How did you bring value to your last position?

"There were several ways I was able to bring value to my last position. First, I successfully passed each sales goal in my department. Second, I was able to motivate other members of my team and share my sales techniques with them. Third, I introduced two new procedures to the sales manager that helped us eliminate employee idleness between sales calls. I can bring all of this determination and success with me into this new role at Colgate-Palmolive."

Think about the strengths and skills that made you an asset in your last position. Think of ways you provided value that benefitted the company and helped them achieve something. Connect this to the role you are applying for at Colgate-Palmolive and how you might add value to this new role. Some examples you can provide would be: saving the company money and hitting sales goals.

"I brought value to my last position through my high level of reliability, my positive attitude, and my above-average organizational skills. Successful project management is a large part of my work history and in this Project Manager role at Colgate-Palmolive, I can bring my above-average skills to the table so that I can hit the ground running immediately."

When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?

"Experiencing a setback is something no one ever wants to experience. I tend to keep my emotions in check when I do encounter a setback. I like to focus on the problem at hand and how I can find a solution. I think this would be beneficial for Colgate-Palmolive as I am a very level-headed problem solver."

It is important to the interviewer that when you encounter a setback, they understand how you handle it. It is always a good idea to approach this type of question positively. Eliminating emotions from your role at work is normally a safe and effective strategy for overcoming setbacks.

"Sometimes setbacks happen and I like to stay focused despite the challenges that come my way. I am determined to find solutions rather than being emotional about a problem. I never let emotions cloud my judgment and I think that would be a really strong trait to bring into this role at Colgate-Palmolive."

Change is par for the course with Colgate-Palmolive. When have you had to adapt to change?

"In my current role, there has been a lot of turnover in the finance department and a lot of the work has been reshuffled onto our plates in addition to the work we were already completing. I have learned to time-manage a lot of these additional tasks and really roll with the situation so that the work can get done. I think this would be a helpful skill to have at Colgate-Palmolive, as I am willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done."

Change and innovation often come hand in hand. You must be prepared to adapt to change at Colgate-Palmolive, and pivot when situations change. The interviewer would like to know how you will be able to handle change. How you have handled change in the past is often a good indicator of how you will handle it in the future. Feel free to provide situations where you have adapted or assure the interviewer you can handle it well.

"In my previous role with my last company, we had some company downsizing take place. This resulted in multiple roles being eliminated and more work was given to the existing employees that did not leave the company. I had to adapt to this change very quickly and restructure my days to accommodate the incoming workload. I handled it really well and was able to shift priorities and recognize what needed to be done and when. This is a strong skill I think would be beneficial in this role as a Finance Associate at Colgate-Palmolive."

Why should we hire you?

"I have conducted a strong amount of research on Colgate-Palmolive before coming here today and found that you look for individuals that demonstrate strong teamwork, a desire to continuously improve, and someone who genuinely cares about the work they do. I possess all of these qualities and feel that I would be a perfect match."

Pay close attention to what types of qualities Colgate-Palmolive is looking for. Be prepared to talk about how your knowledge, skills, and abilities align with not only the company but the role you are applying for. A way to understand what the organization is looking for is to browse their job postings, do research on their website and connect and ask questions to the interviewer.

"I am very loyal to any organization I work for. I applied for this role because I can see myself here long-term. After speaking with you and gaining a better perspective on what Colgate-Palmolive is looking for from the person in this role, I know that I fit the bill. I care about the work that I do and would love the opportunity to be able to show that."

Have you progressed in your career as you have expected?

"I have written down my career goals since day 1 of my college career and have adjusted them as time has gone on. I have wanted to work as a Full Stack developer since I started college, hence my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. I have been learning Python on the side as well for 3 years and was able to gain a full-time role at my current company as a Junior Developer because of my skills. I am really looking forward to the Full Stack Developer role here at Colgate-Palmolive, as this continues my 3-year career plan."

It is important that you take a look at Colgate-Palmolive's website and read its mission and vision. It will also be critical for you to connect your career goals and progression to the role that you are applying for. A great way to approach this topic would be to discuss how you have approached your career growth and desires and how this role fits in with those. The interviewer wants to know how this role fits in with your plans.

"I feel that this role with Colgate-Palmolive will help me further my career. I have been extremely happy with my career growth thus far, however, this Full-Stack Developer role is where I aim to be. I have followed and loved Colgate-Palmolive as a company since I was younger and have used multiple products daily. I love the company's mission and vision and feel a connection to the company and the work."

Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.

