Professional Banking Job Interviews

Archive for May, 2008

When going to an interview, researching about the company will give you an edge in the application and interview process. Putting effort in getting to know the company you’re applying to will show that you are interested about them. Also, conduct research on the position you are vying for, as this will show them that you are determined to get the job and that you have more than a superficial interest in it. With the number of applicants that are likely to be applying for the same job that you want, the time and effort you will put in learning about your prospective employer and position can certainly give you that defining point between being hired and being told to try again.

Prepare, prepare, prepare! There’s no more better advice than this. Be sure that you are dressed appropriately for the interview and plan your clothes a day before the interview itself. Check if you have the necessary things which you have been asked to bring. Confirm the schedule of the interview so that you know how to organize your time around it. Go over the questions which would most likely be asked during the interview, and make sure you have ready answers for them. Don’t sound like you’re speaking from a script though, just be certain that you have an idea of what you’re going to say.

There are a variety of interview styles which may be employed during your interview. It’s not always the straightforward question and answer norm. To be sure that you are ready for any of them, here the kinds of interviews that companies use in order to screen potential new employees.

• Behavioral Interviews – your experienced is what will be asked here; the questions typically revolved on how you handled conflicts, challenges and problems with relation to your job.
• Situational Interviews – with this, you will be asked to give answers based on hypothetical situations
• Unstructured interviews – these are free-flowing conversations where the topics and flow of discussion are based mainly on your answers
• Panel Interviews – here, you will be asked to appear in front of a panel consisting of a number of employees who come from various departments of the company

Interviews do not have to be one-way conversations. Interviewees who show genuine interest in the position and the company are more favorably perceived than those who look as if they’re only going through the motions. Some questions you can ask the interviewer are:

• If accepted, what responsibilities will be given to me?
• How will my performance be assessed?
• For what reason did the current vacancy open up?
• What growth opportunities does the position offer?
• Who will I be reporting to?
• Will I be in charge of other people?
• Would this position require me to travel?
• What are the factors in deciding this appointment?

Interview questions usually stay the same, with specifics varying depending on the position and field themselves. Here are some of the most common interview questions:

• How do you respond to pressure?
• How do you cope with criticism?
• Do you prefer working in groups or by yourself? Why?
• What are you looking for with an employer?
• Which part of the position do you dislike the most?
• What makes you more deserving of this position than the other candidates?
• How was your relationship with your previous employer?
• How do you measure your work performance?

I want you to remember the following points during job interiews:

• Take the time to know the company. Do your research.
• Learn about the position you’re applying for; it’s responsibilities, how it fits into the structure of the company, and the like.
• Prepare your resume and CV to highlight your finest points. Of course, don’t lie or puff up your image as this can easily be noticed by the interviewer.
• Know the appropriate attire for the interview.
• Arrive earlier than your scheduled interview. Being late gives a very negative impression of your professionalism.
• Be sure that you have with you the required documents.
• Be confident! You have only one chance to impress the interviewer, so seize the opportunity and show them how perfect you are for the job on offer.

Here are more meanings behind commonly asked interview questions:

“Share the most difficult situation you’ve been in, and how you faced it.” – here, the interviewer is seeking to know how you see “difficult”, and whether you are adept at problem solving.

“What are your dislikes about your present occupation?” – with this question, the interviewer is going to find out whether the job you’re applying for may have responsibilities you may not like.

“What are your weaknesses?” – your answer here will show the interviewer how you perceive yourself .

“Why are you leaving your current job?” – this is asked to find out what your true reasons and motives are for moving away from your current employer.

Questions are a vital part of any interview, as they are the measuring stick for prospective new hires. But did you know that besides the outright meaning of those seemingly straightforward questions are hidden meanings with which the interviewer gauges an applicant? Below are some of them:

• “Tell me about yourself.” – this is the most common first question that an interviewee encounters. Besides asking you to introduce yourself, the interviewer is actually looking at the way you talk.
• “What are your achievements so far?” – the interviewer wants to see whether you are an achiever or not.
• “At present, are you happy with your career?”—the interviewer wants to know whether you are a positive person, and also, gets an insight on how self-confident you are.