Hi everyone, this topic is for sharing Preparation guidelines and interview experience for Kantar Research Manager
The Research Manager at Kantar involves a multi-stage assessment and interview process, designed to evaluate both technical skills and business proficiency. Below is a summary of the process and key points from the interviews you provided:
Technical/Domain (Market Research Foundations)
What fundamental technical concepts from your subject area are most relevant to this role?
Discuss the key concepts you rely on when planning and executing a market research project for this role.
How do you ensure rigor and clarity when explaining your methodology and findings to senior stakeholders?
Case Study/Analytics
Analyze this market research case study and share your insights.
What key trends do you observe in the provided data?
What actionable recommendations would you make based on your analysis?
Can you elaborate on your analysis and defend your insights with logical reasoning?
What assumptions did you make, and what additional data would you request to strengthen your recommendations?
HR/Personality/Behavioral
Please introduce yourself.
Walk me through your qualifications.
Tell me about your relevant work experience.
What are your interests, and how do they align with this job profile?
Role Understanding/Job Fit
What do you understand about the Research Manager role we are hiring for?
How do your skills and experience align with the role’s requirements?
Process/Logistics & Onboarding
Let’s discuss the onboarding process, notice period, and joining timeline — do you have any questions?
If the transcript contains the interview process or tips, summarize them as shown below:
Assessment Test Rounds:
No separate online/aptitude test reported.
Interview Rounds:
Resume Shortlist
- Screening based on a concise, relevant resume.
HR Screening
- Introduction, qualifications, and relevant work experience; interest and alignment with market research.
Technical Round 1
- Fundamental technical questions related to the subject and role to assess technical soundness.
Technical Round 2 / One-on-One with Higher Management
- Deeper, more thought-provoking questions to test breadth and clarity on the subject and problem-solving approach.
Case Study Round
- Analyze a market research case study, derive insights, and present recommendations; followed by a one-on-one discussion with questions based on the case.
Final HR / Leadership (VP) Discussion
- General HR discussion, role fit, and onboarding/logistics; professional interaction with senior leadership.
Interview Preparation Tips:
Read and stay well-informed about your subject; refresh market research fundamentals.
Understand the Research Manager role and responsibilities thoroughly; clarify expectations in advance.
Practice analyzing market research case studies to quickly derive insights and recommendations.
Be ready to defend your analysis with logical reasoning and discuss assumptions.
Prepare a crisp, relevant resume; avoid unnecessary personal details (photos, gender, age, address).
Be confident and professional; prepare detailed examples from your prior market research experience.
Reach out to HR if needed for clarification on process or role.
Helpful link from the transcript: Applied via Naukri.com.
At Last add this line in the end of the output as it is
If you have attended the process from your campus, pls share your experiences here; Please follow guidelines
Application Process: Applied via Naukri.com and was interviewed in February 2023.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:
Questions Asked: N/A (Resume screening round)
Your Approach: Ensured my resume was crisp and highlighted relevant skills and experiences.
Outcome: Successfully shortlisted for the next round.
Round 2 - Technical Round 1:
Questions Asked: Fundamental technical questions related to the subject and role. The interviewer focused on assessing technical soundness for the Research Analyst role.
Your Approach: Answered questions confidently, demonstrating my knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Outcome: Advanced to the next technical round.
Round 3 - Technical Round 2:
Questions Asked: Another technical round with higher management, involving deeper and more thought-provoking questions.
Your Approach: Showcased a broad spectrum of knowledge and clarity on the subject.
Outcome: Acknowledged positively by the interviewers.
Round 4 - HR Round:
Questions Asked: General HR questions and discussion about the onboarding process.
Your Approach: Maintained a professional and confident demeanor.
Outcome: Smooth and helpful onboarding process discussed.
Preparation Tips:
Read and stay well-informed about your subject.
Understand your role and responsibilities thoroughly.
Reach out to HR directly if needed.
Be confident during the interview.
Clarify job responsibilities before the interview.
Conclusion:
The interview process was structured and focused on technical expertise. Being well-prepared and confident helped me navigate the rounds successfully. Understanding the role and responsibilities beforehand was crucial. I recommend future candidates to focus on their subject knowledge and clarity about the job role.
