What are your hobbies?

"Something interesting about myself is that I've built a few cars in my garage. The last one I built a few years ago was a Model-T Ford that I tricked out and installed a hybrid engine in. It's a great car and a fun project. It took me about 6 months to complete. Here's a picture... I am a project management nerd. I like coming up with methods to do those things that seem like they can't be done. If it seems like it can't be done, I start to geek out and chart a course on making the impossible possible."

Your resume and cover letter got you this far. Now your interviewers want to know more about you. Your answer will clue them in to your passions, hobbies, and your job-centric interests.

Use this as a chance to volunteer something that makes you more interesting and creates a memorable connection between you and your interviewer. The more successful you are at this, the more memorable you'll be when it comes to decision time.

What culture are you looking for?

"I want to work in a culture that is built on empathy, understanding, and treats every client and team member with dignity and respect. This is what attracted me to compete for this opportunity. BofA exhibits the awareness that their decisions and actions affect lives every day. They believe in making decisions that are clear, fair, and grounded in the principles of shared success, responsible citizenship, and community building, striving to help everyone reach their full potential, and putting into practice their understanding that diverse backgrounds and experiences make them stronger. They respect every individual and value our differences in thought, style, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, culture, age, ability, and experience. That sounds like a culture I feel as if I, according to my nature, am already a part of."

Anyone bringing on a new employee wants to ensure they'll fit into the culture of their work environment and that they'll complement and work well with the rest of their team. This question offers you an opportunity to reveal your reasons for pursuing this opportunity to work for them. It could also offer a glimpse into how determined you are with your career pursuits.

Exhibit that you've imagined yourself in the role by detailing what interests you the most about working with them. Reveal your interest in the position as well as how you feel working for them would benefit your future and career. Be vested, but not presumptuous. Showcase your knowledge and the thorough research you performed. Be sure to incorporate their language into your own. Answer with sincerity in a manner according to your nature.

Why do you want to get into finance, given its massive unpopularity and its issues with inequality?

"This feels like a pretty relevant question! Didn't Bank of America just announce it increased its $1 billion, four-year commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity to $1.25 billion over five years? That's amazing! So, considering the opportunities BofA makes, putting their money where their mouth is...I want to work for them!"

They are curious if this political issue is a motivator when it comes to your work. They are also curious how much you know about BofA in this regard and whether you stay up-to-date on industry-related news and changes.

Do your research. Learn everything and everything about the history of the company and recent news.

What are your biggest flaws?

"I can be hard on myself. This often comes up in my reviews. Even the toughest bosses I've had said they don't push me too hard because they know I'm pushing myself harder than they ever would. In the past, this caused me to trip myself up, but I've gotten better."

Be sure to keep your answers consistent. How you answer this question will give the interviewer insight into your self-awareness and how you identify your weaknesses and growth opportunities.

Frame your greatest weakness as an asset in its own right. Being a perfectionist can be a weakness. Sometimes, it can be difficult to let go and decide when good enough is enough. At the same time, this quality can be seen as a benefit to a company.

Tell me about yourself.

"I grew up in a small Old West mountain town, which is now an artist's community in Arizona. It's an old "ghost town" called Jerome. The old Nineteenth Century bank--with its vault intact--is still there, and long ago it was modified into a home and that's the house I grew up in. My mom was an accountant, and like her, I always had an affinity for numbers, which eventually led to choosing the course load I did in college..."

The BofA Internship is a very competitive opportunity, and as they scout for viable candidates, they want to get to know you first. They want to know if you have a strong character, are communicative, competent, and have the analytic abilities required for the role. Gaining insights into your personality will help them determine if you are a qualified candidate for this opportunity.

Introduce yourself by divulging your interests, views, and values. Share the basics of who you are, why you are here, where you come from, and where you're going. Describe how the experiences of your life influenced your self-awareness, growth, and continuous development. Emotional maturity, ambition, conscientiousness, and integrity are some of the driving components they're hoping to hear from a candidate. Try not to dwell on the hardships and hurdles you've overcome. Focus on the positive takeaways from your experiences and how they helped shape your character.

