2024

What was the full recruitment process?

1. Application: Cover letter and CV

2. Psychometric test: online assessment including situational judgement tasks, Watson Glaser questions and logical reasoning questions

3. First video interview: 

4. Second video interview: online interview focusing more on soft skills

5. Final interview

Which aspect does this report cover?

First video interview, second video interview and final interview 

Where did the assessment centre take place?

Every stage was assessed virtually, mainly over teams 

What did the first video interview involve?

A ~30-minute motivation-based interview with a member of the HR team, including the following questions; 

• Why you want to pursue commercial law?
• Why are you applying to this internship?
• What you hope to gain from the internship?  

What did the second video interview involve?

A ~30-minute competency interview with an in-house lawyer from Diageo, including the following questions 

• Tell me about a time you worked well in a team 
• Describe a time you overcame obstacles and the steps you took 
• What skills can you bring to this internship?

What did the final interview involve?

The final interview was with the supervisor of the internship (Legal Strategy Director of Diageo). It lasted ~ 15 minutes. The interviewer asked me two questions in the interview;

• Why should I give you a place on this internship over the hundreds of other applicants to this internship?
• Does the fact that alcohol creates a lot of health issues and can cause people to act in extreme ways impact your opinion to work for a company that makes money from selling alcohol? 

Although there were only two questions in the final interview, this is your biggest chance to stand out. They really want to see if you understand what it takes working for a business like Diageo. 

The first question was simpler to prepare for. It was essentially the “Why you?” question that is a common final interview question. I would advise researching Diageo’s 6 core values and linking them to you and your past experiences

The second question was a complete surprise for me. I was not expecting to be asked such an unconventional question. If you get asked this question, it’s advised to ask for some time before answering; this shows the interviewer that you are genuinely giving thought to the question (which they know is a question you wouldn’t have prepared an answer to). 

Give your genuine thoughts on the question but make sure you focus on balancing your argument by considering what might be unsettling about the role but also how Diageo tries to motivate its consumers and employees to “drink responsibly”.

What was the outcome?

A member of the HR team called me a week after my final interview to tell me I had been successful.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

For the first and second video interviews, you can prepare for each question by writing down and having good knowledge of your motivations to be a commercial lawyer and soft skills respectively. Focus on your strengths and why they apply to the role.