How to Answer: Tell us about the most difficult career-related decision you had to make in the past.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Bank of America job interview.
3. Tell us about the most difficult career-related decision you had to make in the past.
The Goal
The hiring managers at Bank of America want to know how you approach complex decisions. The goal of your response is to showcase your strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 24th, 2022
Pro Tip
One common mistake that interviewees make is to give a highly personal response. This question is not the time to talk about the hardest personal decision you've ever made. Be sure to keep your answer career-focused and related to the job opportunity at Bank of America.
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 24th, 2022
How to Answer
Use a career-related example, such as changing majors in university, moving on from a job that wasn't healthy for you, selling your business and re-entering the traditional workforce, relocating to a new city for better work opportunities, or even starting a new professional venture.
Be sure to highlight how you approached the decision and take the hiring managers through your critical thinking and decision-making process. You should also include details of how/why your decision worked out for the best. At the end of your response, remember to connect your critical thinking skills and how they will benefit Bank of America should they hire you.
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 24th, 2022
What You Need to Know
In your Bank of America HireVue interview, you may be given interview questions in the form of text or the form of a pre-recorded video by a Bank of America hiring manager. The average HireVue interview takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. This one-way video interview typically includes 3-5 questions. Depending on the parameters set by Bank of America, the HireVue platform will generally give you 30 seconds to prepare a response and up to 2 minutes to answer each question. It's important to note that HireVue stops recording as soon as your time limit is up, so it's better to run under time than overtime.
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 24th, 2022
Answer Example
"(Situation) Choosing my major was one of the toughest career decisions I've made. (Task) I was on the fence between focusing on B2B Marketing or Consumer Behavior and Analytics. (Action) After some contemplation, research, and interviewing alumni of both programs, I decided on B2B Marketing. (Result) Today, I am thankful that I made that choice. B2B strategies in the finance industry are changing fast, and I love to learn new ways to position my clients in this incredibly competitive and turbulent marketplace. My education and knowledge will help ensure that I support Bank of America's core value, 'Act Responsibly.' My business and marketing education gave me the foundation required to work with my colleagues to deliver the best of the firm to every client. I understand how to listen to what the client is saying and then generate fair and responsible solutions that meet their needs."
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 24th, 2022
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
Marcie's Feedback
Anonymous Answer
As I approached the end of my undergraduate studies in mathematics, I was confronted with a significant career decision: choosing between a Master's in Theoretical Mathematics, with a focus on probability and statistics, or venturing into Applied Mathematics and Quantitative Finance.
Task
This decision was crucial as it would shape my academic and professional trajectory. I needed to find a balance between my interest in theoretical concepts and my desire to apply these concepts in practical scenarios.
Action
To make an informed choice, I engaged in detailed research and discussions with professionals and academics in both fields. These insights, coupled with my reflections on where my passion and career goals intersect, led me to choose Quantitative Finance. It presented an appealing mix of theoretical mathematics and its real-world applications, especially in explaining complex financial phenomena.
Result
Choosing Quantitative Finance has been incredibly rewarding. It allowed me to deepen my understanding of mathematics while also gaining practical skills relevant to the financial industry. This decision has prepared me well for a role as a Quantitative Analyst, where I can leverage both theoretical knowledge and practical insights."
Jaymie's Feedback