted me towards the position and this organization as a whole.

The first one was the opportunity to work from home.
I could choose my own shifts /working hours, they had a wide variety of hours ranging from 9 am to 9 pm.
I could even choose my own days to work.

All this meant that I could work around my hospital appointments and kids’ commitments. For me this was extremely tempting, so without a second thought I applied for their interviewer position.

Recruitment process

This was my first time applying for a job and I carried nothing but extreme hesitation and zero experience, yet the way I received an immediate response and request for a video interview was pleasantly surprising.

Somehow someone in the recruitment team saw beyond the immediate and gave me a chance.

To say the least, I was excited. I didn’t know if I would get the job or not but I really enjoyed recording the video interview. Once I was done, I wasn’t happy with it as it was very spontaneous and I thought of so many things that I could have said to make it better, but the video was sent.

Within a week I got a response and an invitation for a live trial.

Start of a journey

Let me put it this way, interviewing isn’t for everyone but I enjoyed talking to new people. I loved the trial, and my trainer was amazing.

The trial was a success and I started with my training period.

Like anything in life, there are variations and difficult situations. Some days were more difficult than others but one thing was for sure if I ever had a problem there were people I could turn to and seek guidance.

Tech Support

To date, I see this lot as a team of magicians. From the first day when I started installing my virtual machine and software for telephone dialling, I have been referred to them almost every other day. At times even several times a day. I can’t help but wonder how they deal with so many of us simultaneously. One thing has been certain for all these years no matter how they do it, they end up solving your problem and saving the day.

Human-first approach

Over the past couple of years here at IFF Research, I came across the term “human first” many times. I did not know the real meaning of this term until recently.

Last year in July/August I was given an opportunity to become a team leader. I had my training session and booked my first shift to lead a team.

I was very enthusiastic about this position but life has its own arrangements. On the exact day when I had my first team leader shift I ended up in the A&E unit and had a 10-day stay in their surgical ward.

I was heartbroken and angry at myself but there was hardly anything I could do. I informed my managers hours before my shift, they had nothing but kind words and good wishes for me.

Soon after I returned home from the hospital I got contacted by both my line managers and their affection and understanding brought me closer to the company and its ethics.

Team Leader

For the past six months, I have been working at IFF as a team leader. Being a new team leader, I came across uncountable hurdles but in each situation I found my colleagues and seniors to be extremely supportive.

Every time I made a blunder I had several private messages in my inbox telling me how to sort it out.

There are so many names I would like to mention here including my colleagues, managers, researchers, recruiters, trainers and executives for their inexhaustible support but I don't have permission from anyone to mention their names publicly.

In the end, I would just like to thank IFF Research for providing me with a work environment where I know I am valued and supported.

P.S.- This story is written solely from the author's personal experience.

Not a Medium member? You can join Medium with my referral link. It’s only $5 a month for access to all the stories on Medium. Click here if you wish to join.