My interview process got interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but they were very good at keeping us all updated in good time. There was an initial application that included a video CV along with it, then an application day where we had to prepare a presentation n a brand we admire and why we admire them, along with a brief test. However, for me these were split up into two different sections, and both done online.

The whole process took 7 months. From aptitude tests, online interviews, an assessment centre to another interview. They didn't carry information over from one stage to the next. For example, in my final interview (which was for a job I didn't apply for, but that they had used the recruitment pool for the brand ambassador programme) my interviewer admitted she was pleased she had managed to read my CV in the 5 mins before the interview, thus I had to answer the same questions I had answered in every other stage of the process: Explain my background, education and experience, why I applied for the role, a time I had to balance stakeholder expectations, a challenge overcome, an achievement I'm proud of. I think the process was quite repetitive and disorganised. I only got 3 days warning before my interview which left little time to prepare or reorganise my life/work around it. The assessment centre I went to only had two people, myself and one other and they blamed poor advertisement of the role except later they had said that there was over 1000 applicants. We had to prepare a presentation and then make an instagram reel about a brand we admire, we also had an individual interview and a group task. If you're successful after the assessment centre you are then put into their next stage where they arrange interviews with markets across the world that they think you would be a good fit in: called chemistry chats. If you're successful you'll go abroad and if not you'll be placed on a waiting list and they may give you other chemistry chats. Be aware that when they're recruiting for the brand ambassador programme they use the pool to fill their marketing associate roles in London. These are office based 9-5 roles and completely different to an ambassadorial role. I don't want to put people off, I think I applied at a turbulent time for the whisky industry and I hope they have placed a better focus on their recruitment team and process for this programme going forward. I rejected the role as it wasn't the role I applied for. I have a friend on the programme who seems to be having a brilliant time.