28 Ally Financial Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Ally Financial Inc. interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. Give an example of a time that you had to resolve a difficult situation with a client or customer. What were the keys to coming to a successful solution?
How to Answer
In a front facing role with Ally Financial where you will be interacting with clients on a daily basis, your interviewer wants to be ensured that you have the skills to resolve client issues with ease and they'll look to do so with this question. In your answer, let your interviewer know that you can take ownership of any situation by talking about a specific time where you did what was necessary to alleviate a difficult situation with a client. Talk about the resources that you used and your interpersonal skills that helped turn a potentially bad situation into a successful one.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Having worked in customer service for one of the areas largest auto dealership for the last six years, handling difficult customers was a situation I had to learn to handle pretty quickly. Just a few weeks ago, I was covering our front desk on a Saturday afternoon when our sales staff was still open for business. I recognized the person approaching the door as a customer that had recently purchased a new vehicle. He stormed through the door, placed his keys on the counter in front of me and said that he demanded a refund on his new purchase because the check engine light had already come on inside of the car. Knowing off the top of my head that his new vehicle was under a full warranty, I calmly let him know that his car was under warranty and that I'd have a member of our sales staff come out and take a quick look. I also let him know that our service department was not working that afternoon and, if needed, we could schedule him for a diagnostic test at his earliest convenience. After our salesman went out to take a quick look and not seeing anything obvious, we ended up giving him a loaner vehicle so his new car could be taken care of on Monday morning. He ended up leaving pretty happy that day and I know that my patience in hearing him out really helped."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"A couple of years ago, I was asked to work with a very high profile client for his financial advising services when he came to our firm because my CEO trusted I could handle what he felt would be a difficult task. From my first meeting with the client, he demanded that we provide more returns than the previous firm that he worked with and he was rather rude with our front desk staff. I took the approach of taking the time to listen to his needs and speak to him more about what my firm could provide. I laid out my experience and track record for him to help him build his trust in me. I knew that with him, I would need to take time to walk through my decision making processes for his investments and he really appreciated that. As of today, we are still working strong together and his wealth is growing."
2. Due to the sensitivity of our business, in order to work for Ally Financial, you must be able to pass a criminal background check. Are you willing to comply?
How to Answer
If you do not have any criminal history, this is an answer that will be very simple and concise. If you do have a criminal history, now is the time to disclose it.
1st Answer Example
"I do not have a criminal history of any kind and I am happy to comply with any form of background check you require."
2nd Answer Example
"I should disclose to you that I have a mark on my criminal record. I have a DUI from 1998. Since then I have maintained a clean record and I am willing to comply with any form of background check that you require."
3. Working on the insurance side of our business here at Ally Financial, we'll expect you to be creative in your approach with clients. Give an example of a creative way that you worked with a clients and explain how it benefited everyone in the end.
How to Answer
On the insurance claims or strategy side of the business with Ally Financial, utilizing a creative approach to your work will be necessary to show clients that your work can truly benefit them. In your answer, try to use an example that demonstrates outside of the box thinking on your end to give the best service possible to a client that creates a win-win situation for all. Make sure to talk about lessons learned from that example that you can carry forward into this job with Ally Financial.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"As a property claims adjuster for many years, I quickly learned that I needed to be creative when on the site of a fire or a property damaged by major weather incidents. Just last year, I spent a week covering an area that was ravaged buy a tornado and I utilized drone technology to get photos to be able to assess damage that would've normally put me in pretty great danger. I took the time to learn how to fly the drone and use the video and photographing capabilities built into it and was able to work quickly and efficiently while onsite. This greatly helped me write accurate claims while also speeding up the claim process for our insured clients."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"As an advisor who has worked with many clients on their insurance needs, I have many examples of thinking outside of the box when looking at great options for them. Two years ago, I was the trusted financial advisor for a very high profile client. With his children now out of the home and a couple of business flourishing, I helped him create a life insurance policy that would see that his family would be set for life should something bad happen to him. The creative thinking on my part came in relation to how the client had written his will and how we organized his beneficiaries as part of his term life plan. During this process, it was important that I was up to speed on all of his assets so I could help work with him on the best plan possible."
4. Talk to me about a challenging situation you had to handle on the job that involved another colleague. How did you handle that situation?
