FrieslandCampina Interview Questions
& Process

Had several interviews with people from business and HR, both in the region and globally. Also did some assessments on verbal, numerical reasoning, and personality. It was a good experience overall. The questions were mostly about my experience with change and transformation, since the company has gone through a lot of restructuring recently.

You'll start with a quick chat with HR just to confirm you're available and what your current situation is. After that, you'll move on to the first interview, which is basically a get-to-know-you session. They'll ask about your background, what you're aiming for, what you like, and what drives you.

The first interview was with the hiring manager and HR. They asked some easy behavioral questions and the hiring manager was receptive to my responses. Following that, there was an online assessment to gauge my reading comprehension, numerical skills, logical reasoning, and work style. The second interview was with two senior managers/team leads. They inquired about my personal life after sharing their own work and family details. One of them commented that while I seemed to have broad R&D experience, it might mean I lacked depth, which he justified as being 'straightforward' due to his Dutch background. After the interview, HR informed me that the interviewers found me nervous and that I spoke too much, leading to my application being rejected. When I asked HR if I could apply for other roles, they said yes. I did apply for another position later, but never got a confirmation, suggesting they blocked my email. My Dutch friends mentioned they had never encountered a Dutch company asking personal questions during an interview and agreed the comments were harsh, feeling like they were being mean due to their higher positions. While I might not have detailed enough relative experience for the role, a more considerate approach was possible but not taken.

The hiring process moved pretty quickly, taking about a month. It consisted of four main parts: an initial chat with a recruiter, an interview with the hiring manager, an online assessment, and finally, an interview with peers. Everything was done remotely, which was super convenient and a great model for other companies. The people I interacted with were really nice, making each call feel relaxed and comfortable. I was especially impressed by the recruiter's attentiveness and support – it was unlike anything I'd experienced before. Sadly, they had an internal candidate in the running, and I found out about this just a week after my last interview. So, no offer came through, and I couldn't join the team. It does make you wonder why they'd recruit externally if they already had internal options.