Shell Interview Questions and Hiring Process

Shell is one of the world’s largest energy companies, known for its focus on innovation, sustainability, and global operations. Whether you’re applying for a role in engineering, geoscience, IT, finance, or operations, Shell’s hiring process is structured, competitive, and designed to identify top talent that aligns with the company’s core values.

Shell Hiring Process: Step by Step

1. Online Application

Start by submitting an application through the Shell careers website. Make sure your resume is tailored to the job description, and clearly highlight your technical skills, leadership experience, and international mindset, especially for graduate or professional programs.

2. Online Assessment Test

Most candidates are required to complete Shell’s online assessment, especially for graduate schemes, internships, and technical roles. The test typically includes:

• Cognitive Ability Tests (numerical and logical reasoning)
• Situational Judgement Test (SJT): Evaluates how you respond to workplace scenarios, aligned with Shell’s core competencies.
• Game-Based Assessments (Optional): Tests problem-solving, memory, and pattern recognition through interactive games.

Tip: Practice numerical and logical reasoning tests beforehand. Be honest and consistent in the situational questions — they are designed to assess cultural fit and behavior, not just technical skills.

3. On-Demand Video Interview

If you pass the assessment, you’ll receive a link to complete a video interview. This includes pre-recorded questions related to your experience, motivation for joining Shell, and scenarios testing your decision-making skills.

Sample questions include:

• “Why do you want to work at Shell?”
• “Describe a time when you faced a challenge in a team project.”
• “How do you prioritize tasks when working under pressure?”

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for structured answers.

4. Final Assessment / Shell Connect

For some roles, particularly graduate and early-career programs, the final stage is a Shell Connect session — a virtual assessment day. It includes:

• Case Study or Business Simulation
• Live Interview with Shell professionals
• Group Discussion or Collaboration Exercise

This stage evaluates how well you work in a team, solve problems, and communicate in a business context.

Start practice today and improve your hiring chances

Career Areas

• Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
• Number of employees: 82,000

Subsidiaries:

• Raízen is the third-largest Brazilian energy company by revenue and the fifth-largest in Brazil.
• Pennzoil is an American motor oil brand currently owned by Shell plc.
• QGC Pty Ltd is one of the largest of several Australian coalbed methane companies developing methane reserves within the Bowen and Surat Basins of Queensland.
• Jiffy Lube International, Inc. is an American chain of automotive oil change specialty shops.
• NewMotion
• BG Group plc was a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom.
• Salym Petroleum Development
• Zeco Systems
• Peru LNG is a natural gas liquefaction plant in Pampa Melchorita, Peru
• Equilon Enterprises
• ERM Power
• True North Energy

Start finding career opportunities at Shell: https://www.shell.com/careers.html

Common Interview Questions

Here are some example Shell interview questions tailored by position:

For an engineering role:

• Tell me about a technical project you worked on where you solved a complex problem. What was the situation and how did you approach it?
• Shell facilities operate advanced oil and gas technology. How do you stay up-to-date on the latest innovations in the industry?
• Describe a time you improved safety, reliability, or efficiency at a production facility. What were the results?
• What experience do you have with equipment like separators, compressors, pumps, etc?

For a supply chain/logistics role:

• How would you go about optimizing a supply chain network? What KPIs would you look at?
• Tell me about your experience with vendor selection, contracting, and management.
• What is your approach to managing and prioritizing a high volume of purchase orders and shipments?
• How would you handle a situation where a vendor was underperforming on a contract?

For a business/finance role:

• How do you evaluate potential capital projects for a large oil and gas company?
• If crude prices declined rapidly, how should an energy company adapt their strategy?
• Tell me about your experience analyzing financial statements and market trends in the energy sector.
• What is your perspective on Shell’s move into sustainable energy, hydrogen, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure?

For an HSE role:

• Tell me about a time you prevented an incident by identifying a risky situation at a job site.
• How would you go about improving safety culture at an operation with chronic issues?
• What methods do you use to perform proactive hazard identification and risk assessments?
• How do you track and report on leading and lagging safety indicators?

The focus should be demonstrating your specialized expertise, knowledge of Shell’s business, analytical abilities, and alignment with their safety-first culture.

Virtual job Tryout Shell questions

The virtual tryouts allow both candidates and Shell to assess job fit in an innovative way before committing to full recruitment and selection processes. It enhances recruitment effectiveness and efficiency.

Types of questions you may encounter and how to approach them, based on typical roles in Shell.

1. Technical Role (e.g., Engineer)

• Q: How would you approach designing a new energy-efficient system for [specific application]?
• Q: Can you describe a project where you had to use [specific technology or method] to achieve [specific goal]?

2. Business Development or Management Role

• Q: Describe a situation where you had to lead a team through a challenging business scenario.
• Q: How would you evaluate a potential investment in a new energy market?

3. Environmental/Sustainability Role

• Q: How would you approach an environmental compliance challenge for a new project?
• Q: Can you provide an example of how you have worked to improve sustainability in a previous role?

4. Customer Service or Sales Role

• Q: Describe a time when you had to handle a difficult customer situation.
• Q: How would you approach selling Shell’s products/services to a new market segment?

General Tips to Approach These Questions

• Use the STAR Technique: Structure your answers using the Situation, Task, Action, Result method to provide clear and concise responses.
• Understand Shell’s Values and Mission: Research Shell’s core values, mission statement, and any specific initiatives that may be relevant to the role you’re applying for. Try to align your answers with these aspects.
• Showcase Relevant Skills: Emphasize the skills that are most relevant to the role, whether they are technical expertise, leadership abilities, problem-solving, or communication skills.
• Be Authentic: Answer honestly and reflect on real experiences from your education, work history, or other relevant areas.
• Prepare Questions: Be ready to ask thoughtful questions about the role, team, or company. This demonstrates engagement and a genuine interest in the position.

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