Diageo plc is one of the world's leading premium drinks business. The company has a diverse collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wine and beer categories.
The Diageo portfolio consists of global and local brands, that includes: Smirnoff, Guinness, Baileys, Tanqueray, Johnnie Walker, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, J&B, Jose Cuervo, Captain Morgan, Sterling Vineyards wines to name but a few.
Diageo is a global company, trading in over 180 markets around the world and is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Employing over 24,000 talented people worldwide, with offices in around 80 countries, Diageo has manufacturing facilities across the globe including: Great Britain, Ireland, United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, Africa, Latin America, Australia, India and the Caribbean
The word Diageo was formed from the Latin dia (day) and the Greek geo (World), symbolising the use of the company's brands by consumers who celebrate with the brands everyday, everywhere.
Graduate Schemes
[Edit]Diageo has a number of graduate programmes that they recruit for annually across Europe (North America and other regions offer local programmes).
Referred to by Diageo as "Early Career" programmes they enable the company to harness the potential of talented individuals who have either just graduated or who are at the beginning of their career.
The programmes are aimed at individuals who want to embark on a structured, yet flexible, programme that will stretch, challenge and grow them to become the future leaders of the business.
In Europe Diageo offers the following 3 programmes:
1. Europe Graduate Programme (Sales & Marketing): UK, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Russia, Greece, Iberia
2. HR Programme: UK
3. Global Supply Chain: UK & Ireland
Diageo recruit a relatively small number of graduates in each of their locations and/or functions (which can range from anywhere between 4 and 15) each year in the following European countries:
- GB
- Ireland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Russia
- Poland
- Italy
- Greece
Programme Principles
[Edit]The programmes have been designed to nuture the potential of talented individuals that set them on the path to becoming the senior leaders within the Diageo business. The duration of the programmes is 3 years, where graduates will complete 2 or 3 rotations of between 12 and 18 months.
While a broadly structured three-year training and development programme has been developed to help grow individual capabilities and functional skills/expertise, all graduates will be placed into real roles to provide authentic and challenging job experiences, responsibility and accountability from day one. This allows individuals to progress at a pace that's right for them.
The development programme is split between functional training and capability-based training. Capability-based training helps gradautes to develop key behaviours and characteristics for future leaders. Functional training is designed specifically to help graduates develop great functional (e.g. Sales, Marketing, HR) skills, knowledge and experience. Each function has its own set of training events, developed by experts in each area.
Everyone also has the opportunity to explore any other skills or capabilities during regular performance reviews with each line manager.
Graduates will be assigned a buddy in year one but will have a mentor, from the company's senior leadership team, for the duration of the programme.
Candidate Criteria
[Edit]The company recruits a diverse population that reflects the communities in which it operates and so encourages applications from all sections of the community.
Application Requirements
[Edit]For their early career programmes Diageo looks for candidates who have attained, or are expected to achieve, a minimum 2.1 bachelors degree from a recognised University and has a solid academic record.
Diageo recruiters are keen to employ candidates with solid commercial awareness, who are passionate about something they do in their lives and can demonstrate the ability to build great relationships across a wide range of people.
In order to be eligible for the programme candidates must be able to work in the EU without the need for a work permit, can speak English fluently as well as the language of the country which they apply to and has a full, clean driving licence. Candidates must also demonstrate a genuine interest for both Diageo and the function of their choice.
Assessment Process
[Edit]The application and interview process for Diageo is as follows:
Online application form
Online aptitude tests
Telephone interview
Assessment day
In order to apply to the Diageo graduate programmes applications must be made through their website under the careers section; CVs will not be accepted.
Candidates will complete two sections: 1. bio-data (ie academic results, year of graduation etc) and 2. six competency based questions and upload their CV.
The screening and selection process consists of 6 stages:
1. Review of part 1 of application process and CV
2. A short follow up telephone call with some candidates (only occurs where further follow up is required)
3. SHL psychometric testing: on-line verbal and numerical reasoning tests (candidates are then re-tested at assessment centre)
4. Review of part 2 of application
5. Formal telephone interview (or face to face if location permits)
6. Assessment centre
Online Application
[Edit]The online application proccess is not overly long but nevertheless does requires some investment of time. Make sure you set some time aside to think about your answers to the questions being asked of you.
It is crucial that your application is an accurate and compelling statement of your interest and suitability for the scheme. Only a third of the graduates who apply to the programme are likely to reach telephone interview stage so it is vital that applicants think carefully before submitting their details.
The word limit forces you to be conscise in your answers so ensure that every word counts. Be selective and relevant and make sure you actually answer the question in full! Think about what the question is looking for and try to use examples from all aspects of your academic, working and social life to convince Diageo that you are capable of dealing with the the work and responsibilities of a graduate scheme. Use a different example to answer each question, and only use the space provided in the form.
Once you submit your application form it will be evaluated by a member of the Diageo Early Career team. You will receive an email confirming whether or not you have been successful and progressed to the next stage within a maximum of 4 weeks of submission.
Where the Early Career team feel, after reviewing both your CV and part 1 of your application form, that they still have some questions or they would like to clarify a few points on your CV or application form they will follow up with a short telephone call. This is not a formal interview but your answers will be considered as part of the overall assessment.
Online Tests
[Edit]If you have been successful you will then receive an email with links to two SHL psychometric tests. The link will take you to a verbal and critical reasoning test and you will need to complete BOTH tests in full in order to progress to the next stage. You will have a maximum of 5 days to complete the tests.
If you are successful in the SHL tests you automatically move to the next stage of assessment where the Diageo team will review your answers to part 2 of your application form.
Telephone Interview
[Edit]If you have met the criteria necessary in part 2 of your application you will be notified by Diageo via email and will be invited to a formal telephone interview of between 30-45 minutes.
Candidates will be asked several competency based questions. You should use different examples from your life (academic experience, work experience, extracurricular experience, etc) to answer each competency question.
You may also be asked questions like:
Why have you chosen to apply for HR (or the area you have applied for)? What does the programme offer you personally and how does this fit with your career ambitions?
Candidates will be notified within two weeks if they have been successful after the telephone interview.
Assessment Centre
[Edit]The final stage of the Diageo assessment process is the Assessment centre. The assessment centre lasts for a little more than half a day and consists of the following:
- Competency based interview
- Presentation
- Role Play
- Group discussion exercise
Aside from general interview preparation there will be no requirement for candidates to complete any prior preparation before assessment centre as all the information will be provided to candidates on the day.
The Offer
[Edit]Candidates successful at assessment centre will be offered a position within Diageo. Everyone attending the centre will be notified of the outcome within 14 days. Feedback regarding your performance during the day will be offered to candidates and a time will be set up separately if candidates wish to take this forward.
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