How to Answer
At the heart of this question, your interviewer is looking to hear how you use solid interpersonal and relationship building skills to diffuse a difficult situation with a coworker when on the job. No matter what situation that you talk about, make sure to focus your answer on a positive mindset and the steps that you walked through to turn a potentially hazardous situation into a good one. As well, talk about lessons learned from that situation that you keep with you to this day on the job.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"A couple of years ago, we had hired a new Junior Advisor on to our team and I was tasked with being his mentor. Having mentored several other thriving Junior Advisors prior to him starting, I was excited for the opportunity. Within the first week of him being on the job, I overheard a colleague of mine talking very openly about his disdain for the hire of this new Advisor and witnessing him personally criticizing him in a face-to-face encounter. Immediately, I spoke to my colleague in a private office about my concern over his actions and words towards the new Advisor. Having been a part of the interview process and his early mentorship, I knew that he had the skills to succeed and I reiterated that to my colleague. After agreeing to back off on any private criticizing of the new Advisor and a promise to help mentor him, I learned that direct conversations are the best way to handle workplace conflicts."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"f"A couple of years ago, I approached a colleague that had missed a deadline or a big audit we were conducting and she completely blew up at my during our conversation. At first, I was very taken aback by her response because I had never witnessed that from her in many years of working together. While remaining calm, I allowed her the opportunity to vent to me and it turns out that she was going through a lot of things in her personal life that were impacting her work. While keeping our project deadlines in mind, I also took a personal approach in letting her know that she could bring these issues to me as both a colleague and a friend and we could work through them together in the future. This approach is vital to any conflicts that can arise with colleagues and one I don't hesitate to take when needed."
5. The day-to-day life at Ally Financial can be hectic and stressful at times. If hired for this role, how would you keep yourself motivated when working with stressed colleagues and pushy clients?
How to Answer
The daily life at Ally Financial is naturally very fast paced and because of that, both the colleagues and the clients that you may be working with have potential to be stressed, needy and downright mean at times. For this question, your interviewer is looking to get a sense that you would be able to work in this type of environment. In your answer, talk about the fact that you are cognizant of what this job entails as far as personal interactions go and talk about times where you have worked successfully through situations like this in the past. As well, don't hesitate to talk about your own personality traits that help you thrive in these types of situations.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Being a person that thrives in a fast paced work environment, I have the ability to handle stressed colleagues with a grain of salt. As you can see from my resume, I've spent the last five years in the manufacturing industry where my department worked under tight deadlines all of the time. If I noticed that a colleague was under stress, I offered my help if I was able to and down the road that was usually reciprocated back to me. This unselfish attitude and realizing that someone else's stress wasn't directed at me was the key to maintaining personal health and balance on the job."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my current role in client services with a large hospitality group, some days can go off the rails and it feels like I'm working with enraged customers all day long. I have the attitude that their anger isn't directed towards me, but I'm the face of the company that they are currently working with and I need to do my job in helping solve their issue. While I do have great resources at my hand to help solve customer issues, I think that taking the time to get to know all of our management team and how they solve problems is key as well so I know who to put customers in touch with if needed."
6. Tell me about a time where you had to analyze information in order to make a recommendation.
How to Answer
Talk about your attention to detail and sharp focus on data and statistics. If the job requires you to take an analytical approach to solving problems, think back on your experience to offer up an example. Give as much insight into your process to show you are capable of taking an analytical approach to problem-solving.
1st Answer Example
"I worked for a financial firm last year and had a client who was looking for investment recommendations. I gathered data on the stocks they were interested in, sorting through trends and historical data to determine the most promising returns."
2nd Answer Example
"As a financial service professional, I am always analyzing information before creating a path of recommendation for my clients. I am highly skilled when it comes to data analysis. My abilities stem from my statistics and analysis related courses while obtaining my Bachelor's degree in finance."
7. How do you think our field of fraud analysis will change in the next five to ten years and how will you be able to help Ally Financial stay at the forefront of those changes?
