Preparing for interviews
Be yourself
Remember, we want to meet the real you! You don't have to answer everything perfectly or memorize your responses like a script. We're more interested in hearing about you, your interests, your career goals and why you think Maersk is the right place for you.
Interviews are also a chance for you to ask us any questions you may have about Maersk and the role.
Special requirements and accessibility
Everyone is different when it comes to interviews so if you have a diverse ability and require reasonable adjustments made to support you during the application or interview process, please let your recruiter know as soon as possible or email us.
Any information shared with us will be confidential and used to support you during the recruitment process and will not be used as part of the decision making.
Depending on the role you're applying for, the interview process may differ, for example, with our front line hiring.
Interviews at Maersk involve behavior-based questions. During your interview, we'll ask you about past situations or challenges you’ve faced, using our values to guide our discussion. Use the STARR method to help structure your answers and share your past experiences.
What are we looking for?
- Relevant examples of your past experience which showcase the necessary skills required for the job
- Interviewers are looking to get to know you better
- Interviewers are also here to answer questions you may have about Maersk and the role
Sample competencies and interview questions:
Sample competencies | Interview questions |
---|---|
Sample competencies
Action Orientated
|
Interview questions
Describe a time when you seized an opportunity and moved forward with it yourself.
|
Sample competencies
Attention to Detail
|
Interview questions
Tell me about a time you had to maintain your focus in a constantly changing environment.
|
Sample competencies
Manages Complexity
|
Interview questions
Tell me about a time when your chosen solution didn’t work out, and you had to rethink the problem from scratch.
|
Sample competencies
Collaborates
|
Interview questions
Describe a time when you needed to build a relationship with someone very different from you.
|
Sample competencies
Customer Focus
|
Interview questions
Tell me about a time when you effectively handled a customer’s complaint.
|
To best answer behavioural-based interview questions, you should use the STARR method. The STARR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioural-based interview questions where you can use examples from your experience to showcase your expertise and experience.
- Situation: Describe the situation you were in, or the task you needed to do. Give enough detail for the interviewer to understand the complexities of the situation.
- Task: Describe your goal.
- Action: Describe the actions you took. Use an appropriate amount of detail. What steps did you take? What was your contribution? Use the word ‘I,’ not ‘we.’
- Result: Describe the outcome of your actions. Don’t be shy about taking credit for what you did. What happened? How did it end?
- Reflection: What did you accomplish and learn? Provide examples using metrics or data if applicable.
- Practice using the STARR method.
- Reread the job advertisement, for each skill/competency, think of a specific example when you demonstrated that skill successfully and unsuccessfully.
- Be ready to answer follow-up questions in greater detail.
- Be specific and avoid generalizations. Don't embellish or omit parts of the story.
- Be concise but detailed in your answers.
Virtual interviews
- We use Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) as our video conferencing for virtual interviews.
- We recommend you to use a laptop or desktop, since it will be easier for you to connect to MS Teams through the Google Chrome web browser. Watch a quick tutorial on how to join a Teams Call from your web browser here. If you have any issues or require assistance using MS Teams, please let your recruiter know.
- If possible, we recommend you use headphones, to ensure audio/microphone quality.
- We recommend you have this interview in a quiet and relaxed environment where you feel comfortable and without any distractions.
- And last but not least, please review your interview details and confirm your attendance.
- Arrival: If you have an in-person interview, please let the reception staff know you have arrived and check with your recruiter if you need to bring a government-issued photo ID (for example, your driver’s license or passport). If you have a virtual interview, please make sure you can access the Microsoft Teams link beforehand.
- Location: You will have received information about the location of your interview via email from your recruiter. Let your recruiter know if you need any assistance or accommodation. If you have an online interview, you will have been sent a Microsoft Teams link via email by our recruitment team.
- Dress code: Our dress code is business casual, feel free to wear whatever you feel comfortable.
- Interviewers: Depending on the role, you will meet with two to four people. They will likely be managers and/or team members.
- Duration: Interviews usually last between 30 and 60 minutes.
- If you’re asked a question but aren't given enough information to provide an answer, please ask for clarification or more information.
- We always try to leave time at the end of each interview to answer your questions. If we don’t get to all of them, don’t hesitate to ask your recruiter after your interview.
- For some roles, a role-specific exercise or assessments will also be part of the interview process. You will be told by your recruiter if this is part of the interview process of the job you have applied for.
Technology roles
If you are currently preparing for an interview for a technology role, it is very likely that you will be asked to complete a technical exercise as part of the interview process. The technical exercise might involve answering a set of questions or completing a hands-on coding exercise. Alternatively, you might be given an assignment that you can work on in your own time.
If you are unsure if you're interviewing for a technology role or when you will be asked to do the technical portion of the interview, please ask your recruiter. They should be able to provide insight into what you can expect from the interview process and how you can best prepare.
Soon after your interview, you should expect to hear from your recruiter to discuss your thoughts on how the meeting went, and to share feedback from the interviewers. If you have been successful in your interview, your recruiter will also share information about the next steps in the recruitment process.
If you are unsuccessful in moving ahead with your application, you will be provided with feedback, and feel free to visit our career and vacancies pages to apply for other roles.