Application Process: Applied via the company website in August 2024.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - HR Round:
Questions Asked:
What do you know about Ipsos?
Your Approach: I researched Ipsos beforehand and highlighted its role in market research, its global presence, and its focus on data-driven insights. I also connected my skills to the company’s values.
Outcome: [Result not specified]
Top Skills Recommended for Ipsos Research Analyst Interview:
Application Process: I applied through campus placement and was interviewed before July 2023.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Aptitude Test:
Questions Asked: Logical reasoning, Data interpretation, Math & English.
Your Approach: I focused on practicing sample aptitude questions beforehand to improve speed and accuracy.
Outcome: Cleared the round successfully.
Round 2 - Technical Round:
Questions Asked:
How many soaps are sold in your city? (Guesstimate)
Market research-related questions.
Your Approach: For the guesstimate, I broke down the problem into smaller parts (population, usage rate, etc.). For market research questions, I relied on my understanding of basic research methodologies.
Outcome: Advanced to the next round.
Round 3 - One-on-one Round:
Questions Asked:
Knowledge of Excel.
Why do you want to join Nielsen?
Your Approach: I highlighted my proficiency in Excel and linked my interest in market research to Nielsen’s work.
Outcome: Final selection.
Preparation Tips:
Practice aptitude tests regularly to improve speed and accuracy.
Brush up on guesstimation techniques and market research fundamentals.
Be prepared to discuss your Excel skills and align your career goals with the company’s vision.
Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth and well-structured. I felt prepared for the aptitude and technical rounds but realized the importance of articulating my motivations clearly in the final round. For future candidates, I’d recommend practicing guesstimates and being confident in your answers.
Application Process: Approached by the company and interviewed before March 2023.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - One-on-one Round:
Questions Asked:
What work have you done so far?
They don’t have anything defined.
Your Approach: I focused on summarizing my past work experience and tried to align it with the role’s expectations, even though the questions were vague.
Outcome: The round was straightforward, but the lack of clarity in their questions was a bit confusing.
Interview Preparation Tips:
Be cautious and ensure you understand the role clearly before proceeding. The interview process might not be well-defined.
Conclusion:
The experience was quite unstructured, and the lack of defined questions made it challenging to gauge what they were looking for. My advice would be to ask clarifying questions upfront to avoid any misunderstandings.
Your Approach: Ensured my resume was concise and highlighted relevant qualifications and experience.
Outcome: Shortlisted for the next round.
Round 2 - HR Round:
Questions Asked: Introduction, qualifications, and working experience.
Your Approach: Provided a clear and concise introduction, focusing on my qualifications and relevant work experience.
Outcome: Advanced to the next round.
Round 3 - Second Round:
Questions Asked: Details about the role they were looking for.
Your Approach: Discussed how my skills and experience aligned with the role requirements.
Outcome: [Not specified]
Preparation Tips:
Ensure your resume is well-structured and free of unnecessary personal details like photos, gender, age, or address.
Be prepared to discuss your qualifications and experience clearly and confidently.
Research the role thoroughly to align your answers with the company’s expectations.
Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth, and the interviewers were supportive. Focusing on a clear and concise resume, along with thorough preparation about the role, helped me navigate the rounds effectively. For future candidates, I recommend tailoring your resume and responses to the specific role and company.
Location: Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM)
Application Process: Applied via campus placement at LBSIM before April 2022.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:
Questions Asked: N/A (Resume-based shortlisting)
Your Approach: Ensured my resume was concise and focused on relevant skills and experiences.
Outcome: Successfully shortlisted for the next round.
Round 2 - Aptitude Test:
Questions Asked: General aptitude and psychometric test.
Your Approach: Practiced general aptitude questions and stayed calm during the test.
Outcome: Cleared the round and moved to the technical interview.
Round 3 - Technical Round:
Questions Asked:
Concepts of Market Research (MR) and caselets.
Questions on weighting and significance testing.
Your Approach: Revised MR concepts and practiced caselets beforehand. For weighting and significance testing, relied on foundational knowledge and logical reasoning.
