Getting A Job At Philips
Founded in 1891, Philips is a Dutch multinational conglomerate that is headquartered in Amsterdam. The company was formally one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world, however, they recently began focusing on being a leader in healthcare technology. The company's aim is to improve 2.5 billion lives by 2030 through 'meaningful innovation'.
Philips employs over 80,000 people at their headquarters and across over 100 countries, and are always looking for more 'like-minded, motivated, focused minds' to join their workforce.
Being such a respected and influential player within the healthcare technology industry means positions at Philips are extremely competitive, especially for their student and graduate programs. However, this should not dissuade you as with a thorough understanding of what Philips are looking for and their application process, you can put yourself in a good position for success.
Philips Values
Throughout the application process, the hiring team will be assessing you to see if you will be a good cultural fit for the company. Therefore, it is a good idea to educate yourself on what the work culture is like at Philips.
A good way to start is to get familiar with the qualities Philips like each of their employees to embody, these are:
- Customers first
- Quality and integrity always
- Team up to win
- Take ownership to deliver fast
- Eager to improve and inspire
Types Of Roles At Philips
Philips offers a range of positions for experienced professionals, executives, and those that are just starting out in their career. Available vacancies can be viewed on Philips' careers page, where you can sort through the listings according to job category, job type, country, etc.
Positions for experienced professionals are broad, and there is something for almost all types of skillset, from marketing & e-commerce to software development.
Philips offers a variety of early career opportunities including internships, traineeships, graduate development programs, and graduate jobs across many different functions, so there is likely something that suits your ambitions.
Typically lasting between 6 to 12 months, the internships provide an opportunity to gain real-life experience. You will usually need to be pursuing a degree, but this may differ depending on the internship.
The traineeships are two to three-year programs where you will gain real hands-on experience. You will have the opportunity to learn whilst you work, studying assignments that fit your career interests.
The Philips Graduate Development Program is a two-year program for recent graduates where you will rotate through three different assignments, giving you the opportunity to experience different projects and areas of the company.
Hiring Process At Philips
The hiring process at Philips can vary depending on the level and type of role you are applying for, however, as positions at Philips are highly competitive, you can expect the hiring process to be thorough.
The hiring process consists of multiple stages, including an online application, aptitude tests (role dependent), and interviews. You will be contacted after each stage to let you know if you have been successful or not.
Read on below to find out more about each stage of the Philips application process, and how you can best prepare for it.
Philips Online Application
Once you have found the role you would like to pursue on the Philips careers page, the first step is to submit an online application form. This will involve uploading a CV/resume, which should be up-to-date with detailed information about your academic history and work experience.
We recommend tailoring your CV/resume to the role you are applying for by going over the job description and showing how your skills, experience, and qualifications make you an ideal candidate. Remember, this is the first thing the hiring team will see, so it is important to make a good first impression.
You will also need to provide some personal details, as well as information on your work experience and education.
Philips Aptitude Tests
Some roles will require you to take some online aptitude tests to assess your suitability for the position. The specific tests you will take depend on what role you are applying for but could include the following assessments.
Philips Numerical Reasoning Test
The numerical reasoning test is designed to test your aptitude with numbers and data. You will be presented with some information presented as data in a graph, chart or table, and will need to answer some questions relating to the information.
These questions will usually be in a multiple-choice format and will require you to interpret the data and use some basic calculations to reach the correct answer. The test is timed, which is what makes it challenging, so we recommend practicing some sample tests to get used to working under time pressure.
Philips Verbal Reasoning Test
A verbal reasoning test examines your ability to understand and analyse written passages. You will be presented with a paragraph, followed by a statement about the text.
You must then decipher based on the paragraph you have just if the statement is 'true', 'false' or 'cannot say'. This test will require you to quickly and accurately identify key pieces of information from the text to answer the questions. The best way to prepare for this test is to practice sample questions.
