Thank you for your interest in the Mars Graduate Program. So that you know what to expect, here is an outline of what you may experience upon applying for a role with us.
Application Screening
On receipt of your online application, we may review your application form, cover letter, resume and academic results against a number of predefined criteria. These criteria are consistent across all disciplines.
Telephone Screening
Telephone Screening of applicants may occur prior to extending an invitation to attend the Assessment Stage. Telephone screening may occur from the date that your application is received, right through until 6 weeks after the close of application date.
Assessment Stage
If you are successful in reaching the assessment stage, applicants will be invited (via email) to attend a half-day assessment in Melbourne or Sydney. The Assessment Stage may include the following activities:
Business overview:
A presentation on the Mars business to give applicants an insight into the working life at Mars, as well as more information on the Mars Graduate Program.
Case study:
A fictional case study relevant to the discipline the applicant has applied for. This involves approximately 50 minutes preparing a 10 minute presentation to be delivered at the beginning of the behavioural-based interview.
Behavioural-based interview:
A behavioural-based interview with Mars Associates, lasting approximately 45 minutes.
Behavioural-based interviewing is a style of interviewing that is based on the theory that the best predictor of future behaviour, is past behaviour. In preparing for the interview, applicants should give some thought to examples of past situations that have demonstrated their key attributes, personality traits and achievements.
Final Assessment
The final assessment may be held at one of our sites and we will arrange successful applicants to travel to this site. All applicants may also be invited to a dinner with senior managers of our business and provided with overnight accommodation.
The dinner with senior managers is an informal opportunity for applicants to find out more about Mars and the opportunities available to them should they be successful in their application. The evening dinner is not part of the assessment and does not form part of the selection process.
The following activities may occur during the Final Assessment stage.
A Site tour:
A plant tour of one of our sites to assist in developing a better understanding of our manufacturing facilities.
Q&A with current Graduates:
This time is set aside for an informal chat with our current graduates and provides candidates with an opportunity to learn more about our business and current graduates experiences of the Mars Graduate Program
Group activity:
Applicants break into small groups for a workplace simulation. The group activity helps us assess your initiative, problem solving, decision-making, communication and leadership skills. You may be part of a work simulation, which involves solving a critical issue in a fictional company. This gives applicants the opportunity to show how they would respond to a given scenario, and requires them to work individually and in a small group.
Interview with senior managers:
This is a formal behaviour-based interview with the Senior Managers of Mars Australia and may involve an applicant providing a 5-minute presentation on themselves, produced prior to attending interview. The interview may take about 45 minutes and will be with Senior Managers from the relevant discipline applied for. In some instances, applicants may be asked to attend more than one interview.
Pre-employment medical and reference checks:
These may be conducted at the final stage of the recruitment process.
Cognitive testing
Cognitive testing is an assessment tool to measure your verbal and numerical reasoning and may be utilised as necessary.