How to Answer
As fraudsters become more tech-savvy and the underground world of hacking becomes more sophisticated, your job as a Fraud Analyst will require you to become more agile and diligent in your work. For this question, show your interviewer that like to stay at the forefront of your field by talking about how you stay informed and talk about what you feel are the biggest things to keep an eye on in the future. This will show your interviewer that you have the mindfulness to help fraud prevention at Ally Financial for years to come if hired for this role.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Based on a recent industry event that I attended a couple of months ago, criminals are really ramping up their approach to breaching facial and voice recognition software and I think that financial institutions that are using that technology need to ramp up their security measures even further. This doesn't surprise me though as throughout the advent of technology, the bad guys are often right behind and then jumping ahead of current technology. As a member of the ACFE, I find that I am able to stay on the forefront of our field to help my work here in the future with Ally Financial."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I think that hackers will continue to build upon their attempts to con people out of their personal information as more and more corporate mergers continue to occur into the future. These times see a lot of financial institutions with a need for consumers to reverify their information and criminals will continue to be at the forefront of trying to stay one step ahead of vulnerable consumers. While password protection is certainly important, our work as Fraud Analysts must continue to be diligent to be able to detect when a users identity is compromised."
8. One huge philosophy that we believe in at Ally Financial is professional development. How have you worked to develop yourself professionally throughout your career?
How to Answer
In an ever-changing field like financial services, Ally Financial knows that professional growth and development is vital to them staying at the forefront of their industry. For this question, your interviewer is looking to ensure that your values surrounding professional development match the values of the company. Use this question as an opportunity for you to highlight the many ways that you grow and develop yourself to be the best that you can be in your career. Highlight any continuing education you have completed, any societies or groups that you belong to and any publications that you read on a regular basis that will prove to your interviewer that you aren't comfortable being stagnant in your career.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I am a firm believer in being a life long learner in my work as a Data Analyst. As technology and times have changed over the course of time, I see it as very important to be learning and changing along with the times. Just over the past two years, the Data Fest and Data Summit national conferences and participation in these events on a yearly basis is super important to me to help me grow and develop."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In the financial field, I have to stay at the top of my game to compete with other advisors and keep clients happy and flourishing. To do this, I subscribe to and read many of the great publications that are out there. Some of my favorites include the Wall Street Journal, Money magazine and Forbes. I also subscribe to many others. As well, I am a member of NAIFA and I have attended the organization's Congressional Conference on a few occasions."
9. If hired to this role here at Ally Financial, what do you see as one initial hurdle you will have to overcome in your first weeks on the job?
How to Answer
At the heart of this question, your interviewer is asking you to take an honest look inside of yourself to discuss what you feel is the biggest learning curve you will have if offered this position. This will give your interviewer a sense of how to handle your onboarding process if hired for the position and give them a sense that you have the ability to see what your biggest need would be. Similar to the what is your greatest weakness question, the key to answering this question is humbly pointing out a flaw that you may see and making a plan for how you will overcome that flaw.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Having put a lot of thought into this even before submitting my resume for this position, I realize that my greatest hurdle would be making the leap as an Auditor into the financial focused industry. My five years of experience out of college have been focused on management and technical consulting services, but I feel that I've built a very good knowledge base and experience for this role here at Ally Financial. If given the opportunity to join your team, my initial focus would be to get enthralled in auditing in the financial industry and I'd do this by being attached at the hip to my colleagues and taking the time to talk one on one with a lot of other staff to help better understand what they'll expect of me in this role."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"Understanding that my role here at Ally Financial would have me working with the entire advisory staff, the first hurdle would be getting to know everyone on that team and showcasing the skills that I could bring to their work. If hired for the job, I would hope to be invited to team meetings where I could introduce myself and my role with the team and I'd invite an open conversation with the entire team."
10. What do you feel is one unique skill or trait that you could bring to the auditing team here at Ally Financial?
How to Answer
This question is your opportunity to set yourself apart from your competitions as it gives you an open door to match a skill or trait that you have with the exact details for this position. Prior to the interview, be sure to read and research as much as possible on the job and Ally Financial to find something unique about yourself that can help benefit the team. Whether you talk about a job skill or a personality trait that you possess that you feel sets you apart, be sure that you are able to talk about this confidently to your interviewer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Being comfortable in my skills and experiences as well qualified internal auditor, I am confident that my attention to detail is one trait that will set me apart from anyone else you are talking to about this position. I am a very organized person that keeps an orderly desk, email inbox and to do list. As well, I know that this position will require me to work with data that goes above and beyond the everyday life of your average auditor and my attention to the minute details will make me an asset to Ally Financial."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"If I was fortunate enough to join the team here at Ally Financial, my ability to work independently and make decisions on my own from the start would be a huge asset. You'll find that I don't let outside influence or others influence decisions that I'll make as your auditor and I won't let my own personal judgments influence any of my decisions. As well, I am comfortable working with all levels of an organization, from the C-Suite to the day to day operations staff."
