How BP interviews work
BP (British Petroleum) hires globally across upstream (oil and gas exploration and production), downstream (refining and retail fuels), renewables and low-carbon energy, technology, and corporate functions. UK hiring is primarily at BP's London headquarters (St James's Square) and at operational sites in Aberdeen, Hull, and various offshore and onshore facilities. For graduate roles (BP graduate programme, formerly called the Challenge Programme): online application, online psychometric tests, a video interview, and an assessment centre. For experienced hires: recruiter screen, one to two technical or domain interviews, and a competency interview. Note: BP's headcount and hiring priorities have shifted significantly as it adjusts its strategy between oil and gas and low-carbon energy; verify current priorities and role availability on the BP careers site.
BP's energy transition strategy and what to say
BP's strategy in 2026 centres on managing its transition from a primarily oil and gas company to a broader energy company. After announcing ambitious low-carbon targets in 2020 (aiming to become net zero by 2050), BP has moderated some targets in response to investor pressure and the profitability of oil and gas in higher-price environments. This creates a nuanced interview question: "Why BP?" requires you to engage with both the energy transition opportunity and the commercial reality that BP is still primarily a fossil fuel company. The most authentic answers acknowledge both and connect your specific skills to areas where BP is genuinely investing.
BP's bp pulse (EV charging), offshore wind (bp's stake in offshore wind projects), hydrogen, and biofuels are genuine low-carbon growth areas. For technology candidates, BP is investing significantly in digital and data capabilities across its operations. Its AI and data science work (optimising production, predictive maintenance, energy trading) is a strong area of activity for technology professionals.
BP interview questions with sample answers
"How do you reconcile working for an oil major with concern for the environment?" This question tests whether you have thought seriously about the tension. A strong answer: "I think the transition to low-carbon energy requires expertise and capital that companies like BP are positioned to deploy. Renewable energy at the scale required is an engineering and commercial problem as much as a policy one. I would rather work inside that transition than criticise it from outside." Or: "I'm specifically targeting BP's offshore wind and hydrogen programmes because I want to work on the scale of energy investment that will actually move the needle on decarbonisation."
"Describe a time you managed risk in a complex project." BP's operations span significant technical and commercial risk. Show structured risk identification, clear prioritisation, and good communication with stakeholders about risk, not just the ability to mitigate it. "How would you handle a situation where safety standards conflicted with production targets?" Safety always wins at BP. The right answer is unambiguous: safety standards are not negotiated under production pressure.
How to prepare for a BP interview
Read BP's Annual Report and its energy outlook publications. Know BP's business structure (upstream, customer and products, gas and low-carbon energy), its key production regions, and the major projects it has active or in development. For assessment centres: BP group exercises often involve an analytical or commercial scenario requiring you to weigh trade-offs and make a recommendation with supporting reasoning. Assessors look for rigorous thinking, not just good presentation. For safety-focused roles: know the basics of process safety management, the importance of stop-work authority (any employee can stop work for safety reasons), and how you would apply these in practice.