"If I had to rate myself on a 1-10 scale I would rate myself a 9 out of 10. I am not a perfect person, so in good faith, I cannot tell you I have communicated 100% over my career. However, I can tell you that I always will make an effort to communicate in my role at Colgate-Palmolive. I am a proactive person and like to make sure I communicate and ask questions regularly."

A great way to approach this question is to identify where your strengths are with your communication. If you rate yourself on a 1-10 scale, consider providing examples to the interviewer of why you would rate yourself the way you did. The interviewer is looking for someone who communicates well with others, as you will need to communicate frequently in your role at Colgate-Palmolive. Thus, it will be important that you illustrate your skill and provide examples.

"I know that in this role as a Procurement Operations Analyst, it will be important for me to communicate with requesters on what they need. I can confidently say I would rate myself an 8 out of 10. I do find that I communicate well, and actively work to make sure there is open communication at all times. I will often ensure that others feel they can confidently communicate with me as well and I think this will be a great skill to bring to Colgate-Palmolive."

Colgate-Palmolive puts emphasis on hiring people who fit into our workplace culture. What kind of culture do you value in a workplace?

"I find that culture is really important to me in the workplace. I value an organization that values its employees and cares about their well-being. In addition, I want to work for a company that cares about their customers and that is one of the reasons I applied for this role at Colgate-Palmolive."

The interviewer wants to know what research you have done on Colgate-Palmolive on their workplace culture. The interviewer also wants to know, based on your research, if you would be a good fit in the role and with the organization. When answering this question, outline what you found about their culture and how you align with those values.

"I value an organization that cares about its employees and based on my research I know that Colgate-Palmolive actively works to better not only its employees but its consumers as well. I also value an organization where I can learn, grow and constantly improve. I know that I would fit in well at Colgate-Palmolive as I know the organization shares some of these values."

What do you know about Colgate-Palmolive and our work environment?

"I have looked at employee reviews online and have talked to a couple of your current employees on the workplace culture at Colgate-Palmolive. The consistent feedback that I have come across is that Colgate-Palmolive values its employees through fair pay, a great benefits package, and a lot of performance incentives. My findings were, overall, very positive."

Use the resources that are available to you to better understand Colgate-Palmolive as a company and the working environment. Use online reviews as a resource to discover what past and current employees have said and are saying. Consult with anyone you might know that has worked at Colgate-Palmolive to get a better idea of the culture.

"I know that your employees are happy! I read a few reviews on Glassdoor and see that you have very high ratings for your interview process, onboarding, as well as overall company culture. I know that there are also lots of learning and development opportunities, which I am looking for."

Of all the places that you could work, why do you want to join Colgate-Palmolive?

"I would like to join Colgate-Palmolive because I want to work for a company with an honest reputation. A company that strives to really serve their consumer and care about their well-being. It really excites me that that is one of the core values at the organization and I would love to work for Colgate-Palmolive because of that."

The interviewer wants to know about your particular interest in not only the role that you applied for but also the company itself. Discuss with them what attracted you to this opportunity. Include details on how you identify with the company and how its values align with any personal values you may share.

"Colgate-Palmolive has been a company whose products I have used for years. Knowing how much I love the products is what drew me to apply for this position in the first place. After doing research on the company and really coming to understand its mission, vision and values made me want to work for the company. I love the sustainability and dedication to authentic care for consumers. That is something not heard of in this industry anymore and I respect that."

How do you identify with our core values and how would you translate them into your work?

"I love the core values that Colgate-Palmolive upholds. In this role as a Customer Support Center Agent, I would strive to provide excellent customer service to not only my customers but my peers as well. It is important for both to feel that I have a personal vested interest in whatever I am helping them with. I also continuously strive to create a harmonious work environment no matter where I am and am often praised for my ability to do so at work. I would love to bring these attributes into this role at Colgate-Palmolive."

Colgate-Palmolive's core values are caring, global teamwork, and continuous improvement. The interviewer wants to know that you have done your research on the organization and if you have thought about how you would fit into those values. A great way to approach answering these questions would be to think about how you can incorporate these core values into the position you are applying for.

"I strive to continuously improve myself, no matter the topic or task at hand. Whether that's looking for ways to improve a process, product, or service, or improving my working relationships with my coworkers and customers. I always look for ways that I can improve. I also value authentic connection and want to make sure that everyone around me knows they can come to me with questions."

What experience or knowledge do you have about consumer products and the heavy regulations by the FDA and other health organizations/associations on them?

