20 Ingredion Interview Questions and Answers

Ingredion is a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to the food, beverage, brewing and pharmaceutical industries. They are dedicated to helping their customers make great products that people love.

If you’re interviewing for a job at Ingredion, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, work history, and availability. In this guide, we’ve assembled a list of Ingredion interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Ingredion Interview Process

The interview process at Ingredion is generally pretty straightforward. There are usually three steps: a phone interview with HR, a phone interview with plant leaders, and an onsite interview. The onsite interview is usually the longest, lasting about 3-4 hours. However, everyone I met/spoke to was very friendly and professional.

1. What is your experience with the food and beverage industry?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience and how it relates to Ingredion. You can use this opportunity to discuss any previous work you’ve done in the food and beverage industry, including what projects you worked on and what skills you used.

Example: “I have five years of experience working in the food and beverage industry. In my last role as a production manager at a local brewery, I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of production, including hiring new employees, managing budgets and ensuring that we met our deadlines. My team and I were able to increase production by 20% within six months of taking over.”

2. Ingredion focuses on innovation, what do you think is most important to remember when trying to be innovative?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company and how you can contribute to its success. When answering, it’s important to highlight what makes Ingredion unique and emphasize that you understand the company’s values.

Example: “I think innovation is all about finding new ways to solve problems. At my last job, I worked on a team that was tasked with creating a way for food companies to reduce sugar in their products without sacrificing taste. We spent weeks researching different methods before we finally found one that would work. It was exciting to be part of such a creative process.”

3. Why do you want to work at Ingredion?

This question can help the interviewer determine your motivation for applying to their company. They may want to know that you are passionate about working at Ingredion and understand what makes it unique from other companies. Use this opportunity to show how much research you have done on the organization, including its values and goals.

Example: “I am very interested in food science, and I think Ingredion is a great place to work because of all the innovative products they create. I also love the idea of helping people eat healthier foods by creating new ingredients. I believe my background in chemistry would be an asset to the team.”

4. How would you handle a situation where you had to deal with an upset customer?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether or not you have experience in customer service. Use examples from your previous job to show that you know how to solve problems with customers and keep them happy.

Example: “I once had a customer who was upset because they didn’t receive their order on time. I apologized for the inconvenience and explained why it happened. Then, I offered to send them a free product of equal value as an apology. They were very pleased with my response and said they would definitely be ordering from us again.”

5. Tell us about a time that you were working on a team project but someone wasn’t pulling their weight. How did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and your ability to lead a team. Use examples from previous work experiences where you had to manage a team or group project, but also include any personal experience that shows you have leadership qualities.

Example: “In my last position as a production manager at a food processing plant, I was managing a large team of employees who were working on a new product launch. One employee in particular wasn’t pulling their weight, which made it difficult for the rest of us to meet our deadlines. I met with them privately and explained the importance of their role in the company and how they could contribute more. They agreed to try harder, and we all worked together to complete the project.”

6. What are your strengths?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their company culture. They want to know what skills you have that will help you succeed in the role, so be sure to highlight any relevant experience or soft skills.

Example: “I am a very organized person, which is why I love working in food production. I enjoy keeping track of all the ingredients we use and making sure they are stored properly. Another strength of mine is my communication skills. I always make sure to clearly explain things to my coworkers and customers, so everyone understands what I’m saying. This has helped me resolve many issues before they became bigger problems.”

7. Describe a time when you worked on a team project and there was conflict, how did you handle it?

When working in a team environment, there may be conflict. Employers ask this question to see how you handle conflict and resolve it. In your answer, try to show that you can work with others and solve problems together.

Example: “In my last position, I worked on a team of five people. We had weekly meetings where we discussed our progress on the project. One week, one of my coworkers was not prepared for the meeting. They were late and did not have any information about their part of the project. I spoke up during the meeting and offered to help them get caught up. After the meeting, I met with my coworker and explained what they missed. They thanked me for helping them out.”

8. Do you have any experience in production or manufacturing?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and how it relates to this role. If you have experience in production or manufacturing, share what you learned from that job and how it can help you succeed at Ingredion.

Example: “I worked as an engineer for a small company that produced custom-made furniture. I was responsible for creating blueprints of each piece of furniture and ensuring they were accurate before sending them off to be built. This helped me develop my critical thinking skills and taught me how important it is to double-check all measurements and calculations.”

9. Describe a time when you had to solve a complex problem, how did you approach the problem?

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills. Employers want to know that you can use critical thinking and analytical skills to solve complex problems in the workplace.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for managing multiple projects at once. One day, one of my team members came to me with an issue on a project we were working on together. The issue was that they had lost some important information about the project and needed help finding it. I asked them what they remembered about the information and then used my knowledge of the project to find the information they needed.”

10. What do you know about the corn wet milling process?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company’s processes and procedures. It also allows you to show that you have an interest in learning more about the industry. When preparing for this interview, read up on the company’s website or other materials about their products and services.

Example: “I know that corn wet milling involves extracting starch from corn kernels. The process begins by removing the outer layer of the kernel, which is then ground into flour. This flour is then mixed with water and heated to remove the starch. The remaining material is dried and ground again before being sold as food additives.”

