Prepare for Heineken Online Aptitude Tests and Graduate Programme

This PrepPack™ offers SHL-style deductive, numerical and verbal tests, as well as SJT's, a personality test, guides, drills and tutorials.

During the recruitment process, whether you are a candidate for a Heineken position or for their International Graduate Programme, you are required to complete three ability tests provided by SHL: logical, verbal and numerical reasoning. Improve your chances of achieving a position at Heineken with the comprehensive SHL-style tests:

In the SHL logical reasoning test, you must determine what comes next in a series of objects in a limited amount of time.

Answering the questions often requires detecting patterns in colours, shapes and movements of figures.

In the numerical test, you will encounter numerical data in the form of a table or a graph, followed by multiple-choice questions relating to them.

Answering the questions often requires you to show basic math aptitude and to perform calculations involving fractions, percentages, ratios and conversions.

For the SHL verbal test, you will read short passages of text and answer questions relating to each passage. Each question will require you to quickly evaluate whether a statement is true, false, or indeterminable - based on the text.

The SHL assessment score is comparative and relative to all the other examinees. As such, the scores are distributed in the bell-curve style.

Only those candidates who score in the highest percentile of the curve will move on to the next stage of the recruitment process.

It is important that you do your best to prepare for the test, because failing to achieve a high assessment score will hurt your chances of getting the job you want.

Preparing for SHL aptitude tests is even more important. Your score is relative and determined in comparison to a norm group of people with similar educational backgrounds. Since most candidates prepare for these tests, you should practise as much as you can in order to stand out from the crowd.

Your first interview will be conducted via Skype with two company representatives from the department to which you are applying.

During the interview, you will discuss your past work experience and your reasons for aspiring to work in the specific role. You will also discuss technical aspects of the desired position, such as your workplace location and anticipated salary.  

The second interview will take place on-site. During this face-to-face interview, Heineken often evaluates candidates' emotional IQ by implementing situational judgement tests.

This is an interview in which candidates are evaluated based on their demonstration of the following properties:

• Proper social conduct, such as maintaining direct eye contact and using appropriate language with your interviewer. 
• Decision-making skills, such as using limited information to solve a given problem.

The third interview will be conducted by a four-person panel composed of professional representatives from your designated department. During this interview, you might be asked to present on a topic in front of the panel. For example, if you are applying to the Sales Department, you will be asked to prepare a five-minute sales pitch for a Heineken product.

During the panel, the representatives will be looking for what added value you can bring to the position, providing you with the opportunity to showcase your knowledge and expertise. The final section that concludes the panel is a series of situational and behavioural questions.

How can you ace Heineken’s interview series?

• Research the Heineken Company and the features of your desired position.
• Prepare your own questions ahead of time and ask them to the interviewers at the appropriate time.
• Prepare to answer common interview questions, such as questions based on your CV and STAR-type questions (e.g. Tell me about a time when you were challenged and how you dealt with the conflict).
• Follow-up after your interview with a thank-you note.

Prepare yourself for the interviews and practise with the Interview Preparation tools.

Graduate candidates who qualify for the final stage will be invited to participate in a Heineken assessment centre, which lasts for a full day at the company’s headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

At the assessment centre, you will meet other candidates from your regional graduate programme, engage with regional managers and participate in various group activities and discussions. You can familiarise yourself with common assessment centre tasks.