"I feel that strong regulations are essential for the protection of the consumer as well as for the distributor. I also know that each product in this industry undergoes strict QA and testing requirements to make sure they meet human consumption/usage regulations. I find it interesting and also challenging to make sure to uphold those strict regulations."

If you have worked in the consumer product industry before, this is a great way to be able to share what you know regarding the industry and how that knowledge could transfer over into your role at Colgate-Palmolive. If you haven't worked in the industry before, this is a great opportunity to do some research on the industry to see what information you can learn. The interviewer is looking to see what you know, and it is fine if you have not worked in the indsutry. However, take your answer up one level by showing how diligent you were in researching it.

"I appreciate the regulations and the protection they provide for consumers. It is highly possible that without these strict regulations, the products would not be conducive to human consumption/usage. I also find it interesting that the packaging also has to be truthful as to what ingredients are in the products."

Sales performance is of utmost importance to Colgate-Palmolive. How do you plan to contribute to our profitability?

"In my current role as a Sales Associate, I have a sales goal of selling $4,000 worth of products each month and for the past 5 months, I have consistently hit that target. I can bring that same success to Colgate-Palmolive and consistently hit targets."

Talk to the interviewer about your sales targets, results, and contributions that you have worked toward in the past. Make sure to include what kinds of products you were selling. This would be a great opportunity to talk about ways you will bring the same performance to Colgate-Palmolive.

"I have a strong pipeline of over 3,000 contacts. My first step would be to reach out to all of these contacts and bring business to Colgate-Palmolive. I also like to set sales targets each month above and beyond the company targets to try and push myself to do more and consistently try to beat my previous records and goals."

Colgate-Palmolive wants to know how to motivate you. What work situations excite and motivate you?

"I am most motivated when I am able to demonstrate compassion or do something good for someone, no matter how small the task. An example of this would be helping someone at work with a task or being able to answer questions for someone that needs assistance. I value being caring toward people and that keeps me motivated and wanting to do more. It's a great motivator for me and I think this would be a great asset to Colgate-Palmolive."

This is an excellent question that is geared to make you successful as a potential employee at Colgate-Palmolive. The organization cares about what excites you and motivates you to go above and beyond. The interviewer also asks this question, as they have a good idea of what each team dynamic looks like at Colgate-Palmolive and wants to see how you would fit in. Describe specific things that motivate you in the workplace. Some examples of motivation could be recognition for your work, crossing off to-do list items, or the satisfaction you receive from mentoring a peer.

"I am motivated when my team is working together. I do whatever I can to ensure harmony in my team at work, and actively look to solve problems. I know that is a value at Colgate-Palmolive and I strive each and every day to be a team player."

At Colgate-Palmolive we always think of the consumer first. What are some ways we can ensure consumer satisfaction?

"I feel that consumer satisfaction comes first from offering quality. Often times when products are promoted as quality products and they do not live up to that standard, that is one of the top reasons consumers do not come back to purchase the product again. I find the QA testing is important in the process of creating a product and ensuring that any discrepancies are identified and taken care of."

In the consumer products industry, customer satisfaction is one of the most important components of running a successful business. Colgate-Palmolive is no different, with the organization not only striving for customer satisfaction but also authentic caring for consumers and the environment. Use what you have gathered from the "about us" and "our brands" pages on Colgate-Palmolive's website to craft your answer accordingly.

"There are many ways to ensure consumer satisfaction, however, one of the top ways that I have experienced is by providing value to the consumer and solving a need that they have. For example, with Hill's nutrition brand, the need is for canine and feline food that is wholesome with healthy ingredients that will keep them healthy. It is known that some pet food is not good for them to ingest, so having a commitment to healthy food for pets is one way to bring satisfaction because there is a need for it."

Are you applying for a job with any of our competitors?

"My primary interest is with Colgate-Palmolive because your products align perfectly with my product expertise. I have also been using Colgate's products for years and as a consumer, would love to work with the company and be a part of the organization on the other side."

The interviewer would like to know if you are specifically targeting positions within the same industry. It's a great idea to talk to the interviewer about your desire for a role specifically at Colgate-Palmolive. You can also talk about how you enjoy the industry and how you are looking for a role in it, however, Colgate-Palmolive is your first choice.

"I am currently interviewing for roles at other organizations. I am, however, prioritizing this role at Colgate-Palmolive as it aligns with my 5-year career goal. I am also prioritizing this role and company because I personally identify with the company's initiatives and love the sustainability initiatives of the organization."

How do you deal with distractions in the workplace?

