Another week, another interview! Let's meet, Petru Curosu, our Sales Coordinator EMEA! :)
What does working in the market research industry mean to you?
Working in the market research industry gives me a unique opportunity to stay in touch with the latest news/discoveries around the world. You might think that following the biggest news channels around the world gives you the clearest picture on the economical/social situation around the world. But, from my point of view, working in the market research industry gives you way better insights. It allows you to have an inside view on what will possibly be the future trends in different domains.
From whom in the market research industry have you learned most in your career?
I have learned the basics from one of the biggest players within market research, but here, at DataDiggers, I can say that I have learned the most, and I’m referring here to both aspects, technical and interpersonal relationships.
If you were able to bring someone in our DataDiggers team, who would that person be and why do you think they'd be great for our company?
I would love to bring in our Datadiggers team one of my former colleagues from my previous job. (I will not mention her name). The reason behind my strong confidence that she will perform great within our team is because she is a very responsible person with quite a lot of experience within this industry and besides that, she is a person with whom you can interact with easily and communicate freely.
What was the most important challenge you had to go through in your career?
I don’t think I can call it a challenge, but it was quite hard to change completely the industry (to Market Research) of work compared to what I have learned at university and what I was doing at my first job.
Thinking about your career, what is the achievement you are most proud of?
I’m considering myself a very fast learner. One of the achievements I’m most proud of is becoming one of the informal leaders within my team in just over 1 year after starting to work in a completely new industry for me at the time.
What's the biggest mistake you've ever made in your career?
Again, I don’t think I can call it the biggest mistake, but in the past, I’ve put my trust in many people that did not deserve it.
What does success mean to you?
It’s such a “big” question and at the same time with so many aspects. For me, success is driven from a mix of honest opinions from your co-workers about your activity and the actual measurable results of your work.
What do you do to move forward in the profession you have chosen?
I’m constantly searching for ways of improving my knowledge. In any domain, there will always be new things to learn or to improve the things that you already know.
How would you describe the market research industry in Romania?
The market research in Romania, from my point of view, is still at the beginning stages compared to what happens in other countries. However, I see enormous potential for development towards this industry. There are still many companies (small and large) that don’t fully understand the advantages that an intelligent market research campaign can create.
Is there something new that you have learned in the last 2-3 years, in your career, or in your daily life, which you find is important?
Patience! I believe this is something we should all learn/understand, and it refers to both careers and daily life. Another thing that I've learned in the last 2-3 years is to never judge a person or a situation until you know all the facts. Sometimes we are keen to make fast conclusions and decisions, without seeing the entire picture. So, I think it’s very important to make sure that we have all the facts before making an assumption. This is valid for both career and daily life.
If you were able to meet yourself, at the moment when you first got hired, what advice would you give to your younger self?
That’s a good question! And I believe I have the best answer for this. My advice would be to learn as much as possible from all your colleagues/bosses. I would even mention “steal” the knowledge because in some cases this is what you need to do in order to move forward and learn. Learn as much as possible, but at the same time make sure to filter the information through your own mind and adapt it if you think there is a better/more efficient way of doing something.
If you were to give advice to one of your former managers, what would that be?
I would give the same advice for all managers no matter the level of hierarchy they are at the moment. When you are managing a team, you should always “fight” for your people. Even if there are situations where one of your team members made a mistake, you should find solutions in order to fix the problem and move forward. And another important thing is to listen to your team! In order to manage a team, you first need to know everyone’s struggles and besides that, if you pay more attention listening to your team members more carefully there is a big chance that you will find surprisingly brilliant ideas for the business development.
Why did you choose to work in the market research industry?
Actually, it was not something that I chose specifically. It was a job opportunity that I found interesting, and now I really like working within the market research industry.
What advice would you give to someone starting in the market research industry?
In the market research industry as in any other job profile, you need to really love what you are doing in order to be efficient. So, my advice would be to make sure you are interested in the industry and learn as much as possible, because the opportunities this industry offers are huge.
What was your ‘dream career’ when you were little?
My dream career when I was little was to be an astronaut. And 'till this day I’m very passionate regarding space-related news/discoveries.
What do you think is the most important thing in life?
From my perspective, the most important thing in life is to feel happy with yourself. It sounds so simple, but at the same time, it’s something so hard to achieve.
What are you planning to do on your next vacation?
In my next vacation, I’m planning a visit to the sea. I’m not necessarily a “sea person”, but it’s been a couple of years since my last visit to the shore, so I’m looking forward to relaxing at the seaside.
What is making you get up from bed even when you have a bad day?
The thoughts about my dear family always help me push myself forward even after a bad day.
What are your dearest memories, some that you always think of with joy?
My dearest memories are the ones that involve my family. I will never forget a New Year’s party from my childhood where we gathered at our place together with our neighbours, and we spent a really nice evening. We laughed a lot and outside was snowing the entire evening. I realize now that the simple things are the ones that make us the happiest.
If you could change something from the past, make a different decision, what would it be and why?
I’m sure that everybody has things from the past that they would love to change, and I’m no exception. But, at the same time, I feel that every decision we took in the past made us who we are today. So, I think it’s better to look for a brighter future rather than contemplating past mistakes.
If you could go anywhere in the world, at any time in the past, what would that be and why?
Can you name one hobby that you really enjoy?
I really enjoy travelling. Discovering new places/new cultures is the most amazing thing ever.
What’s your favourite book and why?
My favourite book is the Harry Potter story because I feel that every one of us is missing a bit of magic in our lives.
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