27 Bank of China Interview Questions & Answers
1. At Bank of China, we expect our advisors to be available to speak with clients in person, over the phone and through email. What are your experiences in working with clients through different communication methods?
How to Answer
Customer interaction is the name of the game at Bank of China as they rely on excellent customer to service to retain and grow their client base in a cutthroat market. For this question, your interviewer is looking to get a sense of how you use your communication skills to your advantage in your work and how those skills will benefit Bank of China. As you answer and talk about your experiences in communication methods, try to show that you thrive on client interactions and have the ability to be both persuasive and trusted with those interactions.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Looking back on my career, I can honestly say that success as an Advisor is really due to my passion for finance and my desire for interactions with other people. Being a people person at heart, I love working with clients in any way possible. My communication style with clients is to get to personally know them so I can relate my advising to them personally. While I definitely prefer to interact with my clients face-to-face, I do have a lot of experience communicating both over the phone and email as well. If hired for this position, you'll see very quickly that I have excellent writing skills."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"As you can see from my resume, I have taken advanced training courses in public speaking and written communication to help further me in this career field. In my early days in finance and making the move to financial advising, communication skills were my area that needed the most professional development. Today, I am confident in my abilities to work one on one with clients directly in person, over the phone or through email and have experience handling clients in all three ways. In my current role, I'd estimate that over 50% of my interactions are through email with the remaining interactions split between face-to-face meetings and phone calls."
2. Discuss a time that you worked a client through a difficult financial situation. What were the keys to making it a success for the client?
How to Answer
Your interviewer is posing this question to see how you will handle a situation where a client at Bank of China is working through a difficult time. As you talk about how you managed that situation, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you have the interpersonal skills to be effective from the client's perspective. In your answer, be sure to explain the importance of an empathetic approach with your clients and how that approach helps them get through a difficult time.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"During the recession in 2008, I had a very large client call to request that all of his funds be pulled out of the stock market. Knowing that this move was a very poor strategy, I needed him to hear that in most personal and educated way possible. With an active listening approach, I repeated back what he had told me and I reiterated that he wanted to sell them at a low price and hopefully buy them back down the road at a high price. This made the client take a pause and think. This was my opportunity to talk about market history and the odds that his stock prices would rebound over time. He decided to keep his funds in the market at the time and a few years down the road, he called to personally thank me for the sound advice. The fact that I took a personal approach while educating him in the process to make his own decision was the definite key to success in this situation."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"Sometimes in this field, difficult conversations have to be had with clients and when I need to have them, I use a very personal and empathetic approach. A great situation where this happened was with a client that wasn't meeting their personal retirement goals to be done working at age 62. At the point we were working together, she was 55 years old. After a quick assessment of her finances, I talked to her about letting her two kids be responsible for their own college tuition. As a mother, her intuition was to support her children in every way possible but the reality was that it was hurting her own goals. Simply put to her, I told her that there are no loans available for retirement and that she was doing both herself and her kids a favor by taking the route I suggested."
3. What are your top three strengths? How will you use them to make an impact at Bank of China?
How to Answer
Reviewing the job description and the company website will give you some direction on which qualities Bank of China values most. Share your most valuable strengths. Think about them within the context of the position. You can refer to the list of responsibilities within the job description as a guide. Explain how your strengths will help you to accomplish these tasks; and better yet, help you to exceed expectations.
1st Answer Example
"I have exceptional attention to detail and great communication skills. I am also quick to solve problems, which helps me handle customer issues with ease. These strengths will help me to build relationships and maintain customer satisfaction."
2nd Answer Example
"I plan to make an impact at Bank of China through my strong customer service skills, my excellent negotiation skills, and my ability to call on referrals for new business."
