The HEINEKEN Company Interview Questions
& Process

After submitting my online application, HR reached out to schedule a phone call lasting about 45 minutes. The conversation focused on my personal introduction, my motivations, and how I align with the position's requirements. They asked about my background and the most significant projects I've completed during university. Afterwards, HR described the role and mentioned that if I didn't hear back within seven days, the selection process would move on to other candidates.

The hiring process was too long and lacked clear communication. Given it's a large, market-leading company, I expected a more organized and human approach from HR. I got the invite for the first interview after about a month, and the second stage only a month later. During this time, they only responded to my messages when I advanced to the next stage. After four months, including interviews and a case presentation, I received no feedback, not even a rejection, despite sending messages. This lack of feedback is frustrating and contradicts the company's stated values. Hiring processes are also employer branding experiences, and communicating well with candidates is part of their commitment to people.

So basically the interview process I went through, it started with a recruiter screening me to see if I was qualified and would fit the culture. Then, there were like one or two rounds where I talked with the hiring manager and some team leads. They asked me behavioral questions, like using the STAR method, and also gave me some case studies to see how I'd solve problems and if I understood the business side of things. The last part was usually a chat with a senior leader or director. I always prep by looking into the company's strategy and thinking about my own experiences.

I applied online in January and was screened within a week by the same recruiter, twice, with the exact same questions. First over the phone, then over a video call. The next stage was an online group business case. We got a brief by email and had an hour to come up with a business case, then present it to some third party and Heineken recruiters, and other candidates. After that, we had some time to combine all our ideas into one submission while being watched. We presented the group business case and then answered some questions as a group. I passed the group assessment and had an interview with the hiring manager the same day. It was a conversational interview and the hiring manager wanted to know about my experience and career goals. I felt the job description didn't really match what the hiring manager was looking for, but they were fair. The hiring manager made an effort to see if my career goals fit with their vision for the role. In Spain, this "graduate program" is actually a university internship agreement with an online masters program that the company pays for. It's not certified, but it's paid for by the company. So the salary is intern-level, and you're expected to work full time. Honestly, the third party handling the recruitment was unorganized. The whole process felt bloated and the "graduate program" was misleading since it's just an internship agreement. The only good thing was the hiring manager's attitude.