"In my last role, I had a coworker that liked to chat for a long time during working hours. It is important for the sake of workplace culture to set aside time to be social with coworkers, so I usually just let them know when I'll be available for a quick break in the day so that we can chat. I really appreciate working well with others and cannot wait to meet people on the team in this role at Colgate-Palmolive."

It is common to experience distractions in the workplace. Whether it's a coworker, customer, or self-inflicted distraction, there will be a time you will experience it at Colgate-Palmolive. Discuss with the interviewer how you overcome and handle distractions in the workplace. You can even provide examples of how you have already overcome situations in the past.

"I actively work to minimize distractions in the workplace and set up ways to make sure I don't have any. For example, I keep my cell phone in my locker at my current job so that I am not tempted to be on my phone during working hours."

Tell me something about yourself that I wouldn't know from reading your resume.

"I am an avid excel guru and have spent countless hours learning how to use the formula functions in Excel. It's a skill that I have acquired over the years. I know that one of Colgate-Palmolive's core values is continuous improvement and I take it upon myself to learn new things."

It is important to pick a skill that has work applicability. It is great that you have several animals, but outlining how many pets you have isn't something that will help you win over the interviewer. Focus on a fun skill that you have that may set you apart from the competition. An example of skills that you could provide would be that you are a master at formulas in Excel or that you teach classes at the local community college.

"I have a second Bachelor's degree in Marketing that has been very useful for my career. It has really helped me think outside of the box and think about things from a different perspective. I find that this could be very useful in this role at Colgate-Palmolive."

What is your greatest weakness?

"I believe I could improve on using formulas in Excel. I know this skill is not required for the Warehouse Manager role with Colgate-Palmolive, however, I am also working to improve myself. I have enrolled myself in a Coursera course to try and teach myself how to expand my knowledge of formulas and how to use them."

The skill that you use to outline what your weakness is should not be a skill that is required for the role you are applying for at Colgate-Palmolive. The interviewer is curious about how you overcome this weakness. To answer this question, first, outline what your weakness is and then outline the processes, methods, and ways you employ to overcome these.

"I find that project management can sometimes be a weakness. I focus on trying to get everything done that is on my checklist and throughout the years have realized that things are not simple and not everything gets resolved in a day. As an HR associate at Colgate-Palmolive, I am sure that each day will be different and filled with different challenges which can prevent me from getting my to-do list done. Over the years, I have worked on being more flexible and now have the ability to go with the flow all while making sure I stay productive."

What do you know about the different companies under Colgate-Palmolive?

"I know that Colgate-Palmolive was originally a candle-making company, founded in 1806 by Mr. Colgate. I also know there are many brands and product names under this umbrella now. A few I know are Colgate the toothpaste brand, personal care items such as Tom's, Softsoap, and EltaMD, as well as cleaning products like Ajax. I am really impressed with the growth of the organization and recognize so many different brand names."

Colgate-Palmolive is a large organization. The organization is so large in fact, that there are multiple different companies underneath the brand name. Some of the Colgate-Palmolive companies in the umbrella under the main brand are Hill's Pet Nutrition, Filorga, and Skin Health Group. Do your research on their website and locate which company the position you are applying for would be working under. It is always a good idea to have knowledge of some of the other brands in the organization as there may be a time you transition to another brand during your employment.

"It is truly exciting to know that the organization started out as a candle-making business in 1806 and now has various personal care brands under its name. From doing my research, I understand that there are personal care items such as body soaps, household cleaning items such as shower cleaners, and pet nutrition. I admire how much the company has grown and really look forward to being a part of the growing team."

Tell me what you know about our organization as a whole.

"It was wonderful learning so much about Colgate-Palmolive when I was doing my research about the organization. I didn't realize that Colgate was the number one toothpaste on the market. It is also located in more than 200 territories and countries around the world. I also loved that Colgate is the number one company in household products."

This is similar to another question, however, this question is more general. This question aims to see how much research you have done about Colgate-Palmolive and will test how far in-depth you went in your research. Take a look at the "Our Brands" page on their website to familiarize yourself with where they are located, the brands they own and what their mission, vision and values are, and craft your answer based on what you find.

"I know that there are many different company names under the Colgate name in areas such as personal care, dog nutrition, and home care. However, what was really fascinating to me is the company's commitment to sustainability and social impact. It is something that I care about personally and love to see that I could work for a company that shares the same values that I do."

In your opinion, what is the most innovative consumer product you have seen in the past 12 months?

