mars digital interview questions

• Tell me about yourself (a classic Hirevue question)
• What was the toughest challenge you’ve faced.
• Tell me about a time you faced a problem with a team member.
• Tell me something that is not on your resume.
• Access more of these questions at Voomer!

Bring your dog to work and gorge on as much candy as you want at the company that makes Wrigley, M&Ms, and your cats food.

In 1923, a father-and-son team — Frank Mars, the self-taught candy maker, and his son, Forrest E. Mars Sr., a Yale-educated industrial engineer — came up with the Milky Way bar. Seven years later, they developed the Snickers bar, which they named after a favorite family horse. The company became Mars, Inc., which is now one of the largest privately held companies in the U.S., with brands like Wrigley, Pedigree, Uncle Bens, and M&Ms. Its leadership is still largely made up of descendants of the first two Marses.

Though it was founded by men, Mars works hard to achieve gender parity in leadership positions, says Becky Snow, the global head of people and organization at Wrigley. “Women hold 40 percent of management positions [throughout the company],” she says. “At Wrigley, women fill five of the 13 seats on our global leadership team.”

Working at Mars, which has offices around the world and a headquarters in McLean, Virginia, has special perks: Pet-friendly work places, a free gym, company-matching for charity, volunteer programs, and, yep, as much candy and gum as you want.

What qualities do you look for in every candidate?Its great to see a resumé full of fantastic accomplishments, but we care less about the what and more about how these were achieved. The ideal candidate will be naturally collaborative and curious. We also like to see that they are reflective. Theyll be willing to ask themselves, “What have I learned from my successes and failures? How could I improve? What am I good at and what do I care about?” These are the things that will motivate them in the job.

How many employees do you have?We have 75,000 associates, which is what we call our employees, across six business divisions — chocolate, food, pet care, Wrigley, drinks, and symbioscience [the science, research, and advocacy division that focuses on health and wellness].

Where are your jobs located?Our employees are in 73 countries and 413 sites. In the U.S., we have over 37,000 employees across 70 sites, including offices and the factories where we make our products. Our biggest U.S. sites are in Chicago, New Jersey, New York, and Nashville, but we hire from all over the U.S. and we do offer relocation assistance.

How often do you hire new people?Over the last 12 months in the U.S., weve welcomed more than 1,200 new people.

What areas of the company are growing fastest right now?There are opportunities available across the business, but research and development, and marketing are areas of heavy recruitment right now.

What do you expect candidates to know about Mars before an interview?We dont like to set too many expectations before an interview, but we are looking for curious minds who will naturally want to find out as much as possible about us. At the very least, look on our website, Mars.com, and get a sense of what we do and who we are. Because our culture is so unique, its important that you have an idea of what its like before you come in and see us. You should consider how it matches up with your skills and honestly reflect on whether this is a place you could thrive.

Where do you recruit candidates?People can look on Mars.com at the range of opportunities available. Right now we have more than 300 opportunities at all levels and functions. Across the world, we probably interview over 100,000 people a year. We are investing in our presence on campus at target schools, and we post opportunities on job boards and with professional organizations. We also encourage our own associates to refer friends and family.

What types of college events or conferences do you attend to recruit candidates?We visit college campuses in both the fall and spring semesters. We also make sure we take plenty of our products to the campuses. And every year, you can find us at the National Black MBA Association and the National Society of Hispanic MBA events.

Do you Google your candidates to check out how they represent themselves online?No, we dont Google our candidates — at least not officially. We do, however, check references and complete a background check.

What types of jobs are available for recent graduates?We have entry-level positions for recent grads in most of our functions, including corporate affairs, finance, engineering, IT, marketing, HR, manufacturing, R&D, sales, and supply chain. We also have a whole host of really unique roles within the business that you may not expect, such as the global making-things-more-awesome manager at Skittles [essentially, a brand manager] to flavor scientists at Wrigley [who develop the science behind flavors like Juicy Fruit and Doublemint].

Do you have an internship program?We offer internships for undergrads and graduates from June to August every year. Interns work on real business projects that could include research, analysis, turning data insights into recommendations, and presenting [those ideas] to leadership. Though a good GPA is important, it is not the sole qualification. Being a self-starter, great with people, and having a high-energy, positive attitude are all just as important.

Are interns paid, or do they receive college credit?Mars internships are paid a salary and receive the same [perks] as our permanent team.

Do you regularly hire interns into full-time roles?Our goal is always to convert interns into permanent team members. If an intern really impresses and theres a role open, we will absolutely hire her or him.

Do most full-time positions require a specific degree?It totally depends on the job and division. Over 60 percent of our positions reside in manufacturing where college degrees are not required.

