What it does: Conducts high-profile studies for various clients from public, private and multinational organisations.
Best known for: Predicting the outcome of Pakistan's 2013 General Election.
Staff stats: 50-100 employees and over 300 interviewers in all locations, from their headquarters in Islamabad to their offices in Karachi and Lahore.
The good bits: Managers often allow employees to lead projects. Employees are also given financial incentives.
The not so good bits: The workplace is not as clean and tidy as it should be, which affects work conditions.
Founded in Sussex, UK by Dr George H. Gallup in 1947, Gallup International Association is a polling organisation that conducts studies for public and private companies all over the world.
Gallup International established its offices in Pakistan in the year 1980. During its first years in the country, Gallup pioneered several projects in Pakistan like the Diary-based TV ratings which served as the currency of the country's advertising industry.
Today, Gallup Pakistan's main investment is in Behavioural Science Experiments. The data gathered by Gallup Pakistan is analysed into insightful reports which are used to help its clients make better sense of their customers or citizens.
Applicants may send their resume or CV online. The application process can take up to 3 weeks.
Chosen applicants will be called in to take a personality test. After the test, an over-the-phone interview will be scheduled. In this interview, the applicant will be asked questions about the personality test they have taken. After this interview, another over-the-phone interview will be scheduled.
In the second interview, the HR officer will assess the applicant and determine whether the applicant will be a good fit for the role. After a few days, the applicant will be called back for the results of the evaluation. Chosen applicants will be called into the office for the final interview.
Gallup Pakistan is widely respected as a research organisation. Its studies are not only quoted in local institutions but international journals as well. Gallup Pakistan's affiliation with several key organisations around the world is a good gateway for employees to take on the world's research industry. Former employees in the company have worked for institutions like the World Bank, Pakistan's Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform, and the United Nations, to name a few.
The average monthly salary in Gallup Pakistan is at PKR 46,500. Entry-level employees can receive more than PKR 25,000 every month, and senior executives can earn around PKR 150,000 per month.
The management in Gallup Pakistan is quite particular with the way employees manage their professional careers. The company needs to maintain its reputation as one of the most respected research institutions in the country. With that said, the company can be strict when it comes to how employees project themselves in public. The company's HR department sees to it that department heads are checking up on their employees regularly, and is constantly coming up with ways to improve the employee experience.
Gallup Pakistan's focus on socio-political research stems from the organisation's aim to gauge the performance of government institutions and to give an unbiased assessment of its programs. Gallup Pakistan is also working with the non-profit organisation World Justice Project that works to promote the rule of law around the world.
The Gallup offices in Pakistan have a youthful yet professional vibe. Working with people who have worked with world-renowned organisations can be intimidating at first, but fresh graduates that end up working in Gallup Pakistan said that senior officers are polite and are always ready to help their employees.