11. Talk about your experiences working with both fellow Analysts and Accountants within your own firm and with external partners. How do you feel that you will be effective in working with our external candidates in this role here at Ally Financial?
How to Answer
While you are well aware that your career as a Risk Analyst in the financial industry involves many hours behind a desk and plugging away at a computer, Ally Financial will expect that you are an excellent team player with your fellow colleagues. On top of that, you will also have an expectation to be a face of the organization for external clients and stakeholders. While a very open ended question, make sure that you hit on your experiences in working as part of a larger team and explain the skills and personality traits that you'll bring to the table if hired at Ally Financial. Then, be sure to talk about your experiences working with clients and how you do so effectively.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"While I was drawn to a career as a Risk Analyst by my love of investigation and technical acumen, I am also a people person at heart. In my current role, I feel fortunate that I get to work with and communicate with all levels of my organization each day. If hired for this position here at Ally Financial, you'll quickly find that I am sharp, witty, knowledgeable and a great all around communicator. My excellent communication skills start with face-to-face verbal conversation but also extends to written skills as well."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"One of the big draws for me to this role with Ally Financial will be the ability to work closely with your clients to help them analyze their risk. In the roles that I've held as a Junior Risk Analyst up to this point in my career, my interpersonal relationships on the job have been with my colleagues, my Senior Analysts and other from my own organization. As you'll see from my letters of recommendation, I've been commended for my ability to effectively communicate risky situations in a clear, concise and understandable manner and I think the future clients I would work with here would benefit greatly from that ability."
12. If hired for this role with Ally Financial, how would you handle a large workload of clients working through a mortgage process.
How to Answer
At the heart of this question, your interviewer is looking to find out how you manage a busy workload by having you talk about your organization skills on the job. In your answer, talk about the skills you have and the tools that you use to stay organized and on-track while handling a large workload. Don't hesitate to talk about the software programs that you use and any other tactics that you use to ensure that all deadlines are met and no issues occur with clients because of too large of a workload. In the end, your interviewer wants to walk away from this question knowing that you'll be able to provide top notch service to the clients of Ally Financial.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"In my current role, I'm able to handle a very large workload with my ability to stay organized on the job. If you could take a tour of my office, you'd see that I maintain a neat and clean desk with a very organized file cabinet of my current workload. If I need to shift gears and move on to work with another client, I can easily access information on the fly and keep moving. I also utilize my Outlook calendar to set deadline reminders to stay on track of closing deadlines and paperwork requirements and the tasks function within the program helps me stay right on track with all of my clients I am working with at a given time."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"During my time working a large client load as a mortgage consultant, my success was due to my efficiency and organization on the job. If hired for this role with Ally Financial, my efficiency would be very high because of my experience with the entire mortgage loan closing process and my ability to handle certain challenges quickly with that experience. From there, my organizational skills within the loan process software I have experience with kick in to help me keep each client on track with their loan process."
13. This position at Ally Financial has generated a lot of interest from applicants. What do you feel is the one quality that sets you apart from others we are speaking with about this position?
How to Answer
This question is the perfect opportunity for you to highlight the one key quality that makes you the best person for this position, so be sure to really think about what this one quality is ahead of your interview. While there are many ways that you can take you answer to impress your interviewer and seal the deal for you in getting the job, be sure to avoid making assumptions about the other candidates in your answer. As well, be sure to avoid anything in your answer that points to this job being convenient for you personally or the fact that you'll be getting compensated for this work. Those are quick ways for you to go to the bottom of the candidate ranking list.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"As I've talked about during this interview process and from what you can see on my resume, I have all of the technical skills needed to grow your financial advising practice here at Ally Financial. What sets me apart from my competition is my drive to succeed in this industry and I'd love to bring that drive to Ally Financial to help working with your highest profile clients possible. Growing up and continuing to this point in my life, I've always been a very competitive person. I've played many team and individual sports my whole life and my drive to win in those has definitely carried over to and been a huge benefit in my work as a Financial Advisor. I'd love to bring this competitive spirit to your team."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"From what I understand about this role in Client Services with Ally Financial, my day to day work will include a lot of client interaction and I really feel like the job description was written with my skills and abilities in mind. But the thing that will really set me apart for being the perfect fit for this role is my experience on the sales side of things where I spent five years of my working career in the retail sales industry. In sales, I have developed key skills like product knowledge and selling skills that would be very beneficial to this role."