What types of questions do you typically ask in an interview?We ask questions that will allow candidates to show us how their past behaviors have achieved great results. Like, what is the best communication of a vision you have ever witnessed? What did you learn from that? What are the best three books you have read, and why did you choose them? What has been your biggest workplace failure? What did you learn from it? What is your natural role in a team and how does this affect the way you approach being the leader?

What questions should candidates always ask you in an interview?I would encourage candidates to ask the interviewer what they think are the upsides and downsides of working at Mars. No business is perfect — and for some, the way we work wont be the right fit.

What questions should they never ask?Dont ask about when youll get promoted or how soon you can move onto something else. Come armed with a couple of questions, but not too many – the interviewer will probably have other people to see or their day jobs to get on with.

Is it OK to bring up salary?Certainly, but it shouldnt be the first thing you talk about.

Whats a mistake people make in interviews all the time and dont know it?Some people struggle during the interview to actually answer the question, or they spend too much or little time when answering. Its all about the balance of depth in your answers. We want to hear real-life experiences, what youve learned, and how youve reapplied your learning in new situations.

What is the interview dress code?Wear something professional that youre comfortable in and that makes you feel powerful — whatever powerful means to you.

Do thank-you cards or emails matter to you?Im from the U.K., where sending thank-you cards and emails after an interview isnt common, so personally, I would say no. But my U.S. colleagues send them as a matter of course, so I guess it depends on the interviewee. Assess what the person is like and then do what feels right to you.

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Example: “I have worked for several companies that had high turnover rates, but I always found ways to make employees feel more valued and appreciated. For example, when I worked as an assistant manager at a fast food restaurant, we had a lot of employees leave after only a few months on the job. We hired a new HR director who implemented some changes to our onboarding process and training program. These changes reduced our turnover rate by 50%.”

Example: “I am an independent person who likes to work on my own. However, I also understand the importance of teamwork. When I worked at Mars Pet Food Company, I was part of a team that developed new recipes for dog food. We all had our own strengths and weaknesses, but we were able to combine them to create something great. In this role, I learned how important it is to work as part of a team.”

Example: “I am passionate about natural pet foods. I think it’s important for pets to eat healthy meals that are free from artificial ingredients. When I was looking for a new job, I noticed Mars makes several brands of natural pet food. This made me excited to apply because I knew I could use my passion for natural foods to help create quality products.”

Example: “I am available for any daytime or evening shift that you have open. I prefer working during the day because I enjoy interacting with customers and coworkers. However, I also understand that Mars has many different types of positions, so I would be willing to work an overnight shift if needed.”

In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of some of the most common Mars interview questions, as well as some tips on how to answer them.

What types of jobs are available for recent graduates?We have entry-level positions for recent grads in most of our functions, including corporate affairs, finance, engineering, IT, marketing, HR, manufacturing, R&D, sales, and supply chain. We also have a whole host of really unique roles within the business that you may not expect, such as the global making-things-more-awesome manager at Skittles [essentially, a brand manager] to flavor scientists at Wrigley [who develop the science behind flavors like Juicy Fruit and Doublemint].

What types of questions do you typically ask in an interview?We ask questions that will allow candidates to show us how their past behaviors have achieved great results. Like, what is the best communication of a vision you have ever witnessed? What did you learn from that? What are the best three books you have read, and why did you choose them? What has been your biggest workplace failure? What did you learn from it? What is your natural role in a team and how does this affect the way you approach being the leader?

What is the interview dress code?Wear something professional that youre comfortable in and that makes you feel powerful — whatever powerful means to you.

Whats a mistake people make in interviews all the time and dont know it?Some people struggle during the interview to actually answer the question, or they spend too much or little time when answering. Its all about the balance of depth in your answers. We want to hear real-life experiences, what youve learned, and how youve reapplied your learning in new situations.

Is it OK to bring up salary?Certainly, but it shouldnt be the first thing you talk about.

FAQ

How should I prepare for a Mars interview?

1. Prepare to show off. If you’re recording your responses or having a virtual face-to-face, it’s a good idea to come prepared to talk about why you’re interested in the role, and share what you know about Mars. …
2. Let your personality shine. …
3. Ask questions. …
4. Provide feedback.

What questions are asked in a digital interview?

• Tell us about yourself.
• Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
• What about this position drew your attention?
• Tell us about a time you exceeded expectations on a project at work.
• Why should we hire you?

How can I pass my digital interview?

1. Do your homework. Know what’s on the internet about both you and the company. …
2. Practise and prepare. …
3. Treat your digital interview just like a face-to-face interview. …
4. Be conscious of what the interviewer will see and hear in the background. …
5. Be tenacious and resilient.

How do I pass a HireVue interview?

1. Maintain eye contact in front of the camera as if you’re speaking face-to-face with a person.
2. Make sure to enunciate your words and try not to stutter or have long pauses. …
3. Don’t forget to keep it natural. …
4. For banking interviews, you have to dress appropriately.