Unilever Intern - Sales and Marketing Interview Questions & Experience Guide

Interview Preparation
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21

Company Name: Unilever

Position: Intern - Sales and Marketing

Location: Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow

Application Process: Applied via campus placement at IIM Lucknow.

Interview Rounds:

  • Round 1 - Group Discussion:

  • Questions Asked: “Has the Modi government created the impact that it promised to?”

  • Your Approach: I focused on presenting a balanced view, highlighting both achievements and areas where the government could improve. I ensured my points were data-backed and concise.

  • Outcome: Cleared the round successfully.

  • Round 2 - One-on-one Round:

  • Questions Asked:

    1. Tell me about yourself.
    2. Share about your work experience.
    3. Why do you want to join sales and marketing when you are in the consulting club of IIML? Is it because you didn’t get into any day zero companies?
    4. Tell me your favorite brand.
    5. Why is it your favorite?
    6. Which is your favorite ad of Bru?
    7. Why were you interested in the social sector?
    8. Do you have any questions for me?

  • Your Approach: I kept my answers crisp and aligned with the role. For the consulting club question, I emphasized my passion for sales and marketing and how my consulting experience complements it. For the brand-related questions, I chose a brand I genuinely admire and could speak passionately about.

  • Outcome: Advanced to the next round.

  • Round 3 - Case Study Round:

  • Questions Asked:

    1. Tell me about yourself.
    2. Why you chose HUL? Why Sales & Marketing?
    3. What would you prefer if two options are given—to increase the quantity by 100 MG and price Dove at 70 or reduce the quantity and price it lower than now, somewhere around 40?
    4. If I give you 10 crores, how do you plan on spending it? You can do anything with it. Give me the action steps. You could even travel round the world.

  • Your Approach: For the pricing question, I analyzed the trade-offs between volume and price elasticity. For the 10-crore question, I proposed a mix of personal development and investment in a social cause, showcasing strategic thinking.

  • Outcome: Successfully cleared the round and secured the internship.

Preparation Tips:

  • Interactions with seniors for insights.
  • Mock GDs and PIs to build confidence and clarity.

Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was rigorous but rewarding. The key was staying authentic and aligning my answers with the role’s requirements. Mock interviews and discussions with seniors were incredibly helpful. For future candidates, I’d recommend thorough preparation on brand-related questions and practicing case studies to think on your feet.

22

Company Name: Unilever

Position: Intern - Sales and Marketing

Location: Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow (via campus placement)

Application Process: Applied through campus placement at IIM Lucknow.

Interview Rounds:

  • Round 1 - Case Study Round:

    • Questions Asked: ABC condoms have high brand awareness in the country and are also of high quality, but have low sales since local companies are setting up deals with distributors who are preferring the latter to ABC. How do you increase sales, and how do you allocate budgets for the same?
    • Your Approach: I analyzed the problem by breaking it down into key issues—brand awareness vs. sales disconnect, distributor preferences, and budget allocation. I proposed strategies like strengthening distributor relationships, localized marketing campaigns, and reallocating budgets to high-impact areas.
    • Outcome: Cleared the round.

  • Round 2 - HR Round:

    • Questions Asked:
      1. Tell me something about yourself.
      2. Describe your work experience and related questions (e.g., clients and markets, timeline of work-ex, types of campaigns, most successful campaign, challenges, use of data, platforms worked & tools known).
      3. Search funnel for a product, market share/search impression share of the client vs. competitor.
      4. Any questions for us?
    • Your Approach: I structured my answers to highlight relevant experiences, used the STAR method for behavioral questions, and asked thoughtful questions about the role and company culture.
    • Outcome: Advanced to the next round.

  • Round 3 - HR Round:

    • Questions Asked:
      1. Why marketing?
      2. What do you prefer—brand marketing, digital, sales, etc.?
      3. How does sales fit into your goals?
      4. How would you interact with subordinates who are elder to you?
      5. What if a subordinate isn’t delivering results on time?
      6. What if they still aren’t working despite warnings?
    • Your Approach: I aligned my answers with my career aspirations, emphasized adaptability, and demonstrated problem-solving skills for managerial scenarios.
    • Outcome: Successfully cleared the round and secured the internship.

Preparation Tips:

  1. Research thoroughly—use the internet and the company website to understand their products and market position.
  2. Be well-versed in your work experience details, as HR rounds often delve deep into past roles.
  3. Practice case studies and behavioral questions to structure your responses effectively.

Conclusion:
The interview process was rigorous but rewarding. The case study round tested analytical and strategic thinking, while the HR rounds assessed fit and communication skills. I could have prepared more specific examples for behavioral questions. My advice to future candidates is to focus on clarity, confidence, and connecting your experiences to the role.