How long does the Havas interview process take?

Most candidates spend between 4 and 8 weeks from recruiter screen to offer. The onsite loop itself runs in a single day or is split across two half-days, with debrief and offer typically within 5 business days after.

How should I prepare specifically for Havas?

Focus on three things: (1) the company DNA shown above - what they actually grade for, (2) the rounds in your loop, especially the round most candidates underestimate, and (3) drilling on the question types in this guide using a structured framework like CIRCLES or STAR.

Does this apply to engineering or design roles at Havas?

The DNA stays the same - what changes is the round mix. SWE candidates face coding screens instead of Product Sense; designers face portfolio reviews and design exercises. The "what they value" and behavioral signals carry across all functions.

Other roles at Havas:Brand Manager Marketing Sales Strategy Consultant

Enterprise · Sales Interview Guide

How to Pass the Havas Sales Interview in 2026

The Havas DNA (TL;DR)

Havas assesses strategic thinking and client relationship skills, looking for candidates who can translate brand objectives into impactful campaigns. They value a proactive approach to campaign management and a clear understanding of media planning.

The Havas Interview Loop

Your onsite loop will typically consist of 5 rounds.

1
Round 1
Recruiter Screen
Motivation, territory fit, logistics.
2
Round 2
Sales Pitch / Demo
Pitching the company's product to a mock prospect.
3
Round 3
Deal Strategy
Pipeline management, multi-stakeholder navigation, MEDDIC qualification.
4
Round 4
Customer Discovery
Asking diagnostic questions, surfacing pain, qualifying.
5
Round 5
Behavioral / Leadership
Past evidence of ownership, influence, resolving conflict.

The Danger Zone: Top Reasons Candidates Fail

Based on our database of Havas interview outcomes, avoid these common traps:

Describing a task that was part of their regular job duties rather than a significant undertaking.
Describing a situation where they simply followed orders.
Confusing the elements of MEDDIC or misapplying them.
Lack of specific knowledge about the target market's advertising ecosystem.

Test Yourself: Real Havas Questions

Three real prompts pulled from our database.

Type · MEDDIC Qualification

Walk me through how you would apply the MEDDIC framework to qualify a large potential advertising client. Provide specific examples for each element (Metrics, Economic Buyer, Decision Criteria, Decision Process, Identify Pain, Champion).

Type · Influence

Describe a situation where you had to influence stakeholders (e.g., colleagues, superiors, clients) who had different priorities or perspectives than yours. How did you approach it, and what was the result?

Type · Pitch

Imagine a potential client, a mid-sized CPG brand looking to increase market share for a new product launch. Pitch Havas's integrated media and creative services to them. Focus on how we can help them achieve their specific goals.

+ many more questions, signals, and worked examples

Unlock the rubric

Havas Interview Question Bank

A sample from our database, grouped by round. Sign up to see the full set.

10 of 19 questions shown

Recruiter Screen

1
Type · Motivation
Why are you interested in a sales role at Havas specifically, given our focus on advertising and marketing services?
2
Type · Territory Fit
Describe your experience with the advertising and marketing landscape in [specific target region/market]. How would you approach building a territory plan for Havas here?

Sales Pitch / Demo

3
Type · Pitch
Imagine a potential client, a mid-sized CPG brand looking to increase market share for a new product launch. Pitch Havas's integrated media and creative services to them. Focus on how we can help them achieve their specific goals.
4
Type · Objection Handling
During your pitch, the client expresses concern about the cost of an integrated campaign and mentions they've had success with a lower-cost, single-channel approach in the past. How do you respond?
+ 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)

Deal Strategy

5
Type · Pipeline Management
Describe your process for managing a sales pipeline. How do you prioritize opportunities, and what metrics do you use to forecast revenue?
6
Type · MEDDIC Qualification
Walk me through how you would apply the MEDDIC framework to qualify a large potential advertising client. Provide specific examples for each element (Metrics, Economic Buyer, Decision Criteria, Decision Process, Identify Pain, Champion).
+ 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)

Customer Discovery

7
Type · Diagnostic Questions
A potential client is looking to improve their brand awareness. What diagnostic questions would you ask to understand their current situation, target audience, and desired outcomes before proposing a solution?
8
Type · Surfacing Pain
How do you probe to uncover the 'pain' a client is experiencing that Havas's services can solve? Give an example related to a client struggling with campaign ROI.
+ 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)

Behavioral / Leadership

9
Type · Ownership
Tell me about a time you took ownership of a challenging sales situation that was not initially your responsibility. What did you do, and what was the outcome?
10
Type · Influence
Describe a situation where you had to influence a key decision-maker or stakeholder who was initially resistant to your proposal. How did you approach it, and what was the result?
+ 6 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)