Do you like working in a team environment or on an individual basis?

"I'm a true believer in the leveling principles of balance. I'd say I have a firm foot planted in both worlds. We all have days, depending on our needs, where we are more focused on team collaboration and the social elements it offers, and there are other times where a singular focus is required for the task on hand. But putting the needs of the work involved aside, I'd definitely say I am both interpersonal and analytical."

This is another common behavioral question aimed at determining where you fall on the scale of being an extrovert versus an introvert. For some, an analytical approach is more of a singularly focused task, whereas interpersonal is more collaborative and team-oriented. Ideally, you'll want to strike a balance with both. The goal would be someone with analytical skills who also has an interpersonal approach.

Don't choose one or the other unless that is truly the case, which it rarely is. Put self-evaluative thought into your answer rather than trying to hurry through it. Having both analytical skills and interpersonal skills will reveal some of the resources you might refer to when trying to solve complicated problems that fall outside of your comfort zone or your range of experience.

What was your biggest accomplishment?

"It may sound corny, but sitting here in this interview with you? The fact that we are here right now means that I have achieved all the goals required in my five-year plan to have gotten me to this point in time. I've never reached this point before, so in all honesty, this is my greatest achievement to date from a big picture point of view."

This question aims to evaluate what you consider "putting in your all" and the level at which you are an overachiever. It will also serve to clue them in to your goals and what motivates your work. These will enable them to compare you to the other applicants in the interview pool.

Even if your example is on your resume, feel free to use it and explain why your accomplishment stands out. Detail everything that went into it and how this falls in line with the career milestones you want to meet. Whether your accomplishment is great or small, they want individuals who are engaged with enthusiasm to make a lasting impact.

What are 5 of your core values?

"Integrity, treating others regardless of their background with equality and respect. Communication, ensuring all parties are understood and approached with empathy. Responsibility, where everyone holds themselves accountable so no one else has to. Trust, where everyone can depend on one another to be clear and transparent at all times. And teamwork. Innovation flourishes with the collaboration of a diverse team where every voice is heard."

By learning your core values, the interviewers can better gauge how well you'll fit in with their team and how closely your core values align with theirs. The interviewers are seeking to see whether or not you are a match for their team.

Spend time researching the company's core values and spend time creating core values of your own that align with theirs. Go beyond coming up with similar core values and choose those which truly resonate with the makeup of your character.

Why do you want to work with our team?

"In part, one of the things that enticed me to compete for this position is how Bank of America is all about making connections and driving global growth responsibly. By delivering their values together, acting responsibly, realizing the power of their people, and trusting their teams, they are able to drive sustainable growth."

The interviewer is curious how above and beyond you've gone in researching the position, and how well you've paid attention. They want to know if you know what sets you apart from the other candidates competing for this opportunity.

Go into what you contributed to your teams, and what you'd uniquely offer them. Think about your successes, the positive energy you'd bring, and the positive comments your coworkers have mentioned about you in the past. Speak well, make relaxed eye contact, and posture yourself with positive, engaging, and confident body language.

How do you define success for yourself?

"I consider myself a successful person. I set goals for myself and I meet those goals. When I'm not setting goals, I gauge my success based on how adaptable I am to changing course or improving my expectations and then redefine my goals to ensure I meet them. Every failure is a growth opportunity. Regarding all my big picture goals, I take what I learn from my setbacks and apply those lessons toward moving forward. The only true failure is quitting--and I'm not a quitter. "

They want to know what success means to you. They are trying to determine whether you evaluate success as your own personal success, the success of your team, or something bigger, like developing a vaccine. All three should come into play in your answer.

Tell the interviewer how you evaluate success. Weave your answer into the success you plan to bring with you to your next role.

What are your short term and long-term goals?

