Publicis Groupe Arctic Shores Assessment
Applying for an entry-level role or internship at a Publicis agency in the UK? The first thing you sit is an Arctic Shores game-based assessment, not a CV screen. Here is how the process runs and how to approach each step
Who this applies to
Publicis Groupe is one of the largest communications groups in the world. In the UK its agencies include Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, Starcom, Zenith and Spark Foundry. Early careers hiring runs as one process across the agencies, so whether you apply for a media buying, paid social, retail media or audio executive role, or for a summer internship, the first stage is the same game-based assessment.
Entry-level joiners at Publicis Media go into The Pack, the group's early careers programme, on a starting salary of £28,850. Summer internships have their own timetable: the 2026 Global Media Internship paid £25,250 and ran from 13 July to 25 September.
The selection process, step by step
What the Arctic Shores assessment is like
Publicis brought Arctic Shores in to replace CV sifting at the very start of the funnel, so this is the first real decision point in your application. There are no questions to answer and no right or wrong answers in the usual sense. You play a set of short interactive tasks, and the assessment reads how you approach problems and decisions from the way you play. The tasks are mapped to Publicis' early careers roles, with collaboration, problem-solving, resilience and creativity under pressure among the behaviours it looks for.
It takes about as long as a standard online test. You can try a practice task before the real one, and afterwards you receive a personalised feedback report on your strengths, whether or not you progress. Watch your inbox after you apply: the invitation comes from Arctic Shores rather than from Publicis.
Practice will not change your behavioural profile, and it should not. What it does is take away the surprise of the formats, so you are reacting to the task rather than working out how it works. Our Arctic Shores practice hub covers each task, and the Balance and Arrows pages explain two of them in detail.
How to prepare
Frequently asked questions
Does Publicis Groupe use Arctic Shores?
Yes, for UK early careers hiring across its agencies. It is the second step of the process, straight after the application.
How long is the Publicis Arctic Shores assessment?
Publicis says it usually has around 7 to 9 tasks and takes about the same time as a standard online test. An exact time is not published.
Does Publicis read my CV?
Not at the first stage. The task-based assessment replaced CV sifting at the start of the process, so how you do on it decides whether you reach the recruiter call.
Is the Publicis assessment centre in person?
Recent postings describe a virtual assessment centre or virtual assessment day. Check your invitation for the format of your own day.