1. Tell Me About Yourself

"Well, I'm Szymon. I actually did my undergraduate degree in Business and Marketing here at DMU, and I've recently finished my MA. Throughout my studies, I really found I enjoy roles where I can use my strong organisational skills and focus on effective communication. I had a great experience leading a project for the Ford Smart Mobility Challenge, which involved a lot of detailed coordination and liaising with different people. I enjoy structured work where accuracy matters, and I'm keen to bring those skills to support a really important function like the Examinations Office here at DMU."

2. Walk Me Through Your Experience

"Sure. My background started with my Business and Marketing degree here at DMU. While studying, I worked as a Sales Assistant, which was great for developing customer service and clear communication skills. A big part of my Master's involved leading the Ford Smart Mobility Challenge project – that required coordinating a team of six, managing event logistics for a public research event, including handling the budget and payments, and communicating effectively with partners like the local council. My internships, for instance with Arts & Festivals here at DMU, also involved collaboration with university departments. And roles like Picker/Packer really drilled in the importance of accuracy and attention to detail, especially working quickly to meet deadlines. So, it's a blend of organisation, communication, and proven reliability."

3. Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

"In five years, I'd hope to have become a really proficient and knowledgeable administrator, ideally still within higher education. My immediate goal would be to fully master this Clerical Assistant role and become a key support figure within the Examinations team at DMU. Looking further ahead, I'd be interested in potentially taking on more complex administrative responsibilities, perhaps supporting wider Registry Services functions, and using my experience to help improve processes where possible. Essentially, becoming a highly competent and trusted member of the DMU administrative team."

4. Why Should We Hire You?

"I believe I'm a strong candidate because I have the core skills you're looking for. I'm highly organised, have meticulous attention to detail – which I know is absolutely crucial for handling exam materials and data – and possess excellent communication skills. My experience leading the Ford project shows I can successfully coordinate complex tasks and meet deadlines. I'm reliable, proficient with Microsoft Office, learn new systems quickly, and as a DMU graduate, I have a genuine desire to contribute positively to the university, especially in such a vital area as examinations."

5. What is Your Greatest Weakness?

"I'd say sometimes my focus on ensuring absolute accuracy means I might instinctively double-check work more than is perhaps necessary, especially with critical information. While this comes from a good place – wanting zero errors – I've learned in fast-paced situations, like meeting project deadlines, the importance of balancing that meticulousness with efficiency. I'm actively working on this by becoming more confident in established checking procedures and focusing on efficiency without ever compromising the quality and accuracy needed for a role like this."

6. What is Your Greatest Strength? (STAR - Ford Market Event)

"I'd say my greatest strength is my meticulous organisation and ability to manage logistics effectively, making sure things run smoothly. (S) For example, during the Ford Smart Mobility Challenge, we needed to run a research event at Loughborough Market to get public feedback. (T) As the leader, I had to organise everything from start to finish – the physical stall, the budget, processing payments for participants, preparing materials, and coordinating the team. (A) I approached it systematically, creating detailed checklists, managing the budget carefully, ensuring payments were handled accurately, assigning clear roles to the team, and overseeing the setup and participant interactions. (R) As a result, the event ran without any issues, stayed within budget, and we gathered great feedback from nearly 50 people. It really showed I can handle complex logistics with real attention to detail and planning."

7. Overcoming Obstacles (STAR - Sparck Project)

"(S) On a university project designing an e-bike service, we discovered quite late through user research that our core plan for long-term rentals wouldn't work due to student accommodation rules about charging. (T) It was a major obstacle, so we needed to quickly adapt the project plan to find a workable solution. (A) I initiated some focused team discussions to analyse the feedback and brainstorm alternatives. We decided together to pivot the concept entirely to a short-term sharing model. I then helped coordinate the updates to our project documentation, adjusted timelines, and communicated the changes clearly to stakeholders. (R) We successfully adapted the project despite the challenge and were able to continue development with a more viable model. It taught me a lot about flexibility and the importance of proactive problem-solving when faced with unexpected issues."