"Thank you for asking. I just revisited my five-year career goals, which I do once every year or two, depending on how far along I am with my goals. For the next two years, I've set some pretty aggressive milestones for myself. I like thinking of myself as a cartographer of my own future. The nearest destination on my map of the future is learning and picking up new skills and experiences with a company whose goals and values align with my own. Once I've completed my training in that position, I hope to be growing within that organization, being mentored and accelerated toward our mutual goals. I have some charts with me that detail my plan if you'd like me to share..?"

How you answer this question will offer insight into the level of your ambition, offer clues to where you want to take your career, and show the interviewer how well your goals align with what they offer. It'll also reveal how familiar you are with BofA, how familiar you are with the position, and how your future aligns with the opportunities their internship will provide.

One's self-development should be as never-ending as one's determination. Perhaps you've heard a person can drive from coast to coast in the dark, only seeing as far as one's headlamps allow. This analogy suggests one can surmount seemingly unachievable goals by breaking them up into smaller, more easily attainable goals. With a career mindset, one way a person can go about this is by putting together a five-year career plan. If you haven't already put together a couple of five-year career plans, start with creating one starting from your college experience. Next, determine where you currently stand on your trajectory of that plan and build out another five-year plan from there. Following this exercise, you should be able to revise your five-year career plan every year, determining where you are on that map, and building again from there. This way, you can adjust and correct your itinerary accordingly. You'd be surprised how doing so will aid in you your interviews.

Describe me (the interviewer) in 3 words.

"Patient, systematic, and skilled."

This tests your interpersonal skills, your communication skills, and how broadly your sense of a team mentality goes. Remember, the interviewer works for the company you are vying to work for as well. So, potentially, they are also a member of that team.

You want to use words that resonate with the interviewer. So, write down a variety of industry-related terms that positively reflect their professionalism.

Talk about a time you have had to teach your boss something.

"I was working with a team leader that was spearheading a project of their own making. They had several suggestions for a way of going about executing a workplace policy to expedite some practices. They pitched it, and our management liked their suggestion and assigned the task of implementing these ideas into practice. I was selected by management to join their team. I was the only person assigned and not chosen by the person leading the project. I suspect this made them a little insecure, as they shot down all my ideas and were defensive from the start. I had several suggestions based on my analytics that I deemed necessary to help them succeed. But they refused to give me an audience. So, I created a project proposal where I drafted these suggestions in a document, breaking down the pros and cons of my suggestions, and thoroughly arguing what I thought were the benefits of these considerations. I made three copies and saved them. I later found the draft in their trash bin. This was disappointing, and I found myself simply assigned reports and presentations for the project leader. Basically, I was assigned tasks that wasted my skills. At the end of the project, they presented all their materials to management, who asked them why they hadn't covered X, Y, and Z, which were all the points I covered in my draft. They didn't have the answers. Then management pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and said they found my project proposal in the trash and asked if they'd read it, and why they threw it away. It was an uncomfortable moment. I took every avenue I could to help them, having anticipated this. The person accused me of throwing them under the bus, but when it was confirmed I hadn't by another employee who was present when the manager recovered my project proposal, which I wasn't present for, this person later apologized and asked for my help with the project moving forward. I had no interest ever in hurting them or impeding their chances of success in any way. In the end, I was just happy to teach them my approach and help their success in any way I could."

The core of the phrasing of this question revolves around communication. So, this is about how you successfully communicate your vision in an effective way that persuades others to share your vision towards innovation and positive change.

Details are far less important than the presentation of analytical ability and strategic thought. So, take this into consideration when communicating your answer to the interviewer with the aim of fully illustrating your point of view.

How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting but most of your co-workers shot it down?