"I have seen many innovative products come onto the market in the past 12 months. The one product from Colgate-Palmolive that I was most impressed by was the AI-enabled toothbrush. I love the concept of a toothbrush that comes with a connected app that helps you to brush your teeth. It is almost like going to the dentist: learning your brushing habits over time, without the scare of going to the dentist."

Make sure you have done your research on consumer products created or distributed by Colgate-Palmolive. You want to assure the interviewer that you have a keen interest in their particular products. Research innovative initiatives that Colgate-Palmolive is currently active in, use their website as a resource and tailor your answer based on what you find.

"I have really fallen in love with the ActivBiome+ initiative that Colgate-Palmolive has worked on. I love how the organization is working to keep pets healthy, using gut microbiomes to fuel a healthy immune system. I love that the organization is focusing on keeping those microbiomes healthy to keep pets overall healthy."

The consumer products industry is fast moving. How do you keep up to date on current trends?

"I agree, the consumer products market is incredibly fast moving. I keep up to date on new trends in the news and online through Google Alerts. There are a variety of industry publications that I subscribe to as well as bloggers that I am subscribed to. I also follow Colgate-Palmolive on Instagram."

Being up to date on current trends is incredibly essential in the consumer products industry. Think through all of the ways you stay up-to-date in the industry and how you can bring this knowledge and learning to Colgate-Palmolive and how it might benefit them. The interviewer wants to know how you continue to learn to bring innovative ideas to not only to the company but the role as well.

"It's tough to stay up to date on current trends, in such a fast-moving industry. My favorite sources of information include ConsumerReports.org, Good Housekeeping, and CustomerReview.com."

At Colgate-Palmolive we prefer to hire candidates who value learning and development. What are some ways you pursue continued learning?

"I like to stay on top of new developments in the consumer product industry. I subscribe to various newsletters and research online different innovations that I am interested in to keep in the know. I also like to attend industry-related workshops in my spare time."

Colgate-Palmolive values continuous learning and growth. Part of the identity of the organization is innovation and discovery, as well as helping customers and others live better lives. With that, it is important to continue to learn, grow and innovate and the interviewer wants to know how you would fit in with this culture. Discuss how you pursue extra development opportunities and how they enable you to innovate.

"I enjoy staying in the know about new and upcoming ideas on how to market consumer products, general marketing, and advertising. My favorite way to do that is by being a part of a marketing organization where I can attend in-person classes and seminars on new and upcoming trends. I also like to do research on my own."

Colgate-Palmolive likes to hire those who take pride in their work. Tell me about your greatest work related accomplishment.

"The greatest accomplishment in my career was passing the CPA exam for my accounting role in my last position. This was an exam that I had been studying for the last 4 years and finally had the courage to sit down and take the exam. I passed it on my first try and was able to accomplish my 5-year plan for my career. I know that you are looking for someone that has passed their CPA for this Accounting role at Colgate-Palmolive."

Definitely keep the accomplishment you'd like to discuss as work-related. Let the interviewer know what the situation was, and how it was your greatest accomplishment. It's also a good idea to try and tie this example into the role you are applying for at Colgate-Palmolive. Help the interviewer to see how motivated you are and how you take pride in your work.

"My greatest career accomplishment was being promoted to the Lead Sales Associate role in my current company. I worked extra hours, created a pipeline of customers, and worked hard to get to where I am at. I can bring that same motivation to Colgate-Palmolive. I tend to set internal goals for myself so that I can go above and beyond in my roles."

Tell me about your experiences giving presentations in front of large groups.

"I am a confident public speaker and will have no issues giving presentations in front of large groups. In my current role, I currently provide a weekly presentation in front of a large group of our finance associates to update them on budget information, and current client asks and I also provide recommendations for our group based on things I identify over the course of the week."

Public speaking can oftentimes be intimidating for most people and this question aims to see how comfortable you are doing so. In your role at Colgate-Palmolive, there will be a time you experience standing up in front of someone or a group of people to speak on a topic or present ideas, or both. Focus on first letting the interviewer know how comfortable you are with giving presentations and then provide examples of times you've had to give them.

"As a Project Engineer in my current role, I am in charge of updating our clients and internal stakeholders on a weekly basis on current status updates and projects. My updates are weekly and normally have about 20 people in each meeting or more. I also am the leader for speaking at our Project meetings with the whole department, where I prepare the presentation deck in Microsoft PowerPoint and present it to over 200 people on a quarterly basis."

Do you feel performance should be rewarded over experience?

"I find that it depends. Some employees that have quotas to meet I find should be paid based on performance and others can be paid based on tenure. I think it is up to an organization to know what works and motivates their employees best. I do think that it should be a fair and equitable practice and whatever the company decides should make sense for their roles. I would be interested to learn more about how Colgate-Palmolive rewards its employees."

