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While any degree discipline is accepted for most roles, some of the graduates schemes have specific requirements:
Mars has highlighted the following competencies as crucial to the business:
Interpersonal and communications skills are very important. Mars has an informal culture where a lot of business gets done via face to face conversation. To succeed at Mars, you need to be able to build rapport and relations quickly with a wide variety of different personalities.
The ability to cope with change is crucial. To work within the FMCG industry you need to be comfortable with a fast paced environment: it can change rapidly, requiring you to make decisions and alter direction quickly.
Applicants should show evidence of initiative and drive. At Mars you are expected to be able to identify opportunities for improvements and drive these forward to make them happen. We realise that there is no one set way of doing things – individuals need to feel comfortable taking responsibility to shape things the way they think they should be done.
Chris Howes, graduate marketing manager, Mars.
The application process for graduate roles at Mars comprises submission of an online application form with CV and cover letter, online psychometric tests, an interview day with an analytical or technical exercise and an assessment centre day.
The final stage of the application form is the ‘questionnaire’ section, which includes:
Candidates are then required to answer three competency-based questions. The character limit for these answers is 1500 inclusive of spaces.
TIP: Despite their other differences, all of the company’s graduate schemes require the same basic competencies; engineers and technologists need to be on the same wavelength as supply and demand specialists if the right products are to reach the market at the right time. Candidates should bear this in mind when answering the questions, and make sure their answers reflect these competencies.
It is also important to remember that the application is for a role within business; examples should be relevant to the commercial environment. Mars states that staff from all functions, from management to research, should have a good understanding of the business.
During the application process applicants are required to provide examples of situations when they have shown a particular competency. It's really important to think about the examples in terms of what you learnt and how you have applied this learning since.
Try to think of examples through 4 lenses: the situation; the outcome; the learnings; and the re-application. What parallels have you drawn from other situations when confronting new challenges?
Chris Howes, graduate marketing manager, Mars.
Mars runs up to three graduate recruitment cycles each year.
First cycle:
Further cycles are normally run later in the year to fill remaining places. The second wave will begin at the end of January and the third (if required) in March 2012.
Applicants who successfully get through the online application and online assessment rounds are invited for interview.
Interviews are with managers.
Interviews are conducted by company managers. There will also be an opportunity to talk to staff on the Mars graduate scheme.
Candidates who are called for interview also complete an analytical exercise if applying to the general management, European finance schemes and procurement schemes, or a technical exercise if applying to the engineering and research and development schemes). These exercises assess the problem-solving skills of the applicant. Case studies have been used in the past.
It is important to remember that Mars interviews large numbers of candidates. As a result, applicants should avoid pre-rehearsed answers that don’t reflect the question asked. Successful applicants will listen to what the interviewer is asking of them, and tailor their ideas and examples to the detail and specificities of each question.
Illustrating a level of self-awareness when you are being assessed is vital. It shouldn't just be about you trying to tell employers how great you are – you should show a balance. Humility is a great characteristic and showing evidence of where you have maybe failed at something, and what you took out of that experience to benefit you in future situations, shows that you aren't afraid to take risks and push boundaries to achieve a great result.
Have a good picture in your head of what the three key areas for improvement are, in addition to your strengths. As well as wanting to see what you can bring to the table, we want to know how you are looking for the right opportunities to develop.
Chris Howes, graduate marketing manager, Mars.
Applicants to all of the Mars graduate schemes are required to complete the following assessments and tests:
The assessment centre spans two days. On the first day, candidates have an informal meal with assessors and graduates currently on the company’s graduate scheme (known as associates). The second day is the assessed portion, and comprises individual and group exercises. These reportedly include a case study, a presentation and another competency interview.
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