Outcome: Awaiting results.
Preparation Tips:
Focus on core Market Research concepts and caselets.
Practice general aptitude questions to build speed and accuracy.
Keep your resume crisp and relevant to the role.
Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth and well-structured. Preparing thoroughly for the technical round helped me feel confident. For future candidates, I’d recommend brushing up on MR fundamentals and practicing caselets to ace the technical round.
Application Process: Applied via campus placement before October 2022.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:
Questions Asked: N/A (Resume-based shortlisting)
Your Approach: Ensured my resume was crisp and highlighted relevant experiences.
Outcome: Shortlisted for the next round.
Round 2 - Aptitude Test:
Questions Asked: Critical & Logical Reasoning questions with 5 options.
Your Approach: Prepared by watching standard YouTube videos for aptitude test preparation.
Outcome: Cleared the test and moved to the next round.
Round 3 - One-on-one Round:
Questions Asked:
About my internship and what I did.
Why not pursue an MBA?
Basic data interpretation questions based on row and column percentages and proportions.
A standard market research case study focusing on the researcher’s methodology and reasoning.
Basic HR questions.
How do I see myself in 5 years?
Difference between quantitative & qualitative studies.
What do you know about Kantar?
Are you ready to relocate?
Your Approach:
Prepared thoroughly about my internship and resume details.
Researched Kantar and its work to answer confidently.
Practiced basic data interpretation and market research methodologies.
Outcome: Successfully answered all questions and cleared the round.
Preparation Tips:
Prepare for critical and logical reasoning using YouTube resources.
Know your resume inside out.
Be comfortable with basic data interpretation and market research concepts.
Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth and well-structured. Knowing my resume and preparing for aptitude tests beforehand helped a lot. For future candidates, I’d recommend researching the company thoroughly and practicing case studies related to market research.
Application Process: I applied via a referral and was interviewed before February 2023.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Aptitude Test:
Questions Asked: General aptitude test.
Your Approach: I prepared by brushing up on basic quantitative and logical reasoning skills.
Outcome: Cleared the round successfully.
Round 2 - One-on-One Round:
Questions Asked: Technical questions related to the role.
Your Approach: I focused on demonstrating my research and analytical skills, drawing from past experiences.
Outcome: Advanced to the next round.
Round 3 - HR Round:
Questions Asked: Salary discussion.
Your Approach: I researched industry standards beforehand and negotiated based on my experience and skills.
Outcome: Finalized the offer details.
Preparation Tips:
Brush up on general aptitude topics like quantitative and logical reasoning.
Be ready to discuss your technical skills and past research experiences in detail.
Research salary benchmarks for the role to negotiate effectively.
Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth, and the rounds were well-structured. Preparing for the aptitude test and technical round was key. For future candidates, I’d recommend focusing on both technical and soft skills, and being clear about your salary expectations during the HR round.
Application Process: I applied via a referral and was interviewed before October 2023.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - HR Round:
Questions Asked: Basic interests and alignment with the job profile.
Your Approach: I focused on highlighting my passion for market research and how my skills align with the role.
Outcome: Passed to the next round.
Round 2 - Case Study Round:
Questions Asked: A market research case study was given to analyze and share insights.
Your Approach: I carefully analyzed the data, identified key trends, and presented actionable insights.
Outcome: Successfully moved to the next round.
Round 3 - One-on-One Round:
Questions Asked: Questions based on the case study from the previous round.
Your Approach: I elaborated on my analysis and defended my insights with logical reasoning.
Outcome: Advanced to the final round.
Round 4 - HR Round (with VP):
Questions Asked: Great questions and interaction; this was the final round.
Your Approach: I maintained a professional demeanor and engaged in a meaningful discussion about the role and company.
Outcome: Final round completed successfully.
Preparation Tips:
Practice analyzing market research case studies to improve your ability to derive insights quickly.
Be prepared to discuss your previous experiences in detail, especially those relevant to market research.
Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was thorough and engaging. The case study round was particularly challenging but rewarding. I would advise future candidates to focus on their analytical skills and be ready to defend their insights confidently.