This can potentially be a tough question to answer. The interviewer is looking to see if you feel you should be paid based on how long you work at Colgate-Palmolive, or if you produce more results (tenure vs. performance). You can approach this question by thinking about what motivates you in a role. When you craft your answer to this question, keep an eye on what the job description entails. For example, if it is a sales role and outlines you will be based on the percentage or number of sales, you may want to structure your answer based on that.

"I feel both performance and experience should be equally rewarded and weighted. I would be curious to know a little bit more about Colgate-Palmolive's outlook on this and how employees are rewarded."

Tell me about your experience in training and coaching others.

"In my last position, I trained new hires on how to use our applicant tracking system. It was a great experience because it showed me that I love to teach and train. I am good at explaining how things work. It required a lot of patience, but it helped me to recognize my leadership potential and I know that Colgate-Palmolive is big on teamwork and continuous improvement."

Coaching and training experience may not be required for this role at Colgate-Palmolive, but they are abilities that are always valued by an employer. Briefly explain the experience that you do have in training, and coaching, in the workplace. An example could be a time that you have helped a peer by teaching them something.

"In my current role, I am seen as an SME (Subject Matter Expert) in my role. I continuously have other peers come to ask me questions when they are unsure of something and I am seen as an approachable leader. One of my values is being able to help others and I think that this value ties in well at Colgate-Palmolive. I would love to bring this ability and attitude to this role at Colgate-Palmolive."

The performance of consumer products relies greatly on advertising and marketing efforts. Do you have any experience with advertising, marketing, or market research?

"I have always been fascinated with the direct correlation between marketing strategies and product performance. This is why I took Marketing and Communications in university. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and have additional training in advertising methods from my current employer. I have seen strong marketing campaigns take an underperforming product and make it the strongest-performing product in as short as 90 days. I look forward to putting my knowledge in marketing and advertising towards a role with Colgate-Palmolive."

If you have worked specifically in a marketing role that has dealt with advertising initiatives and market research, this is a great opportunity to talk about that experience and how it can assist you in the role you are applying for at Colgate-Palmolive. If you are applying for a role that isn't specifically in marketing, there is a time you have probably used marketing-related techniques to either sell products, pitch an idea for a product, or similar. Discuss with the interviewer your related skills, what role you developed these skills in and how they can help you in this role.

"Although I do not have formal training and education in advertising and marketing, I have a small business that I own where I learned how to marketing directly correlates to product sales and product performance. I have a great understanding of social media algorithms, and a strong understanding of the type of content that produces followers, views, and sales for consumer products. This would help me to hit the ground running in this role, and I am always open to learning the Colgate-Palmolive way/strategies."

Have you ever broken a confidentiality agreement?

"I have never, to my knowledge, broken a confidentiality agreement."

Companies will have confidentiality agreements for a variety of reasons and Colgate-Palmolive is no exception. It will be important to help the interviewer understand your comfort level with adhering to a confidentiality agreement. That is partly one of the reasons this question is asked and the other reason is to ensure if you are required to sign one, that you will be able to stick to it.

"Confidentiality agreements are necessary and important to protect an organization. I understand the aspects of confidentiality and take them very seriously. I have never broken that trust."

If Colgate-Palmolive hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

"I plan to make a positive impact very quickly. You mentioned earlier that in this role as a Full Stack Engineer at Colgate-Palmolive, you need someone that can come in and rewrite the backend code for your CRM system. I currently work in coding in my current role and have learned SQL and can hit the ground running."

If you are really interested in a role, a way to set yourself apart from the competition is to ask the interviewer or hiring manager at Colgate-Palmolive if there is a problem you can solve. Another way to set yourself apart is to take that question one step further, after you understand what needs to be done, to create a 30,60, or 90-day plan. Interviewers want to know if you are equipped to come into the organization and how you can make an immediate impact.

"I know you mentioned that as a Customer Development Manager at Colgate-Palmolive, I would be required to build a pipeline of customers within the first 90 days. Since I am coming from a similar organization, I already have a pipeline of customers that I can bring over to Colgate-Palmolive and hit the ground running and start building business."

What are your salary expectations?

"I would love to get a better idea of what Colgate-Palmolive has budgeted for the Sales Manager role. I am currently looking for a base salary of $62,000 with an 8% bonus potential."