14. Customer service is the name of our game at Ally Financial. If hired for this role, how would you be able to provide the best customer service possible to our clients?
How to Answer
While following all of the steps of a mortgage process and handling client inquiries along the way is the foundation to success in this position, you will be relied on to provide the best customer service possible to all clients because the mortgage section at Ally Financial is just one small piece of the pie in their business. If a client feels like they weren't handled with respect and compassion, they could take all of their business elsewhere and see an impact financially because of it. To show that you can provide top-notch customer service in this role, talk about how you provide a personalized experience for the clients you work with and talk about the interpersonal skills you possess that make this possible.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"With any customer that I work with, I take the time to get to know them and listen to their thoughts, concerns and questions right from the start. I like to hold what I call an intake session to listen to all of these things. After hearing each customer out, I then talk about what I can do to alleviate their concerns and answer their questions right from the start. From that point forward, my customer service skills go the extra mile by staying in constant communication with my clients through either email or phone because I feel that over communication is important right from the start. As human, we have a desire to know what is happening all of the time and I make time to do this for my clients. Last, my customer service starts and ends with a positive attitude and a smile on my face. I take pride in being a front facing representative of my company and work my tail off to ensure that customers know that my company is there for them."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my experience, provide the best customer service comes down to doing the little things right. While often overlooked by some in our industry, a smiling face and simple conversations to get to know your customers can go a long way towards building a foundation for a great long-term relationship and I don't take these little things lightly. Even though I may be experiencing a huge workload or stress somewhere else on the job, I am focused and happy when I am face to face or on the phone with the client. At those times, they deserve 100% of my attention and focus and they get that every single time."
15. What is the most attractive thing in your eyes about this role with Ally Financial?
How to Answer
For this question, your interviewer is looking to gain insight into what you know and like about Ally Financial and how they will be able to help you meet your career goals. In your answer, try and stay focused on the alignment of your values with the organization's values and demonstrate that you've done your research on Ally Financial and the job you are interviewing for. To try and maintain positivity in your answer, try not to talk bad about a previous employer as that can make you sound like a difficult employee and raise a red flag for your interviewer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Over the past couple of years, I've had an eye on pursuing a career with Ally Financial because of your reputation as a forward moving financial institution and your commitment to the communities that you do business in. As a person that believes in togetherness and helping others out where possible, these are values that I hold very high and would bring to the team here."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"As I enter the midway point of my career, my job search has been focused on finding an employer that I can spend the rest of my career with and someday retire from. Looking at the history, culture and growth of Ally Financial, this is definitely a place that I'd love to be a part of as you continue to grow and prosper into the future."
16. Here at Ally Financial, we are expecting someone with strong leadership skills to take this role. How would you describe your management style?
How to Answer
Prior to your interview, try to take a long, hard look inside your skills and styles as a leader of others and prepare to present the best management style possible to your interviewer that fits the role that you are interviewing for with Ally Financial. Your answer should also involve solid research into the culture of Ally Financial and the details of the role you are interviewing for. Some important things to touch on are your ability to promote a team atmosphere and your ability to delegate responsibilities when necessary.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"My overall management style is the belief in building a positive team atmosphere. I'm a firm believer that each person and role brings a specific skill set to the ocverall goals and purpose of a team and I promote a team based atmosphere by larifying everyone's role on the team, keeping every person's objectives clear, rewarding great performers on the team and holding people accountable for their actions. If hired for this role at Ally Financial, you can be assured that my promotion of a team based atmosphere would help achieve even higher goals than you have set right now."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I think that it is crucial for a leader of others to be flexible in their style rather than relying on just one of the canned management styles. I'd like to highlight my abilities to lead as being a manager that works to grow and develop my staff to help them achieve their career goals and a leader who is able to provide direction and authority when the time for it arises. By knowing my team well and promoting our goals, I have the ability to assign work to the right people and follow through with my team on meeting all objective necessary."
17. Our auditing process here at Ally Financial is very detailed. Can you walk me through your typical audit workflow in your current role?
