5 Key Tips to Handle Finance Interviews

5 KEY TIPS TO HANDLE

FINANCE INTERVIEWS

Preparation is the key to a successful interview. Interviewers are looking for the best candidate to fill the vacancy, and your role is to persuade them that the person is you!

1REVISE YOUR RESEARCH

As someone seeking a career in the financial industry, it is vital that you fully understand the company and role you are applying for. Research the company’s financial performance, past/present clients, values, and competitors. Revisit the job description and your application materials as well. How much do the recruiters already know about you, and how does your profile fit into what they’re looking? Do you, for instance, possess a specific language skill set which they hope to tap into to service certain markets?

If you have a related finance degree, go over the real-world applications of the technical knowledge you gained in your classes, specifically in the context of how that applies to the role you’re applying for.

If you don’t have a finance degree, make sure you’re able to demonstrate knowledge of how financial markets work, as well as display an understanding of the firm’s business objectives.

2BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS CURRENT MARKET TRENDS

Keeping abreast with the latest market trends and news is crucial for a career in the financial sector. As such, an interviewer will gravitate towards questions on current financial market conditions and big market movements, among others, to gauge the your level of interest and preparedness for a career in finance. The best way to be prepared is to regularly read financial news such as The Edge Markets, the Star (Business) and The Economist, or watch daily markets coverage from CNBC, Bloomberg and Cheddar. An interviewer may ask what financial news you follow and ask you to discuss a recent news story that interests you.

3CUSTOMISE YOUR RESPONSES

Think from the recruiters’ perspective and customise your answers tailored to the specific role and corporation you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying to a local bank like RHB Bank, be prepared to explain why you’re choosing a homegrown bank over a non-local one.

Having an awareness of the organisation’s positioning will also help you understand what’s at the top of recruiters’ minds. For instance, if you’re applying to enter a small investment firm as a fresh graduate,

try and figure out if they want you for an area of specialisation or as a jack-of-all-trades, and tailor your answers accordingly.

When asked about your strengths and weaknesses in your personality and professional behaviour, be prepared to list examples of prior work and study experiences which demonstrate your point.

For example, do you have internship experiences which taught you about client servicing skills? Participate in a finance case study challenge while you were a student? Research specific market segments as part of your prior internship? It’s always better to “show” rather than to just “tell”.

4HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR INTERVIEWER

As a finance professional, you can’t just be good at crunching numbers, but you must also be able to communicate effectively. Be ready to show off your communication skills in an interview by asking thoughtful and articulate questions to your interviewers and get a conversation going. For example, you can ask about how a recent industry trend has affected the firm, or how the company is trying to position itself against competitors in a similar space. Asking smart questions helps to end the interview on a high note and create a lasting impression.

Avoid cliché or generic questions such as: “How is a typical workday like?” and “What are the working hours?” It might work against you by signalling a lack of research or being overly self-interested. However, if recruiters take the initiative to share the benefits and perks of the role with you, take it as a good sign as they are attempting to entice you to eventually accept the position.

Your interviewers’ responses also give you a chance to evaluate them in turn. Use this as an opportunity to get a sense of the types of people you can expect to work with within the organisation, or whether the firm has a solid plan for the future ahead that you can see yourself being a part of.

5FOLLOW UP AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Send an email to thank the recruiters for their time within the same day after the interview. You could highlight how the conversation helped in affirming your decision to join the organisation, or include specific references to topics you discussed with them to show your commitment and attention.

Take the initiative to keep in contact if there are no follow-ups within the next week. Call or email again to reiterate your interest in the job, and find out if there are further steps in the hiring process, such as attending an assessment centre, or taking aptitude tests.

Need more job interview advice? Get it Here.