Millward Brown Associate Interview Questions
& Process

This was a really badly managed interview. HR sent me an email with the wrong job title in the invite. The interviewer didn't seem very prepared, almost like she was reading off a checklist and not really listening to my answers, because I had to repeat myself a lot. It seemed like she didn't even glance at my resume or LinkedIn, which are super detailed with links, duties, and accomplishments. Wouldn't that save time? I never heard back after, and honestly, it was one of the worst interviews I've had out of many with top companies.

This was for an AD role at Millward Brown Optimor, who are more like a management consultancy focused on brands rather than a creative agency. The first round was a phone screen, which typically includes a case study and/or brain teaser questions, plus a review of your resume. The second round was an in-person set of meetings with staff from AD down to junior analysts, lasting about 2 hours and conducted case interview style. It felt a bit unusual for candidates with over 10 years of experience. What was really off-putting was the attitude of some staff; about half were condescending, impatient, and sometimes disrespectful. It made me wonder how they treat clients. When I asked questions, some junior staff struggled to answer basic things like why they enjoy working there or what brands interest them, and seemed annoyed by the questions. One person was enthusiastic, but that was the only time I saw genuine engagement. Senior staff also had trouble or couldn't provide straightforward answers about the role's organization, structure, goals, and responsibilities. The whole second round felt like a performance by them, showing off how fortunate I was to be considered, rather than a mutual discussion about what both sides could offer. It was disappointing because the organization seems promising with some good people, but it might be attracting more arrogant individuals, which could hinder long-term professional relationships and business partnerships.

So I interviewed at Millward Brown Optimor, and I talked to about 8 people, from Analysts up to the Managing Director. Pretty much everyone gave me a case study or an IQ test, which was tough but okay. I withdrew my application after the second round because honestly, the senior leaders' attitudes and communication skills were a big issue. I had this super frustrating conversation with them; they couldn't give me simple answers about team leadership or the ideal candidate profile. They came across as really condescending, and I definitely don't want to work with people like that.