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Mattel has become world-known as the house that Barbie built, but the toy and entertainment company, which employs 31,000 people, also produces popular consumer brands such as American Girl, Fisher-Price, and Hot Wheels, and collaborates with entertainment and technology companies such as DreamWorks and Google to produce interactive games.
Employees in its El Segundo, California, headquarters enjoy retirement savings matching plans, onsite childcare and fitness centers, an executive chef, and half-day Fridays. And, yes, if you work at Mattel, you get to play with the toys.
Laura Oliver-Suos, senior recruitment specialist, offers tips on how to ace an interview with Mattel.
What qualities make candidates stand out for an interview with Mattel?
In addition to meeting the basic qualifications of the job, we look for someone who is able to demonstrate that they take initiative, are innovative, have passion around what they do, and [have] the drive toward continuous improvement.
How frequently are you hiring?
Mattel's companies employ approximately 31,000 people in 40 countries and territories, and sell products in more than 150 nations. We are continuously looking for top talent to join the Mattel team at our locations around the globe. Some of the areas in which we are currently hiring are strategy, strategic development and partnerships, and creative marketing and design.
What do you expect candidates to know about Mattel before an interview?
It is important that candidates be educated about our brands, industry, and the competition. We also expect for candidates to know about the job they are applying for, and that they have done some research on the team they are interviewing with.
Do you attend trade shows, networking conferences, or college career events where candidates might have a chance to network with you?
We carefully select which recruiting events and diversity conferences we attend based on our recruiting initiatives for the year. We visit a variety of college campuses each year, such as USC, UCLA, UC Irvine, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Otis College of Art & Design, Art Center College of Design, Academy of Art, Cal Poly Pomona, Fashion Institute of Technology, and Rochester Institute of Technology. The best recommendation is to stay engaged with the groups and/or organizations that relate to your field, so when we are looking to recruit within certain industries, we can find you.
How can candidates interact with you on social media to stand out?
We encourage Mattel fans to stay connected to company pages. Being a follower can only increase your chances of being contacted by a recruiter, and recruiters are looking for social media profiles that are clean, up-to-date, with a professional photo. You can follow Mattel Careers on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
What types of jobs are available for recent graduates in various departments?
We hire recent grads in a variety of positions, including designers, retail representatives, coordinators, marketers, strategy associates, and analysts in finance and insights.
How can college students apply for an internship?
Mattel offers both undergraduate and MBA internship programs. Depending on the type of internship, students may apply either through our Mattel Careers website or through their school's career center.
Do you require previous, relevant internship experience?
We do not require it, but it is a plus when a student has had multiple internships, enhancing their skill set and experience throughout their college career.
What do interns achieve by the end of the program?
Mattel's undergraduate internship program provides students with challenging, real-work experience in their field of study. Interns are partnered with both a project manager as well as a mentor to provide support throughout their internship.
Do you regularly hire interns into full-time roles?
Our main goal is to create a true talent pipeline through our internship programs, so yes, we do offer full-time roles based on an intern's performance and our business needs.
Do most full-time positions require a specific degree relevant to the job to which they are applying?
Hiring teams tend to prefer candidates to have a specific degree relevant to the job they are applying for. However, it is not a deal breaker if you have a degree in another area, and can prove transferable skills and strong relevant work experience.
What types of questions do you like to ask in an interview?
Our hiring teams like to ask questions that get at real-life examples of how candidates accomplish tasks and collaborate with others. We ask questions that help us assess if the candidate possesses the right set of competencies that are imperative to the success of the position they are interviewing for. Candidates should be prepared to give specific behavioral examples of past work experience.
What types of non-work-related experiences are valuable for candidates to showcase in an interview?
Areas of passion are sometimes good to mention as long as it sets you apart and makes you unique in an interesting way. Sometimes it also depends on the role you are applying for. If we are interviewing a candidate for a position that involves working on global projects and they have never worked in China, but have experience with the culture and language through traveling there, that would be a great piece of information to share.
What questions should candidates always ask you in an interview?
It is important that candidates ask thoughtful questions relating to the company or position for which they are applying. We really appreciate questions that we can tell are motivationally charged and show that candidates are trying to assess whether the company is the right fit for them — for example, questions related to the team and company's management and communication style.
What questions should they never ask?
Candidates should ensure that the questions are appropriate for that interviewer. The questions you ask the interviewer from HR may not be the same questions you ask the VP of the division to which you're applying.
What's a mistake people make in interviews all the time and don't know it?
Most mistakes come from not preparing for the interview. Talk to your recruiter or company point of contact about what to expect in the interview process, who you are going to meet with, and best practices for interviewing at that company.
Is there an interview dress code?
It depends on the job. Don't be shy to ask your recruiter [in HR] how to best prepare yourself. That is what they are there for.
Do thank-you cards or emails matter to you? Is not sending a thank-you a deal breaker?
Sending a thank-you card or email is always a nice touch. It isn't always a deal breaker, but a well-written and thoughtful note could help you to be a more memorable candidate.
Interview Insider is weekly series offering tips for getting a job at some of your favorite companies. Check back every Thursday for the latest interview.
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