Bank Interview Preparation

Bank Interview Preparation

Tips for the bank Interviews

• Before you read the questions, keep these tips in mind:
• Dress conservatively. Though you don’t have to be completely buttoned up, it’s important that you match the professional look you would expect from a potential boss.
• Arrive early, but not too early. Chances are good you are one of several interviews that day or, since you are going to a bank, the person you are speaking to will be fitting you in between talking to customers. Show up five to ten minutes before your scheduled time.
• Pay attention to posture.
  It may seem like a small thing, but how you sit while you’re answering questions gives clues to your interest level and temperament. Sit in a relaxed, firm position that projects confidence.
• Smile. Banks are, ultimately, people-based organizations. If you smile during the pressure of your interview, you’re more likely to do so when talking with a customer.

• Interview Questions

  Q: What made you apply for this position at our bank?
  When an interviewer asks this, it’s an attempt to see what you know about the company. Did you do any research before you came in? Are you aware of their track record in the mortgage industry? Have you noticed complaints about their account policies? This is a chance for you to demonstrate your interest goes beyond simply obtaining a position – you might even be thinking of ways to help them grow.
  
  Sample Answer- “I have an interest in the housing industry and know that your organization has a good reputation among lenders for providing fair terms and first-rate service.”
  
  Q: What about the job, in particular, drew your attention?
  Though it might be difficult to remember what exactly caused you to send your résumé in, most interviewers will want to know why you are interested. Of course, the basic reason is that you want a job, but you are being tested to see if you were actually paying attention beyond that – your answer is a good clue about your future intentions with the company. Spend some time looking over the job description and pick out one or two key points to talk about.
  
  Sample Answer- “I’ve been in the financial part of the construction industry for a while and am looking for a new challenge. Seeing this position had more personal contact with customers got me thinking it might be a good fit.”
  
  Q: Have you ever been responsible for giving change?
  If you are going to be in a place that secures large sums of money, you will have to be trusted to count correctly – once you pass the background check, of course. Bankers choose to open the discussion in this indirect manner to gauge your history and openness. Be up front about your past work or it will come back to bite you at a key time.
  
  Sample Answer- “I have spent most of my working life in electronics stores. As an associate and then store manager, making sure the drawers match what the computer says should be there is a primary concern.”
  
  Q: What’s your idea of good customer service?
  No matter what kind of business you are in, taking care of those individuals the company serves is crucial. On the surface, this is about the connection between clients and associates, but it is also a clue into how you handle personal relationships overall. When you answer, keep in mind it should highlight the way you would treat coworkers, too.
  
  Sample Answer- “The most important thing is to respect the other person. Making sure their concerns are heard and addressed, as well as eventually making them happy, all comes from that starting point.”
  
  Q: What are three things you would like this company to do for you? How do you expect to return the favor for the company?
  When asked, these questions are one of the few times you get to really express your ideals – grab hold of it with both hands and set yourself apart! You might feel like it’s tough to narrow down your list to three, but do your best to respond completely in as short a time as possible. (There may be follow-up questions based on what you say.)
  
  Sample Answer- “In my previous experience, I’ve put a lot of effort into creating environments that help others develop as people and professionals. I think it’s crucial that everyone from the CEO to a clerk at the front desk feel like they are key to operations. “As far as the company itself, I would hope they are receptive to new ideas and are willing to keep communication flowing frequently. I want to be able to know where I stand, what I’m doing well and how I can improve when I’m not. If there are opportunities to grow within the organization through leadership training, I would really like to be a part of them.”
  
  Q: Could you please give me three words that will tell me something about you?
  This question is a bit deeper than the last, as it allows the interviewer to get a clear picture of how you view yourself. Be confident and honest in describing your best qualities – it’s always better to tell the truth on the front end instead of making yourself out to be something better than you are.
  
  Sample Answer- “I really value loyalty and communication – I expect people to tell me when I’m coming up short and be supportive of my efforts to change, something I strive to do myself. I also do my very best to be extremely punctual – even being a minute late to an appointment makes me feel like I’ve let someone down.”
  
  Q: Could you tell me where you would like to be in five years?
  Though you are just hoping to have a first day at this point, employers want to see what sort of goals you have. You will want to be fairly general, but it doesn’t hurt to set up a couple of targets for yourself as a professional. This is an opportunity to share what you value in a working environment as a person and what you are aiming to get out of that job before you have it.
  
  Sample Answer - “I want to have grown into a position that continues to push me to be the best I can. If there are mentoring programs that help young associates learn how the company works with an eye towards management, I hope to be a part of them and – in the long term – helping others achieve their goals, too.”

Interview Questions,Faqs for Bank Interview

Interview Questions,Faqs for Bank Interview
There cannot be clear cut strategy for the interviews as it all depends on how the interview board is and what they have in their mind on the day. But having said that, it is always wise to prepare well for your interviews, as smart preparation can always help to get through this final hurdle. Although board can throw any question on you but with a little brainstorming and application we can always find out some of the questions which are very commonly asked in the interviews. Candidates should always prepare structured answers of such questions so that they would not find any difficulty at the time of interview. Also keep in mind that interview is a test of your communication skills so remain confident and speak well during interviews, mock interview can help a lot, so practice a lot among your friends and family members.
Just bear in mind that those 10-15 minutes can change your life so don’t have any kind of apprehensions and just be normal. Always talk positive and don’t ever give impression of negativity (even if you are not a positive person). Communicate as much as you can on relevant topics, a few days before your interview, it will not only boost your confidence but also help you to have command over the language. In banking interviews apart from the common questions and answers which I am providing you as under, question may also be from your background, qualifications, current affairs, banking and financial terms etc. So try to cover all such areas.
Tell me about yourself:
This is one of the most common but very important asked questions in interviews. Therefore you need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Try to cover a brief about you which may include your background, qualifications, experience (if any), your family and your career objective which may include that why you are looking for entering into this sector. Practice this question among your friends to master over it. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.
Why do you want to enter banking?
You need to talk about Banking. Your answer can have following bulleted points.
Banking is a fast changing environment and with the advent of new technologies and products scope for learning is much more now.
Retail banking is now very competitive – from telephone banking, retailers and etc Banking is thus now largely sales driven.
You can talk that banking offers a wide range of career opportunities for graduates – not just in branch banking but also in financial services, consultancy and corporate banking.
What significant trends do you see in the future in Banking Industry?
This is your chance to shine. You will be fully familiar with the economic situation and development in the banking industry to tackle such questions. Development which have recently taken in the banking industry, monetary policy, how the industry has evolved in last few years and what is the future alike etc. are the areas which you should prepare.
What do you know about this organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out about the performance of the bank in which you are appearing for the interview. What are the strong and weak issues of the bank and how they are performing on financial parameters in the industry? Who are the major competitors and what action bank should take to tackle competition.
Explain how you would be an asset to this organization or why should we select you for this position?
This is another very good question which will give you an opportunity to impress the board. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Talk about your strong points, qualifications, analytical skills etc. to highlight that how can you be an asset to the bank. Please bear in mind that you have already cleared the hurdle of the written part so don’t ever think that you cannot be an asset. The bank has already tested your analytical abilities and they are now just looking for how you respond to such question.
What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude etc.
Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.