How Shell interviews work

Shell's hiring process for graduate and experienced roles: an online application with digital assessments (Shell uses tailored situational judgement tests and cognitive assessments), a digital interview or video screening, and an assessment centre or final-round interviews. The assessment centre for graduate roles includes a case study, group exercise, and competency interview. For experienced hires: a recruiter screen, a technical interview relevant to the discipline, and a competency-based final interview. Shell is a global company and interviews may involve international panel members via video conference.

Shell values and energy transition

Shell's core values are Honesty, Integrity, and Respect for People. Shell also operates under its Business Principles which cover environmental, social, and ethical conduct. In 2026, the energy transition is the defining context for Shell interviews: the company has committed to a net zero energy business by 2050 and is navigating the tension between its profitable legacy oil and gas business (which funds the transition) and its growing investment in renewables, hydrogen, electric vehicle charging, and low-carbon energy products. Candidates who understand this tension — and can discuss it honestly rather than just endorsing the green marketing — are more credible to Shell interviewers.

Behavioral questions and strong answers

"Why do you want to work for an oil and gas company given the environmental concerns around the sector?" This question is asked more directly at Shell than at most companies. Strong answer: show you have thought about it genuinely rather than dismissing the concern or being evasive. A credible position: "The energy transition will require the involvement of the companies with capital, infrastructure, and technical capability to deliver it at scale. Shell is one of the few organisations that can do this. I would rather be inside that process contributing to a faster transition than outside criticising it. That said, I recognise Shell's pace of transition has been contested and I would want to contribute to accelerating it." This is honest, informed, and shows you can hold complexity. "Tell me about a time you worked on a project with significant environmental or safety considerations." Shell's health, safety, security, and environment (HSSE) culture is central to everything. Show genuine respect for HSSE as a professional value, not just a compliance requirement.

Technical questions by discipline

Shell hires across a wide range of engineering and science disciplines. Petroleum engineering: reservoir characterisation, well design, production optimisation, enhanced oil recovery. Chemical engineering: process design, heat and mass transfer, reactor design, HSE in process plants. Mechanical and electrical engineering: rotating equipment, pipeline integrity, electrical systems in hazardous areas. Geoscience: seismic interpretation, geological modelling, subsurface risk assessment. For technology roles: data science and analytics for production optimisation, cybersecurity for operational technology (OT), and cloud infrastructure for enterprise systems. Know which discipline you are applying to deeply and be ready for scenario-based technical questions.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Shell Graduate Programme?
Shell's graduate programme is one of the most globally recognised engineering and commercial graduate programmes. Graduates join a specific discipline (engineering, geoscience, commercial, technology) and rotate through roles within that discipline across different projects and locations over three to four years. International mobility is common and expected for many technical disciplines. The programme includes formal development, mentoring, and structured assessment against Shell's competency framework.
How does Shell approach diversity in hiring?
Shell has explicit diversity targets and has published gender and ethnicity representation data. The company runs targeted outreach programmes for underrepresented groups in STEM and has introduced blind CV screening in some processes. In practice, diversity commitment varies by region and business unit. Shell's diversity and inclusion programme is genuine but progress is uneven — the upstream oil and gas technical functions remain male-dominated compared to the commercial and technology functions.