What TotalEnergies actually looks for
TotalEnergies, headquartered in the Paris area (Courbevoie), rebranded from simply Total in 2021 specifically to signal a broader energy strategy that includes renewables and electricity alongside its traditional oil and gas business. The company runs a genuinely diversified portfolio spanning liquefied natural gas (LNG), solar power development, EV charging infrastructure, and traditional upstream oil and gas exploration and production, and interviewers expect candidates, especially in strategy and business development roles, to understand this as a deliberate integrated energy company strategy rather than oil and gas with a renewables side project. Because TotalEnergies operates globally across dozens of countries with very different regulatory and political environments, expect interview questions that test comfort with geopolitical complexity and long-term capital allocation across genuinely different energy technologies. The French corporate culture also means a more structured, formal interview process compared to some US-based energy companies.
Common questions and how to answer them
What was the strategic reasoning behind rebranding from Total to TotalEnergies? Explain that it reflected a genuine shift toward positioning the company as a broad energy provider, spanning oil, gas, LNG, and renewables like solar, rather than a purely oil and gas company adding token green projects. How would you allocate capital between traditional oil and gas projects and newer renewable investments? Show you can reason about different return profiles and risk levels across energy technologies, rather than treating the decision as purely ideological. Tell me about working across different countries with different regulatory environments. Relevant given TotalEnergies's global footprint; use a real example that shows adaptability to different legal or cultural contexts. In every case, be ready to name a specific TotalEnergies business line, LNG, solar, or upstream, since vague references to being a diversified energy company won't hold up under follow-up questions.
How to prepare
Understand the logic behind the 2021 rebrand from Total to TotalEnergies and be ready to discuss specific business lines, like LNG or solar development, that illustrate the diversified strategy in practice. Research which countries and regions TotalEnergies operates in relevant to your specific role, since its global footprint spans very different markets from West Africa to the Middle East to Europe. Expect a more formal, structured interview process reflecting French corporate norms, particularly for roles based at the Paris headquarters. Expect a multi-stage process that may include an assessment center for graduate and early-career roles, consistent with the structured hiring practices common at large French multinationals.