Philips Situational Judgement Test
The situational judgement test assesses your suitability for a role by presenting you with workplace scenarios that you could encounter whilst working for Philips. The scenario will contain a certain problem and you must select out of a number of potential responses, which is the best course of action to take.
This gives the hiring team insight into how you might behave whilst working at Philips, your preferred styles of working, and your decision-making skills.
Philips Mechanical Reasoning Test
Mechanical reasoning tests measure a candidate's ability to apply mechanical, engineering and electrical knowledge to solve problems. The test will assess you on basic physics principles such as pulleys, gears, circuits, and forces.
Typically the questions will present a problem in the form of a diagram, from which you must select the correct answer from a set of multiple-choice responses.
The mechanical reasoning test is typically used for roles that require candidates with a mechanical aptitude, such as in engineering positions.
Philips Programming and Logical Reasoning Test
The programming test is conducted on the Mettl platform and consists of 10 logical reasoning questions that you will have 10 minutes to answer. Logical reasoning questions assess your problem-solving skills by testing your ability to interpret and apply logic to unfamiliar information.
Logical reasoning questions typically present you with a series of images or diagrams, from which you must determine the underlying rule that governs the sequence in order to identify the missing item or the next item in the sequence.
You will then have 2 coding questions which must be solved within 50 minutes. Only C++ and Java programming languages are allowed. There are a range of problems you could face, so the best way to prepare is to brush up on your coding knowledge and practice sample questions.
Philips Interviews
The next stage of the application process is the interviews. The number of interviews you have will depend on the role you have applied for, however, you will typically have at least two interviews.
The first stage of the interview will be with Talent Acquisition, who are the recruitment team. During this interview, the hiring team will want to get to know more about you by asking you questions about your skills, qualifications, and work experience. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and the company, so ask any questions you may have.
If you are successful in the first interview, you will be invited to the final interview. Here you will meet with the hiring manager and possibly some members of their team. This interview will likely go more in-depth into your skills by asking you competency-based questions.
What it is like to work at Philips?
Philips prides itself on its diverse and inclusive workplace, seeing the differences within their workforce as beneficial to their creativity and innovation. Philips' workplace is highly regarded, with it being voted as one of the top 100 workplaces with the most innovative cultures in 2020, and the best place to work for Gen Z in 2019.
Employees are given flexibility when it comes to their work, getting to choose where, when, and how they work based on what is best for them, their team, and the customer.
Philips believes that employees should be valued for their contribution, so they have the Philips Excellence Competition, which is an annual event to recognise and showcase excellent work across the organisation.
All Philips employees are given one day off a year to help their community through the Philips Foundation, which is the company's charity aimed at improving healthcare in underserved communities.
Top Tips To Getting Hired At Philips
Have An Active, Up To Date LinkedIn Profile
Before applying for a position at Philips, make sure you have an active, up-to-date LinkedIn profile. Not only can this help showcase your skills, experience, and qualifications, but it will also make the application process easier for you as you can apply with your LinkedIn account.
Prepare For The Assessment Tests
The online assessments can be a challenging hurdle in the application process, however, if it doesn't have to be. Find out what assessments you will be taking and prepare for them by practicing sample tests.
Not only will this sharpen your skills, but it will help build your confidence going into the test, as you will be familiar with the format and type of questions you will face. As the tests are timed, try to take your practice tests under timed conditions so you get used to the pace at which you will need to answer the questions.
Get To Know Philips
During the interviews the hiring team will want to see that you are knowledgeable about the role, the company, and the wider industry, so a good way to prepare for the interviews at Philips is to learn more about the company.
Doing some research will prepare you with all the information you need to answer the questions effectively. A great place to find this information is the Philips careers website, employee blogs, and their social media pages.
Just Be You
Being yourself is important throughout the application process, but particularly during the interviews. You want to showcase your unique strengths, personality, and goals during the interviews so Philips can really get to know you better.
If you just be yourself you are more likely to talk freely and let your personality shine through, which will help you have a more relaxed conversation with the interviewer.