"I used to experience that early on in my career--feeling like I wasn't recognized for my contributions. But, now I realize if I want to be heard out, it's up to me to communicate my vision and be assertive in my efforts to be heard out. This way, I ensure whatever I bring to the table is my best and communicated to the best of my ability. I can't blame others for not sharing my vision when I'm incapable of illustrating that vision. If it gets shelved, I learn what I can from the experience and move on. Often, the sheer feeling of rejection is the only setback because that feeling can paralyze you and keep you from moving forward. I like to think I'm past that, but everyone thinks they're ready until they're not. Who knows what the future holds?"

The interviewer is interested in hearing whether your unacknowledged contributions match the kind of innovation they are looking for in their candidates. Additionally, how you dealt with past rejections will offer clues to your communication and conduct moving forward.

When providing your answer, ensure you appropriately present the backdrop of the situation you're presenting. This simple question can open the door to a wide variety of complex answers, from what you consider an achievement to how you'd define a lack of recognition or acknowledgment.

How does a bank make money?

"Well, there are countless ways a bank generates revenue, from service charges to a variety of fees depending on the products. Then there's money from debt interest from either secured or unsecured loans. But the system is intricately nuanced. As they say, you can't make money without spending money. And when you have money, there are countless ways to let your money make you more money."

This question tests your industry knowledge and your active interest in this opportunity. This will help them tease apart whether you are fully vested in this interview, if you are avidly pursuing this opportunity, or if you are luke-warm and playing the numbers in trying to land something while you figure out your next move.

Again, prepare for your interview in advance. The trick to delivering a great interview is coming off well-versed in the job as opposed to rehearsed. You want to give the impression that you are knowledgeable and ahead of the curve.

Are you able to regulate your emotions to do your job effectively?

"I think it is important to have mastery over one's emotions to effectively get any work done. Being mature and emotionally grounded is something I pride myself on. I'm more of an observer, an active listener, and a responder rather than someone who is reactionary. So, yes, I consider myself quite capable of regulating my emotions while putting my all in."

One method of performance evaluation is determining how you adapt to change, how you perform in a high-stress work environment, and how you stay flexible when faced with unique challenges. Your interviewer wants to know if you can face these challenges with emotional maturity, confidence, and poise, or whether your reactions would be a detriment to the department or the developing situation.

They'll want to hear an example of when you put your skills to the test. Try to keep your answer relevant to the role for which you're applying. Ultimately, convey an ability to stay cool and collected, even in the most stressful situations.

What do you know about the company?

"I'm very interested in working for a company where I feel like what I am doing matters. It seems as if Bank of America's program is just that kind of opportunity. A lot of people shape their career goals by chasing after a title and a role with a predictable high-dollar salary. Everyone is interested in a good paycheck, but that won't grant you happiness. I'm more so interested in performing rewarding work where I am making an impact. Whether that impact is great or small, only time will tell. But I am interested in working for BofA because of what I've learned about the company. But if you are interested in more, as in the history of the company from its first iteration in 1774 to its current form today, I am happy to divulge more."

The interviewer wants to ensure you've done your research on the company and exhibit the drive and ambition they are looking for in a candidate who wants to work with them. They're not interested in working with someone who just wants a job. They want to hire someone who exhibits an ability to go above and beyond to compete for the opportunity to work with them.

Perform research on the company and learn its mission statement and core values. Learn as much as you can about their internship program and why they offer it. Discover what they are offering and what they expect in return. Do everything you can to fit the mold.

Tell us about a time you excelled in a team setting?

"Our company had an 'opportunity buy' for a great product. This was a one-time featured product. It was our aim to push this item and boost our sales company-wide. The product was underperforming. I stepped in and identified a missed opportunity in the display and branding of this item. So, our team had fun in reinventing the display and incorporating our branding into our signage. To our elation, and as a result of our actions, our location sold out. Soon, we requested more of the product from our other stores. At first, they were happy to unload it until they studied what we were doing and borrowed our methods. Within a week, the item was out of stock and we gained the attention of our regional manager, who expressed gratitude for our hard work."

This question delves into your concept of teamwork. Teamwork is an important aspect of this role, as it is in any work environment.