Interviewers ask this question to get a better idea of what you are expecting salary-wise if you are selected for the role at Colgate-Palmolive. Before interviewing with Colgate-Palmolive, make sure to think about your expectations ahead of time. Make sure to include total salary expectations. This usually consists of base salary or hourly pay, PTO time, bonus potential, performance/sales bonuses, employee stock options, and more.

"I am looking for an opportunity to learn and grow, and salary is not my #1 driver. However, I am currently looking to make minimum $25 per hour."

Give me an example of how you have been a leader in the workplace.

"In my current position, I am the president of the social committee. I love that I have the opportunity to encourage employee engagement while being a positive influence on the workplace culture. I am a natural leader because I start with leading by example. As a leader, I make myself available to others who need mentor-ship, a bit of assistance in adjusting to their role, or just a listening ear when they've had a tough day. I am confident in my leadership abilities and look forward to joining your team in a leadership role."

Look at this question in two different ways. If you have experience in a leadership role, it will be easy for you to connect your leadership experience with this question. Outline examples of how you have provided leadership in the workplace with your employees. Another way you can look at this question, especially if you have not been in a leadership role, is to look at when you went above and beyond. Maybe you've led a group of people at work, provided advice to someone, or faced a challenge that you have solved in the workplace. Outline how you will bring this mindset and/or experience to your role at Colgate-Palmolive.

"In my previous role, I led the DE&I committee where I provided leadership and thought leadership to the company CEO on different initiatives. I led the company wide Diversity initiative to update our job descriptions with gender inclusive language and single handedly addressed the employee base and gave training on DE&I."

We believe in strong work/life balance at Colgate-Palmolive. How do you ensure work and life balance?

"After researching Colgate-Palmolive as an organization, I found that this particular position, allows for partial remote work. I ensure work/life balance by being able to have a dedicated home office for my current role and will have one if hired for this role. I like being in my own space and tend to work harder and more hours when comfortable in my office without distractions."

Colgate-Palmolive values its employees and likes to see that each employee loves what they do. In turn, Colgate-Palmolive also wants to make sure its employees are able to have a healthy work/life balance and provide various options to help their employees ensure they succeed. One of the ways they try to assist their employees is by providing remote and partial remote work options. Take another look at the website to understand more ways they help with this and connect your answer based on what you value.

"I try not to take work home with me all the time, but since this role at Colgate-Palmolive works in the office, I am able to work on my time, and in my comfort zone while being able to schedule my time in the office. I appreciate dedicated time in the office away from distractions and then when it is time to go home I can leave work at work."

What type of work environment do you dislike working in?

"I work best in collaborative environments. From what I understand, Colgate-Palmolive offers a very collaborative work environment. I'd love to know a little more about the overall environment of the organization based on an insider's perspective. I would also love to know a little more about the collaboration amongst the team I would be joining."

This can be a tough and also tricky question. The interviewer wants to know how you can work with different people in different environments. Provide examples as possible to support your answer. Keep your answer light and not overly negative, even if the experiences you use as examples are less than desirable. It's important to outline your flexibility and adaptability to working as a team, which is important to Colgate-Palmolive.

"In my next position, I am looking for an environment that is collaborative and positive. I understand that one of the core values at Colgate-Palmolive is teamwork. I dislike environments that are overly negative. I understand things are not rainbows and sunshine 100% of the time, but I do appreciate teammates that are willing to work actively to be positive and collaborative. I am curious to know a little more about how you would describe the collaboration amongst the team I would be joining."

Despite more current trends, many consumer products have been tested on animals. What are your thoughts on this?

"After doing some research, I know that Colgate-Palmolive is working toward eliminating testing on animals. I really appreciate those efforts and initiatives and I think Colgate-Palmolive can be a leader in the industry in doing so."

This might be a tough question to answer. There is a lot of controversy around this topic and you will have to research if Colgate-Palmolive participates in this practice and how you feel about it ahead of time. It is always good to stay on the positive side of more controversial topics such as this. After doing research on this topic specifically Colgate-Palmolive, you will find that they are working to eliminate the need to test on animals and are currently working toward an alternative to testing products. A great way to approach this could be to praise their efforts in eradicating the need to test on animals.

"I know that alternatives in the industry are available and support Colgate-Palmolive's initiative to find alternative ways to test. I know that this is a work in progress for a lot of organizations and I think it would be cool to see Colgate-Palmolive as a leader in this initiative."