4. What is the highest level of mathematics that you completed during any of your schooling?
How to Answer
Working as a Teller for Bank of China will require you to have pretty basic math skills and the ability to count cash in an accurate and efficient manner. For this question, your interview will be looking to hear that you have completed at least some levels of high school math and did so with ease. In your answer, while you discuss what levels of math that you have completed during your education, be sure to explain how your mathematical skills will be able to apply to the job that you are interviewing for. Make sure that your interviewer walks away from your conversation confident in your abilities.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"As you can see from my resume, I have an Associate's Degree in Marketing and during my coursework at XYZ Technical College, I took both college level statistics and financial accounting courses. With both of these classes, I am confident in my ability to handle and count large sums of cash and also operate account software if required for the job here at Bank of China."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"During my final year of high school a few years ago, I completed my final semester of Algebra II with an A- grade. Through my years of Algebra I and Algebra II during high school and with my retail experience prior to this interview, I feel comfortable with all of the accounting related duties that I would handle in this role with Bank of China."
5. If a customer at Bank of China had increased savings as their main personal financial goal, what steps would you take with them to get them started down the right path?
How to Answer
As you look to interview for a Personal Banker position with Bank of China, be sure to expect a question or two that really digs into the technical abilities that you would bring to the position in the form of a hypothetical situation that you will likely face in this role. This question is allowing your interviewer to gain insight into your knowledge of sound financial savings philosophies so be sure to talk about important aspects of a customer's finances that can impact their ability to save. As you answer, express that you would use a logical, yet tailored, approach with each customer in this situation.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"After I had done my due diligence in getting to know the need's of the customer, my first step would be educating them on setting a personal budget that allows for savings. I would take a keen look at their monthly income versus their monthly expenses while also taking into account their variable spending on a monthly basis. Often, by simply doing this, customers are dumbfounded by how much wasteful spending they have going on in their lives. While the customer makes the final decisions on how to best handle, I can use my expertise to help guide them on their savings journey."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"The first and most important step to this process is helping the customer truly see their financial situation by delving into their income and expenses. Based on that analysis, the customer then decides which of the factors of income and expenses can be altered to help increase their savings. From there, I would work with them on the best methods for saving and would take a personalized approach to recommending savings accounts or money market accounts with Bank of China."
6. How do you stay organized?
How to Answer
Staying organized is essential to make sure that you are thorough and pay attention to details, to keep customers happy. It is also necessary for accomplishing your daily tasks behind the scenes. Share a few tools that have helped you stay on-task and on-time.
1st Answer Example
"I prioritize my workload against deadlines to stay organized, always putting the needs of customers first."
2nd Answer Example
"I work closely with my peers to share responsibilities and ensure key tasks are delegated out, should there be an important deadline to consider."
7. Tell me about your cash handling experience.
How to Answer
Share some of the details of your experience in cash handling, which are relevant to the position.
1st Answer Example
"As a bank teller, I have handled cash as a part of customer transactions for the past two years. I am experienced with deposits, savings withdrawals, cashing checks and issuing traveler's checks. I am excited to learn more about Bank of China cash handling procedures."
2nd Answer Example
"The majority of my cash handling experience includes my time in retail. I was a cashier at Store ABC for three years. As far as the banking industry goes, I have some experience in handling cash from my three months with Bank XYZ."
8. Tell me about a goal you achieved. What steps did you take to get there?
How to Answer
The banking industry offers a variety of opportunities to those who are motivated. Bank of China is seeking individuals who think about the future and aspire to be successful in everything they do. Think about something you accomplished through hard work and dedication.
1st Answer Example
"Early in my career, I strived to get to know the banking and thrifts systems from a 360-degree view. I worked hard to partner with my peers in learning how their roles contributed to the whole organizational flow. I set a goal to become head teller within the first five years of working in this industry. I hope to continue that career path with Bank of China and am excited for the opportunity to do so."
2nd Answer Example
"A few years ago I set the goal to complete my Bachelor's in Finance while working full time. I achieved this in just four years, through spending a lot of time in online studies, between working as a bank teller. I am very proud of the discipline and dedication I was able to put towards this goal."