There is a saying that attitude is more important than facts, the past, a person's education, money, circumstances, failures, and successes. It is also more important than what other people think, say, or do. It's more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. And that it will make or break a company or home. The only thing we can do is play the one thing we have, and that's our attitude. In a team environment, the right attitude can go a long way. Focus on the collaboration involved in teamwork. The old adage, "There is no 'I' in 'team'" should be driven home in your answer. Treating the members of your teams with dignity and respect, and recognizing and rewarding their efforts is paramount.

Please describe what we do.

"Bank of America is the 2nd largest bank in the U.S. and happens to be the 8th largest bank in the world. BofA is one of the Big 4 banking institutions of the U.S., serving approximately 11% of all U.S.A. deposits. BofA's main services center around investment banking, commercial banking, and wealth management."

The interviewer is again testing your background knowledge of their institution. This will again help them gauge your ambition and how seriously you take this opportunity.

Do your homework. Learn everything and anything you can before the interview. This is a competition, and you don't get to see the other contestants nor will you have any idea how well you are comparatively performing. So put your all in.

Tell me about your time management skills.

"The first greatest achievement of the human race was discovering and being able to control fire, the first innovation. So, I like to imagine that every goal is the spark of an idea set in motion. Every goal generates work, and some are closer and burn more brightly than others. So, I like to think that I am harnessing the power of fire, innovation, and ideas. Whichever burns the brightest and closest needs to be tended to first, then the next brightest. This is how I manage my time as well-- by meticulously tracking my progress on any given task and being able to shelf it based on the greater need and time constraints of the more pressing task. I am also a great estimator of time and all the steps of any given task, whether it is broken into smaller, more attainable goals or not. So, I look at task management through this lens. I look at everything that needs tending to and evaluate which is burning brightest and prioritize accordingly.

This will help them assess your approach to your work. Being singularly focused is a strength, so long as you're able to shift gears and exhibit flexibility when the need arises.

Talk about the tools and resources you use to plan your work, manage your time, and stay organized on the job. Exhibit your consideration for exploring what standards are used to prioritize work and an ability to assess the timing, commercial importance, and positive externalities of other priorities. Additionally, convey your ability to follow the chain of command and know when to tap into the resources on the job.

How do you keep up-to-date on industries that you are interested in?

"Reading and research. It's all about asking questions. The more I know, the more I realize how little I understand. It's that common thirst for knowledge. So, whether it's research or reading the periodicals I follow, I'm always actively learning with genuine interest. This leads to an eagerness to share. Any time I share something, I stand the potential to learn something new when someone reciprocates and shares something I wasn't aware of. So, answering your question, I stay up-to-date every which way I can."

This question is often used to determine how serious or passionate you are about your career. They want to know if you can talk the talk and walk the walk. They want to know if you pursued this career or just fell into it. It will also offer you an opportunity to show off your knowledge of the industry and how up-to-date you are.

Industries are rapidly changing and innovating. A proactive candidate who keeps up with industry changes and macro trends. Therefore, it's important to demonstrate yourself as a proactive worker rather than a reactive follower. You want to exhibit a growth mindset at all times. If you take advantage of learning through continuing education credits, seminars, conferences, journals, and any other means of staying educated in your line of work, let them know.

How do you think you can add value to our organization?

"I am all about systems implementation. I'm that person who strives to deliver above and beyond quality in my work, then implement procedures that increase quantity without sacrificing quality. So, whenever I finish my onboarding, I get started on analyzing what I've learned and identify methods to improve my workflow and productivity. Once I feel I've done so, I'll share my method with anyone who is interested. In my last job, this led to several improved systems in the entire department, which increased our department's productivity threefold."

What they're looking for is a convincing sales pitch. This is an opportunity to align your values and motivators with the work culture of their brand. Coming across as overly confident could make you seem arrogant, whereas being too humble can make you seem insecure or underqualified.