Colgate-Palmolive Interview Questions

Go Back

1. How did you bring value to your last position?
2. When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?
3. Change is par for the course with Colgate-Palmolive. When have you had to adapt to change?
4. Why should we hire you?
5. Have you progressed in your career as you have expected?
6. Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.
7. Colgate-Palmolive puts emphasis on hiring people who fit into our workplace culture. What kind of culture do you value in a workplace?
8. What do you know about Colgate-Palmolive and our work environment?
9. Of all the places that you could work, why do you want to join Colgate-Palmolive?
10. How do you identify with our core values and how would you translate them into your work?
11. What experience or knowledge do you have about consumer products and the heavy regulations by the FDA and other health organizations/associations on them?
12. Sales performance is of utmost importance to Colgate-Palmolive. How do you plan to contribute to our profitability?
13. Colgate-Palmolive wants to know how to motivate you. What work situations excite and motivate you?
14. At Colgate-Palmolive we always think of the consumer first. What are some ways we can ensure consumer satisfaction?
15. Are you applying for a job with any of our competitors?
16. How do you deal with distractions in the workplace?
17. Tell me something about yourself that I wouldn't know from reading your resume.
18. What is your greatest weakness?
19. What do you know about the different companies under Colgate-Palmolive?
20. Tell me what you know about our organization as a whole.
21. In your opinion, what is the most innovative consumer product you have seen in the past 12 months?
22. The consumer products industry is fast moving. How do you keep up to date on current trends?
23. At Colgate-Palmolive we prefer to hire candidates who value learning and development. What are some ways you pursue continued learning?
24. Colgate-Palmolive likes to hire those who take pride in their work. Tell me about your greatest work related accomplishment.
25. Tell me about your experiences giving presentations in front of large groups.
26. Do you feel performance should be rewarded over experience?
27. Tell me about your experience in training and coaching others.
28. The performance of consumer products relies greatly on advertising and marketing efforts. Do you have any experience with advertising, marketing, or market research?
29. Have you ever broken a confidentiality agreement?
30. If Colgate-Palmolive hired you today, what would you accomplish first?
31. What are your salary expectations?
32. Give me an example of how you have been a leader in the workplace.
33. We believe in strong work/life balance at Colgate-Palmolive. How do you ensure work and life balance?
34. What type of work environment do you dislike working in?
35. Despite more current trends, many consumer products have been tested on animals. What are your thoughts on this?

Colgate-Palmolive Interview Questions

1. How did you bring value to your last position?

2. When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?

3. Change is par for the course with Colgate-Palmolive. When have you had to adapt to change?

4. Why should we hire you?

5. Have you progressed in your career as you have expected?

6. Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.

7. Colgate-Palmolive puts emphasis on hiring people who fit into our workplace culture. What kind of culture do you value in a workplace?

8. What do you know about Colgate-Palmolive and our work environment?

9. Of all the places that you could work, why do you want to join Colgate-Palmolive?

10. How do you identify with our core values and how would you translate them into your work?

11. What experience or knowledge do you have about consumer products and the heavy regulations by the FDA and other health organizations/associations on them?

12. Sales performance is of utmost importance to Colgate-Palmolive. How do you plan to contribute to our profitability?

13. Colgate-Palmolive wants to know how to motivate you. What work situations excite and motivate you?

14. At Colgate-Palmolive we always think of the consumer first. What are some ways we can ensure consumer satisfaction?

15. Are you applying for a job with any of our competitors?

16. How do you deal with distractions in the workplace?

17. Tell me something about yourself that I wouldn't know from reading your resume.

18. What is your greatest weakness?

19. What do you know about the different companies under Colgate-Palmolive?

20. Tell me what you know about our organization as a whole.

21. In your opinion, what is the most innovative consumer product you have seen in the past 12 months?

22. The consumer products industry is fast moving. How do you keep up to date on current trends?

23. At Colgate-Palmolive we prefer to hire candidates who value learning and development. What are some ways you pursue continued learning?

24. Colgate-Palmolive likes to hire those who take pride in their work. Tell me about your greatest work related accomplishment.

25. Tell me about your experiences giving presentations in front of large groups.

26. Do you feel performance should be rewarded over experience?

27. Tell me about your experience in training and coaching others.

28. The performance of consumer products relies greatly on advertising and marketing efforts. Do you have any experience with advertising, marketing, or market research?

29. Have you ever broken a confidentiality agreement?

30. If Colgate-Palmolive hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

31. What are your salary expectations?

32. Give me an example of how you have been a leader in the workplace.

33. We believe in strong work/life balance at Colgate-Palmolive. How do you ensure work and life balance?

34. What type of work environment do you dislike working in?

35. Despite more current trends, many consumer products have been tested on animals. What are your thoughts on this?