How to Answer
For this question, your interviewer will be looking to gain insight into a couple different areas that you would bring to their team. First, they'll be looking to see that you have a firm grasp of what a solid auditing process looks like. Next, they'll be looking to see that you have the ability to communicate in a manner that is effective with the people that you'll be working closely with. Last, they'll be looking to hear that you have the critical thinking skills that are necessary to succeed in an auditing role in the financial field. As you answer this question, try to check off all three boxes for your interviewer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"To aid in auditing processes, I created a very detailed audit planning document that my department has been using for the past four years and it has had a dramatic impact on our audit results. The planning document provides a step by step approach to outlining our objectives, clearly outlining documentation needed in identifying the stakeholders and setting a plan for meetings to take place. In this role with Ally Financial, I would look to use a similar approach. With the plan in place, I work side by side with the stakeholders in explaining the audit and what is needed from each person. I do communicate in many methods, including email, phone and in-person meetings when possible. My goal is ensuring that each individual understands the process and the end goal as clearly as they can."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"As a firm believer in a solid auditing software package, I currently utilize Onspring in my current role and couldn't be happier with its performance. This program details our ability to gather all financial documents in one central repository, walk through the steps necessary and planned for in our auditing process schedule necessary meetings, coordinate notes from my audit team and process final reports. If hired for this position at Ally Financial, do you have a software package that I would be working off of?"
18. Are you familiar with any of the financial fraud detection software that is being used today?
How to Answer
With today's technology available utilizing artificial intelligence, sophisticated algorithms and real time learning techniques, Fraud Analysts have many software programs available at their fingertips to help do their jobs effectively and efficiently. For this question, be sure that you have a solid base of knowledge surrounding the features and benefits of the programs that are available and tell your interviewer which ones you have experience with. As you answer, be sure to let your interviewer know that you are open and able to learn any program required out of this position at Ally Financial.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Over the last eight years working fraud prevention in the banking industry, I have worked on and attended many training seminars for programs like Q2, INETCO and bugurro and I have found myself to be very to learn and proficient in programs like these. Knowing that the difficult tasks of scouring through and patterning thousands of bank transactions per day can be solved with a program like these gives me a lot of confidence in my work to handle all of my other duties with confidence."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my current role as a Fraud Analyst in the online retail world, I work with a program called DetectR. I love that the program is cloud based and allows me to customize our parameters for fraud detection on the fly and allows me to chart notes within the program. Being very computer and software literate, you will find that I am able to learn any new programs in a short time and thrive within them if hired for this position here at Ally Financial."
19. In your work as a Portfolio Administrator, what kind events cause you the most stress on the job?
How to Answer
The high demands of a position as a Portfolio Manager or Administrator bring a lot of stress. Market volatility, greed, underperformance and tough clients can all contribute to a high level of stress in this field. For this question, your interviewer is looking to gain insight on how you handle these stress factors on the job by having you talk a bit about what types of things cause you stress. While you talk openly about what it is that causes you stress or discomfort, make sure that you also talk through how you handle that stress in a safe, healthy and good for business manner.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"While overall market volatility does stress out a lot of Portfolio Administrators, I have a very good way of explaining this volatility to my clients to the point where it doesn't stress me out. For me, any stress that I feel is usually put on me by myself in having very high expectations for my work with clients. To help alleviate this stress, I've learned over time that the goals and expectations that I put on my work have to be realistic and attainable when they sometimes weren't early on in my career."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In reality, our work as Portfolio Managers for our clients is almost like trying to do the impossible. We are relied upon to make sound decisions for clients based on insufficient information, all while trying to maintain confidence in our decisions. This in itself is a daily stressor on the job and one that I don't take lightly. To help myself with this daily stress, I've learned to accept mistakes as they happen, own up to them with clients and work hard to alleviate those mistakes to put my clients back in the best position possible."
20. How long will it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our team at Ally Financial?
How to Answer
If you were to be the successful candidate with Ally Financial, when do you expect to make a viable contribution to the organization? Talk to the interviewer about your plan to make a fast impact.
1st Answer Example
"I am interested in making an impact on your organization right away and have already crafted a plan to make that happen. I am a very strong business development professional and I plan to take the territory and expand it to include additional rural areas. This should amount to a strong increase in revenue within the first 9 months of my on boarding."
2nd Answer Example
"My plan, if hired by Ally Financial, is to make an impact as soon as possible. I have researched this position and am very eager so I have created a 90 day impact plan that I would like to share with you."
21. We are looking for the most motivated individuals to join the team here at Ally Financial. Where would you like your career to take you in the next five to ten years?