11. Do you have experience working in a fast-paced environment?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your ability to work in a busy environment. If you have experience working in a fast-paced environment, share an example of how you handled the situation and what skills helped you succeed. If you don’t have experience working in a fast-paced environment, consider sharing an example of when you had to complete a task quickly or efficiently.

Example: “I’ve worked in a fast-paced environment for most of my career. I find that it’s important to stay organized and prioritize tasks so I can get through them as quickly as possible. In my last role, I was responsible for managing multiple projects at once. I found that having a system for prioritizing tasks and delegating responsibilities helped me manage all of the projects effectively.”

12. In this job, you will be required to lift up to 75 pounds, are you comfortable doing that?

This question is asked to determine if you are physically capable of performing the job duties. Employers want to make sure that you can do the work safely and without injury. In your answer, explain how you will prepare for this role physically. Share any physical training or certifications you have.

Example: “I am comfortable lifting up to 75 pounds. I have been working out at my local gym three times a week for the past year. I also completed an online certification program in weightlifting last month. I feel prepared to lift anything necessary on the job.”

13. Can you describe a time when you went above and beyond for a customer?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle customer service and whether you have any experience in it. Use examples from your previous job to show that you are a team player who is willing to go above and beyond for customers.

Example: “In my last position, I had a customer who was having issues with their product. They were calling me multiple times per day about the issue, which made it difficult to get other work done. I spent an entire weekend researching the problem and found out that there was a new update to the software they needed to install. Once I told them what to do, they were able to fix the issue and never called again.”

14. Describe a time when you had to make decisions without consulting your manager, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make decisions independently and how you handle making mistakes. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills, ability to work without direct supervision and willingness to take risks.

Example: “When I first started working at my previous company, I was tasked with creating a new recipe for a client’s product. The client wanted us to create a healthier version of their original product, but they didn’t want to change the taste or texture. After researching the client’s preferences and our own capabilities, I decided that we would use natural ingredients to reduce the sugar content in the product.

The client loved the final product, however, after testing it on consumers, we found out that the new recipe had a slightly bitter taste. We ended up changing the recipe again to remove the bitterness, which took more time and money than originally planned. However, I learned from this experience that sometimes you have to take risks to get the job done.”

15. Are you willing to work overtime as needed?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re willing to work extra hours when necessary. They want employees who are dedicated and hardworking, so they can count on them to get the job done. When answering this question, be honest about your willingness to put in overtime if needed. Explain that you understand it’s sometimes necessary for a company to require additional time from its employees.

Example: “Yes, I am willing to work overtime as needed. I know that sometimes there is more work than we have time to complete it all. In my last position, I was often asked to stay late or come in early to help with projects. I’m happy to do whatever is required of me to ensure the success of the company.”

16. What kind of training have you received in the past?

This question can help the interviewer determine what kind of training you have received in your previous positions and how it may apply to this role. If you are applying for a position that requires specific skills, knowledge or certifications, be sure to mention those in your answer.

Example: “In my last position as an operations manager, I was responsible for overseeing all production lines at our facility. To prepare for this role, I took several courses on quality control and food safety management. These courses helped me understand the importance of following proper procedures when handling ingredients and ensured that we were producing safe products.”

17. What type of equipment are you familiar with using?

Ingredion is a global company that produces ingredients for food, beverage and nutritional products. The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with the type of equipment they use in their facility. Use your answer to highlight any specific skills you have using machinery or other tools used by Ingredion.

Example: “I am familiar with working with all types of machinery, including industrial mixers, extruders, conveyor belts and packaging machines. I also understand how to operate many different types of software programs, such as SAP, Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics GP. These systems are often used in manufacturing facilities like yours.”

18. When was the last time you made a mistake, how did you handle it?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills. They want to know that you can take responsibility for your actions and learn from them. When answering, be honest and explain what steps you took to fix the mistake.

Example: “When I first started working in my previous role, I was responsible for a large project. I had never worked on such a big scale before, so I made some mistakes along the way. However, I learned from those mistakes and implemented new strategies into my work. As a result, I completed the project successfully.”

19. In this position, we need someone who can prioritize tasks well. Give me an example of when you prioritized your workload.

This question is a great way to assess how well you can prioritize your tasks and complete them in a timely manner. When answering this question, it’s important to show that you have the ability to manage multiple projects at once while still completing each one on time.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for managing several different projects at once. One of these projects involved creating new recipes for our food products. In order to do this, I had to work with other members of my team to create the best possible recipe. We would then test out the product to see if it met our standards. If not, we would go back to the drawing board until we got it right.”

20. We need someone with good communication skills, tell me about a time when you had to communicate technical information to nontechnical people.

This question is a great way to show your communication skills and how you can explain technical information in an easy-to-understand way. When answering this question, think of a time when you had to communicate something that was difficult for others to understand but you were able to make it simple for them.

Example: “At my last job, I worked with several nontechnical people who needed to know the ingredients we used in our products. I would always start by explaining what each ingredient does and why we use it. Then, I would tell them about the benefits of using that ingredient. This helped me keep their attention while also making sure they understood everything.”