BAT Marketing Interview Questions
& Process

The whole selection process felt like a breeze. Since they urgently needed someone, they couldn't wait for a system upgrade to drag on for months, so I could send my application documents straight to HR. It was a huge opportunity for me to be invited for the first interview right after submitting my CV. This interview was crucial for the company to understand if I grasped the job I applied for and how serious my ambitions were. Quite quickly, just two days later, I got invited for a second interview to learn more about the role. I'd say that after the first interview, they had practically already made up their minds about one candidate or another, and the second interview was more to potentially cross-check information from the first one and to give the applicant a detailed overview of the job. I had a really good feeling about both interviews; I was received very warmly, the conversations were competently led, and I felt taken seriously. I appreciate that one of the world's best companies makes exceptions and doesn't unnecessarily complicate the application process. The human element should be paramount in a company, and you can feel that at BAT, which I really value – other companies could learn a lot from them! It took me about a month from CV submission to the offer, which I find to be a standard and extremely fair timeframe. If I had to wait maybe 8-12 weeks, I would probably have questioned it multiple times.

It was an interesting process. I had an initial interview with the HR consultancy, then participated in a case study with two other candidates. This case involved reading, responding, and presenting to managers who constantly asked questions, which is part of the process. I received positive feedback on my performance in the case study and was called the next day for theoretical and practical driving tests. However, in the final stage, an interview with a manager who hadn't been involved in the case study, they stated that based on my CV, I didn't fit the profile for the role. I'm unsure if this was a test of my reaction, but if so, it was a mediocre mistake, as evaluating CVs should be the first step in any process.

First, you send in your CV, then there's an online test for English and Math. After that, some external headhunters will do a live case assessment. Then, BAT HR will interview you in teams for a case interview. Finally, there's an Assessment Center where you'll be with a big marketing team. In the Assessment Center, you'll do a case study in teams and present it, do a role-playing negotiation, and also solve a business case by yourself.