How to Answer
This common interview question put you in a tough spot where you should talk about your ultimate career goals while also balancing the needs of the position that you are interviewing for and the needs of Ally Financial. Prior to your interviewer, try to research the job and Ally Financial to the point where you can match your career goals with they Ally Financial offers. While your interviewer is looking for a long-term fit for the position they are interviewing you for, it is okay to set your sights higher as long as your goals meet that of the organization's goals. If at all possible during your answer, point out that long-term success with Ally Financial is vitally important to you.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Now that I am to the midway point of my career, I am looking for my next move to be my final move in finding my work home until I retire. As a successful Financial Advisor today, I want to focus on continuing to grow my skills in advising clients on retirement and private wealth management and it sounds like I'll have that opportunity here at Ally Financial. As I continue to grow in my skills and prove my worth to you, a long-term career goal is to be in management where I could oversee the work of Junior Advisors and mentor them towards success."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"A career in risk analysis has been a dream for some time and this opportunity with Ally Financial is really my dream job. If hired here, my goal for the next five to ten years would be to continue to hone my skills and help the work of the department to a point where it is growing and becoming more effective. Down the road, I'm really in a position to be an open book when it comes to where my career with Ally Financial would go from there."
22. In this role with Ally Financial, your communication with clients may not always be pleasant conversations. How do you handle tough conversations regarding insurance claims?
How to Answer
The world of insurance claims and adjusting often entails working with clients through a very difficult time and the job can require your ability to have difficult conversations with clients. For this question, talk about the importance of up front and direct communications while taking an empathetic approach. As well, talk about your ability to make your conversations relatable to clients so they understand what is happening, how this will impact them moving forward and how their concerns get alleviated in the process. In the end, make sure that your interviewer walks away knowing that you are comfortable in these situations and, if possible, don't hesitate to use real world experience you have as an example in your answer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Having been in the auto insurance adjustment field for many years, I have worked with many upset customers over time and feel I have a very good approach in working with them. Following an accident, customers often have irrational expectations for how claims should get paid that don't follow their plan. To help clear up this information for the customer from the start, I take the time to explain what their policy entails and how the claims process works. If clients still remain upset, I listen to their concerns and do my best to alleviate those concerns. This approach worked really well recently with a father whose daughter was in a collision with a deer. I explained the comprehensive coverage section of the policy and that he had opted for a higher deductible for that coverage. While he didn't understand how that worked, I took the time to explain how I would assess the damage and coordinate repair with his body shop of choice while he would hold responsibility for his deductible. This conversation helped put him at ease."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"Recently, I had to have a conversation with a customer that was considered at fault for a pretty major accident where his liability coverage would likely hit the maximum. From the start of the conversation over the phone, he was still debating his fault in the accident. I let him proceed with explaining his thoughts and concerns. When he finished, I took an empathetic approach in letting him know that while I understood his concerns, my role had to factor in what the police report had determined and that I had no other choice but to use the report in my handling of the claim. Once the customer heard my side, he was much easier to work with and speak to. In this instance, my calm demeanor and my ability to calmly explain my role in the process helped turn a potentially ugly situation into a good working relationship moving forward."
23. If you joined the team here at Ally Financial, how would you build relationships with those that you would be working closely with?
How to Answer
For this question, your interviewer will be looking to get the sense that you would be proactive about getting to know your colleagues and fitting into the culture of the organization. Use a personal approach to talk about ways that you have done this in the past and how you would do it if hired for this position. Talk about the importance of relationship building in your line of work and how it helps the overall good of the organization if you take the initiative to do this.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"From my first day on the job, I would take the time to break the ice with my colleagues by introducing myself and setting up an individual meeting with each person. In the past, I've done these meetings over lunch or in an office where I've had questions prepared for me to get to know the person both personally and professionally. I want to ask my colleagues what they expect from me and what I can expect from them. I've found that these conversations really help to open up doors for working with each other moving forward."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"Being the new person on the job can be a very high anxiety time for some people, but I love the opportunity to break the ice with my coworkers by making that first contact. I think it's important to get to know each other on a personal level because we spend so much of our lives together in the workplace and I am a caring person that wants to know how last night's soccer game went for the kids. Beyond that first ice breaking conversation, my work relationships are then bonded through my work ethic and helping others on my team to show that I am a true team player."
24. How do you believe your coworkers would describe you?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know how you are seen by your colleagues. Select approximately three words that truly define who you are. Be sure to choose words that radiate positive thoughts!
1st Answer Example
"I believe that my coworkers, if asked, would describe me as a reliable person who is always ready to submit the best work possible. My work ethic has never been questioned, and I am very proud with the work that I have submitted in my career, so far."