If you have an unparalleled skill set that proves you are an asset, don't leave that on the table. Offer insights as to how grounded and well-rounded you are. The qualifications of the other candidates they're interviewing will remain as much of a mystery to you as how their interview performances compare to yours. Therefore, there's no point in competing with them when you deliver your answer. The only thing you have to go on is your own merits. If your noteworthy merits have contributed to your past employers, sing your own laurels by detailing how. The more tangibles you can deliver, the better.

Walk me through your resume.

"Well, starting with my most recent employ and moving backward, as you can see, I rose through the ranks in my department, but I didn't do that on my own. My team was the best team one could hope for..."

They've looked over your resume and researched you online. Now they're giving you the opportunity to go deeper with your resume and see how you might highlight your experiences in ways that don't translate on paper. Listing your employment history, hard skills and responsibilities and accomplishments got you the interview. Now, by delving deeper into your work history, you can introduce the soft interpersonal skills you possess and add a human touch to your skills and experience. The resume is an outline of your work history. This is your chance to tell your whole story.

Avoid listing items on your resume that they can already see. Discuss your working relationships and how you contributed in other ways to your team by highlighting the relationships you built at work.

What skills do you have that we need?

"I have a pretty great attitude, regardless of the work I perform. I have a proven track record of motivating those working around me. I am the team's cheerleader, an enemy to none, and a friend to all. That combined with my hard skills and on-the-job training and leadership skills make me a desirable candidate. For me, it all comes down to really shining when you are representing the culture of your brand. If morale is high, and everyone enjoys coming to work and what they do, it reflects in the energy they exude. That's the value I'd bring. Positivity--which enhances any organization in more ways than be counted."

The BofA Internship is a very competitive opportunity. As they scout for viable candidates before any decisions can be made, they'll need to get to know you first. Gaining insights into your skills will help them determine if you are a good fit for this opportunity.

Emotional maturity, ambition, self-growth, conscientiousness, and integrity are some of the driving components they're hoping to hear from their candidates. Focus on the soft interpersonal skills that weren't laid out on your resume.

Who is one current leader you look up to and why?

"Tim Cook. He puts his money where his mouth is and actually follows through on his promises when it comes to protecting people's privacy. Also, they didn't rush to put out an inferior product at the beginning of the AI personal assistant race. Instead, they focused their AI development in other ways before improving upon Siri, which, in my opinion, finally outruns their competition. Not to mention, how their AirPod Pros are outstanding as hearing aids for low-to-moderate hearing loss. You can get a pair for $300 or less, which is far more affordable than the $3000+ hearing aids that monopolize the market. Not to mention, AirPod Pros can do a heck of a lot more than your typical hearing aids are capable of. All of this exhibits the highest integrity I think you can find in a powerful industry leader today."

A candidate's role model, or figure of inspiration, will offer a glimpse into their personality, philosophy, and approach to life and work. They'll examine the examples you offer and consider how well you'd work with one of their leaders. This may also help them pair you with the type of leader who best matches an applicant's inspiration, based on ideals, and help that leader better serve as a role model through your experience.

Inspirational people motivate us to keep going when we feel like giving up. They're passionate and driven, accomplishing goals that seem impossible and starting new ventures with new ideas that change the way we view the world. Your life's inspiration can come from a book, a mentor, your family, a celebrity, an author--anyone! Talk to the interviewer about who has inspired your life and why. Be relatable and try to inspire conversation. How well you get along with your interviewer will also offer insights into how well you will get along with the mentor they place you with.

Provide an example when you utilized your leadership skills.

"A supervisor had to leave for medical reasons. They needed someone to lead the project they'd been working on. I'd been their righthand clutch player on this project, so I asked the supervisor if I could take over steering the ship. They agreed and I started by holding a meeting, explaining why I was taking over, and asking every team member what questions they had regarding the work they each had to do. From there, we clarified where we were taking the project, what it was important, how this work would impact other departments, and how each of their tasks fit into the puzzle. It turned out most of this was news to them, and my supervisor had only been sharing this information with me and not the rest of the team. I needed every one of them to be my clutch players, and they performed well. With this deeper understanding, they all took greater pride in their work and were invested in what they were doing. We delivered ahead of our deadline and the project was a success."

