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Mars UK: application stages, tests and practice

Mars sets out the same six-step hiring process for all its UK Leadership Experience programmes, including Finance: find the right programme, apply with your CV, application review, a HireVue interview, an assessment centre, then an offer with a September start. Mars names HireVue as its video interview platform for high-volume roles. The content of the HireVue interview and of the assessment centre is not published on the pages read. Mars's interview guidance asks for STAR answers to behavioural questions and points candidates to its Five Principles.

Routes: Mars Finance Leadership Experience (MFLE), one of six UK three-year graduate leadership programmes (General Management, Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, R&D and Procurement). Mars describes the finance programme as three 12-month placements across areas such as supply finance or market finance, internal control or audit, or digital solutions, with company-paid CIMA study (UK only) and the chance of a regional project or placement abroad. It asks for a recent degree in any discipline and international mobility. Finance internships and finance placements for undergraduates are not described on the pages read. Last verified 2026-11-08.

Stages in order

What do the confidence badges mean?
  • Vendor-published Stated in the test publisher's own document or practice site.
  • Academic From peer-reviewed research.
  • Official employer Stated on the employer's own page.
  • Near-official Near-official: an employer-run practice portal, or a vendor or employer-quoted press release naming the employer.
  • Candidate-reported Reported by candidates. Treat as likely but unconfirmed.
  • Third-party From prep sites, press or forums. Not confirmed by the employer or publisher.

  1. Online application

    Official employer

    Apply online with your updated CV, making sure your education is included, and say whether you would need visa sponsorship for the graduate scheme. Mars's general hiring FAQ says you create a profile with your contact details and CV, that an application takes about 25 minutes, and that some jobs also ask for a cover letter. Adjustments are requested through your point of contact in the recruitment process.

    Sources: [1] [2] [3]

  2. Application review

    Official employer

    Mars reviews your application and updates you. No online test at this stage is described on the pages read, and no screening criteria are published.

    Sources: [1] [2]

  3. HireVue interview

    Official employer

    If your application is successful you are invited to a HireVue interview. Mars says it may use HireVue for roles that receive a high volume of applications. Mars's interview guidance says its interviews often include behavioural questions and recommends structuring answers with STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and understanding The Five Principles. The number of questions, time limits and whether answers are recorded or live are not published on the pages read.

    Publisher: HireVue (named by the employer or an employer-run portal)

    Practise: HireVue-style video interview practice, Video interview practice

    Sources: [1] [2] [4]

  4. Assessment centre

    Official employer

    If you are successful at the HireVue interview you are invited to an assessment centre. Mars asks you to bring your true authentic self to the day. The exercises, format (virtual or in person) and duration are not published on the pages read.

    Practise: Assessment centre practice

    Sources: [1] [2]

  5. Offer

    Official employer

    Successful candidates receive an offer and join in September. Mars states a starting salary of £33,000 plus a £2,000 joining bonus on its UK graduate pages.

    Sources: [1] [2]

Final stage line-up

Official employer

Not published on the pages read. Mars says only that successful HireVue candidates are invited to an assessment centre and asks them to bring their true authentic self to the day.

Assessment centre practice

Retakes and validity

No reapply, retake or result validity rule for the graduate programmes is stated on the pages read. Mars's general hiring FAQ says you can apply for multiple roles at Mars and that each application is considered independently.

What we could not verify

  • The content of the HireVue interview (number of questions, timings, recorded or live) is not published on the pages read
  • The assessment centre exercises, format and duration are not published on the pages read. A candidate podcast and Glassdoor reports mention a case study, presentations and face-to-face interviews; these are candidate reports and were not checked against Mars's own pages
  • Older candidate reports on Glassdoor mention a numerical test and a telephone interview; no online test is described on Mars's current pages
  • A job board listing (Bright Network, 2024) shows an online questionnaire and says you can only apply for one programme or placement; that wording was not found on Mars's own pages read
  • Application open and close dates for the 2027 Finance intake are not published on the pages read, and the Workday advert linked from the Finance page did not load on 2026-11-08

Sources

  1. Mars UK: Finance Leadership Experience Checked 2026-11-08
    Mars's own page. Supports the programme description (three 12-month placements, finance areas, CIMA, international mobility, degree in any discipline), the salary and joining bonus, and the six-step hiring process for the Leadership Experience. It says 2027 applications are open and links to a Workday advert (R167489) that returned not found when checked on 2026-11-08.
  2. Mars UK: Students and graduates Checked 2026-11-08
    Mars's own page. Supports the six UK leadership schemes including Finance, the hiring steps (CV and visa question, review, HireVue interview, assessment centre, September start), the use of HireVue for high-volume roles and the Five Principles.
  3. Mars UK: How to join us Checked 2026-11-08
    Mars's own page covering its standard application process for all roles. Supports the 25-minute application, profile and CV, optional cover letter, applying for multiple roles, and requesting adjustments.
  4. Mars UK: Interviewing at Mars Checked 2026-11-08
    Mars's own page. Supports behavioural questions, the STAR technique and the pointer to The Five Principles. It is general interview guidance, not specific to the graduate programmes.
  5. Mars: The Five Principles Checked 2026-11-08
    Mars's own page. Supports the five principles used for the interview pack: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom.

Common questions about Mars UK

What are the stages of the Mars UK application process?

As we could verify, the stages are: Online application, then Application review, then HireVue interview, then Assessment centre, then Offer. The page says which of these are stated by Mars UK itself and which are only reported by candidates. Check your own invitation, because processes change every cycle.

Which test publisher does Mars UK use?

HireVue (named by Mars UK or an employer-run portal). Publishers change, so confirm with your invitation.

What is the final stage of the Mars UK process?

Not published on the pages read. Mars says only that successful HireVue candidates are invited to an assessment centre and asks them to bring their true authentic self to the day.

Can I practise for Mars UK here?

Yes. Each stage links to the matching free practice, with real timings, an untimed mode and a learn mode. The practice is independent, uses original questions and is not affiliated with Mars UK or any test publisher.

Independent practice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Mars UK and HireVue.

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