2nd Answer Example
"Here are some other great keywords you could use:
- Encouraging
- Caring
- Knowledgeable
- Reliable
- Focused
- Honest
- Assertive
- Tenacious
- Motivated
- Ambitions
- Conscientious"
25. At Ally Financial, our clients are the lifeblood of our business and we do everything in our power to make them happy. What does the term customer service mean to you in your work?
How to Answer
No matter what position you are interviewing for at Ally Financial, your interviewer is looking to hear what customer service means to you in your work and how you apply that philosophy in your everyday work life. In essence, they want to hear your story as to why solid customer service is important to you. Prior to your interviewer, be sure to really think about this question to apply what is important to you in how you go about your work. Whether you talk about problem solving or making people happy, this should be reflected in the work that you do.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"A pursuit of a career in the financial field really suited my two passions in life of mathematics and problem solving. In this role, helping clients solve problems in an efficient manner and with a smile on my face would be the drive to succeed that I need. At the end of the day, if I see that my work helped a client grow their wealth and achieve their financial goals, I know that it was a job well done."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"As a people person by nature, I have an innate ability to do what is needed to give customers the best experience possible when I'm working with them. This means that I reflectively listen to their needs and concerns and do what is necessary to help them based on what I heard. In my interactions with customers, I am positive, pleasant and nurturing by nature and I've found that customers are very receptive to my style off communication with them. If hired for this role at Ally Financial, you'll quickly find that dedicated customer service is one of top qualities that I will bring to you team."
26. Every employee with Ally Financial is expected to be sales-minded and target driven. Walk me through your experience in sales based roles.
How to Answer
Briefly take the interviewer through your sales based work history. Be sure to highlight your best results. This is where it is very important to know your sales numbers before walking into your interview.
1st Answer Example
"I have been in a sales based role for the past 10 years. With Company A, my best year I finished 125% to quota. With Company B, I began from the ground up and left with a portfolio of business worth $$$. In my last position, with Company C, I was the top grossing financial services employee in our branch at 167% to target."
2nd Answer Example
"At this point in my career I do not have a lot of financial sales related experience; however, I am well versed in a variety of business development and cold calling techniques. I fully understand how to build a sales pipeline and see the importance of building a referrals based business."
27. In this role as a Risk Analyst with Ally Financial, you will be expected to be the expert on changes in financial regulations that impact our business. How do you keep yourself up to speed on these changes currently?
How to Answer
In a rapidly changing field like finance, you are expected to keep up with the changes at the snap of a finger and to gauge your ability to do this, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you will have the resources needed. Talk about the groups or publications that you belong to where you get imperative news on the field. If possible, use an example of a time where you shed light to your organization on a new risk from one of those publications. As well, don't hesitate to mention that you enjoy reading and learning new things in the field.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I have been a CFA member for over five years now and I really look forward to the quarterly CFA Digest publication, the CFA Magazine and their news brief email that comes out daily . I find these are great resources that cover things ranging from daily news that impacts our work lives to very big picture studies and findings as published in the digest. If hired for this role, I would continue to be an active CFA member and would continue to utilize their resources for my work."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"As a risk professional, I have been a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals for many years. I have been certified by the association for Financial Risk Management and I try to attend their national conference every year to network and learn from other professionals. The FRM group has enable me to keep on the forefront of changes in the financial management that impacts risk on an almost daily basis and the group helps me live and breath financial risk every day."
28. What is your familiarity with debt-to-equity ratios and what would you consider a good debt-to-equity ratio?
How to Answer
For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you understand the basics of calculating a debt-to-equity ratio and why it is used. In your answer, be sure that you talk about the ratiosd importance in considering debt financing. As well, if you have familiarity with ifferent industries and what is considered a reasonable ratio for each industry, be sure to talk about that as well because what is considered reasonable can differ widely between industries.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I am very familiar with debt-to-equity ratio calculations and know that ratios lower than 1.0 are desired to consider a firm financially stable. When I've worked with ratios exceeding 1.0, I've provided further examinations of the industry and the organizations stance within the industry to further determine their overall risk to hopefully provide a win-win situation."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 10th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"Simply put, the debt-to-equity ratio is found with two easy figures found on a company's balance sheet: their total liabilities and shareholder equity. Swaying away from the norm, I know that the financial and banking industries often have to consider debt-to-equity ratios higher than 2.0 to be common and acceptable due to the large amounts of loaned money and high financial leverage by those institutions. "