Your interviewer is interested to know if you have a propensity towards leadership or a reluctance to lead. Some personalities feel as if they are born to lead, and others may learn to. They are trying to assess where you fall on this scale as well as your interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

Before choosing your example, consider how you'd present your leadership skills or talents. Contemplate what leadership looks like to you, framed by leaders you admire. Consider what "rising to the occasion" looks like. Give yourself credit for your leadership by acknowledging the accomplishments of your team under your direction. Provide examples where you expanded the sphere of your comfort zone, striving to be the best version of yourself that you can be.

What would you do if the work of a subordinate or team member was not up to expectations?

"I had a co-worker who seemed to be struggling. They seemed sleep-deprived, and their attention to detail wasn't what it once was. I tried to talk to them about it, but they weren't forthcoming about what was going on. I reviewed their work, just to help them out, and fixed a lot of mistakes. It got so bad that I decided it was time to bring it to the attention of my supervisor. They pulled us both outside and gave me a chance to speak first. It turns out they had some pretty serious health issues. They didn't want to miss work because they needed to maintain their hours to continue getting their health benefits. That's when our supervisor let us know they had a program for situations like this and that they wouldn't lose their benefits for missing work."

Situations like this can be sensitive and affect how others on your team perceive you. The interviewer wants to know how you handled such situations and your reasoning for bringing attention to the situation.

In your example, explain that you were working in the interest of all involved parties. Consider the welfare of your coworkers, the needs of the team, and the necessity of bringing your issue to your superiors. Your expressed motive should always be for the betterment and welfare of the team.

Tell me about a time when you acted as a mentor to a fellow co-worker.

"At my position at a coffee shop I worked at, I was assistant manager. I gave the owner a heads-up that I was going to be leaving in a couple of months. They were grateful that I gave them so much notice. I started training my successor as the new assistant manager. It went well, and in less than a couple of weeks, they were up to speed. My boss assured me I'd be assistant manager until I left, but I told them it would be better if I stepped down and if my trainee became my boss. This way I could back them up, be around to answer questions, and phase out my schedule. I go in for coffee there now and again and they're all doing great."

There are those who strive to contribute to the vision and the greater success of a team. Then there are those who strive to develop themselves, driven by their own ambitions to accomplish their personal and professional goals. There's nothing wrong with ambitiously trying to climb the latter. But prioritizing the ultimate success of the team displays big-picture thinking. By contributing to the greater success of the company and the team, you are contributing to your individual success and development. The scope of one's vision, the big picture versus a more narrow short-term view is what the interviewer is truly trying to assess.

BofA's culture is centered around innovation and collaboration. Ideally, your goal is to reveal your motivation to further the team rather than checking off a list of accomplishments as you try to climb through the ranks. Balance your personal goals with the goals of the team. When they align, both your personal goals and that of the team are accomplished.

You are given you 50 black marbles, 50 white marbles, and 2 bowls. Divide the 100 marbles between the 2 bowls. Blindfolded , you must choose one bowl and remove 1 BLACK marble. How do you divide them to ensure you draw a BLACK marble?

"Place 1 black marble in one bowl, and place the rest of the marbles in the other bowl (49 blacks, and 50 whites). This way you begin with a 50/50 chance of choosing the bowl with the single black marble! If you choose the other bowl, you still have a nearly 50/50 chance at picking one of the 49 black marbles."

This question tests your analytical skills and problem-solving skills in real time. There may be other questions like it in the set, so be prepared, and practice as many of these puzzle questions as you can prior to the interview.

If you choose to look the answer up in advance, you should at least try to determine the answer on your own first. They want to gauge your process for determining the answer in real time.

If you have 25 horses and no timer, how many races would you have to run to figure out the top 5 fastest horses?

"To find the fastest, you need to run all 25 horses at least once, and since you can only race 5 horses at a time, you need a minimum of 25/5 = 5 races. Then you need to compare the winners of these races, which means a 6th race is necessary."

This brain teaser is designed to test and observe your analytical skills in real time. It will also help them determine your strengths as an analytical or interpersonal thinker, depending on how you go about teasing apart your answer.

Try answering the question at home on your own before looking up the answer. Try to vocalize your answer as you attempt to problem solve it to practice your communication skills. Whether you find the answer to the question before the interview is beside the point. You want to go through the whole problem-solving process, communicating clearly when this question is posed.

Bank of America Internship Interview Questions

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1. What are your hobbies?
2. What culture are you looking for?
3. Why do you want to get into finance, given its massive unpopularity and its issues with inequality?
4. What are your biggest flaws?
5. Tell me about yourself.
6. Do you like working in a team environment or on an individual basis?
7. What was your biggest accomplishment?
8. What are 5 of your core values?
9. Why do you want to work with our team?
10. How do you define success for yourself?
11. What are your short term and long-term goals?
12. Describe me (the interviewer) in 3 words.
13. Talk about a time you have had to teach your boss something.
14. How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting but most of your co-workers shot it down?
15. How does a bank make money?
16. Are you able to regulate your emotions to do your job effectively?
17. What do you know about the company?
18. Tell us about a time you excelled in a team setting?
19. Please describe what we do.
20. Tell me about your time management skills.
21. How do you keep up-to-date on industries that you are interested in?
22. How do you think you can add value to our organization?
23. Walk me through your resume.
24. What skills do you have that we need?
25. Who is one current leader you look up to and why?
26. Provide an example when you utilized your leadership skills.
27. What would you do if the work of a subordinate or team member was not up to expectations?
28. Tell me about a time when you acted as a mentor to a fellow co-worker.
29. You are given you 50 black marbles, 50 white marbles, and 2 bowls. Divide the 100 marbles between the 2 bowls. Blindfolded , you must choose one bowl and remove 1 BLACK marble. How do you divide them to ensure you draw a BLACK marble?
30. If you have 25 horses and no timer, how many races would you have to run to figure out the top 5 fastest horses?

Bank of America Internship Interview Questions

1. What are your hobbies?

2. What culture are you looking for?

3. Why do you want to get into finance, given its massive unpopularity and its issues with inequality?

4. What are your biggest flaws?

5. Tell me about yourself.

6. Do you like working in a team environment or on an individual basis?

7. What was your biggest accomplishment?

8. What are 5 of your core values?

9. Why do you want to work with our team?

10. How do you define success for yourself?

11. What are your short term and long-term goals?

12. Describe me (the interviewer) in 3 words.

13. Talk about a time you have had to teach your boss something.

14. How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting but most of your co-workers shot it down?

15. How does a bank make money?

16. Are you able to regulate your emotions to do your job effectively?

17. What do you know about the company?

18. Tell us about a time you excelled in a team setting?

19. Please describe what we do.

20. Tell me about your time management skills.

21. How do you keep up-to-date on industries that you are interested in?

22. How do you think you can add value to our organization?

23. Walk me through your resume.

24. What skills do you have that we need?

25. Who is one current leader you look up to and why?

26. Provide an example when you utilized your leadership skills.

27. What would you do if the work of a subordinate or team member was not up to expectations?

28. Tell me about a time when you acted as a mentor to a fellow co-worker.

29. You are given you 50 black marbles, 50 white marbles, and 2 bowls. Divide the 100 marbles between the 2 bowls. Blindfolded , you must choose one bowl and remove 1 BLACK marble. How do you divide them to ensure you draw a BLACK marble?

30. If you have 25 horses and no timer, how many races would you have to run to figure out the top 5 fastest horses?