9. How would you handle communication with a customer that was visibly upset?
How to Answer
In this position with Bank of China, you may be faced with a customer that is upset and/or mad at the situation they are in. Because of the shoes you will be filling as a Teller, you will be expected to help deescalate the situation through solid and effective verbal communication with the customer. As you answer this question, talk about your ability to remain calm, cool and collected in any situation and explain how you take an empathetic approach with any person that you will work with in this role. If you have an example of a time that you were faced with this situation, don't hesitate to walk your interviewer through that situation and how you handled it.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Having worked in customer facing roles for my entire career, I have handled many angry customers and feel I have a great method in the way that I communicate with them. First, I start by hearing them out and letting them vent in any means that they want. From there, I calmly repeat back the key points and then begin brainstorming solutions for them. By maintaining a calm demeanor during these situations, angry customers are often able to calm down rather quickly. After I understand the customer's needs, I take all steps necessary to help solve their problem. If this entails bringing in another colleague, I don't hesitate to do so in a team based approach."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"When this happens in my current role, I make sure that any other duties I am currently working on are put on hold so I can give full attention to that customer. Last week, I was the only person on staff handling a busy lobby when a customer came in very upset with a vehicle that they had just purchased. I immediately put the phones on hold to take the time to listen to their concerns. After hearing the causes of their frustration, I had them wait in our lobby and I went and talked to our Sales Manager. He made time for the customer immediately. In these instances, providing swift action to help alleviate any further issues is the most important thing that can be done."
10. At Bank of China, we pride ourselves on providing the best overall customer experience. Talk about your customer service experience and explain why it will help our clients here.
How to Answer
In the financial services industry, overall client experience is a major predictor of business growth and the team at Bank of China takes the overall client experience seriously. For this question, your interviewer will be looking for you to expand upon your customer service experience past what they can see from your resume. To seal the deal for your interview, try to talk about times that you have went above and beyond the call of duty to provide the best service possible for a customer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Over the past five years in my current role in customer service, my number one mantra has been to create the most personalized experience possibl for each person. I have done this by taking the time to get to know the customer, find out what their needs are and creating an experience unique to them. Where my time in automotive sales has really prepared for this role with Bank of China is in this approach. If hired for this role, I know that I will be relied upon to use open and honest communication skills, time management skills and to take a empathetic and personalized approach with each client and I can definitely be relied upon to do that."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my years in a front facing customer service role, I've prided myself on being the face of the franchise. More often than not, my interactions with customers can be the difference between a repeat customer and a person who never comes back again. To ensure repeat customers, I make sure that I am knowledgeable about our products and services, I'm proactive with their needs and I'm always accountable for any mistakes that are made on my organization's side of things. If given the opportunity to join the team here at Bank of China, I will work hard to be highly educated in your services and be proactive and accountable in every interaction that I have."
User-Submitted Answer
"During my time working at the phone shop, I always took my time with every customer to give them the best experience they could have and one that they valued. I would always ask what their wants and needs from a phone were and what they wanted rather than pushing them to take the latest phone which wasn't always the right option for them. Through this patient and personalized method, I would always see repeat customers or customers that had been recommended to visit me."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Stephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
You do a wonderful job of drawing from your previous work experiences and highlighting your exceptional customer service skills. For this response, I suggest making a direct connection to the role you are applying for at the Bank of China. How will the skills you've gained in previous roles benefit you here?
11. We want our advising team at Bank of China to be happy and healthy. How do you manage the day to day stress of being a financial advisor?
How to Answer
The daily stressors of a career in financial advising can be burdensome, overwhelming and lead to burnout on the job. To get a sense that you can handle stress in a safe and healthy manner and be able to come to work each day with a clean slate, your interviewer is looking to delve into your personal life a bit to see how you manage stress. When answering, you can certainly talk about the things you do on the job to keep as stress free as possible, but also be sure to talk about the things that you do outside of work to avoid burnout. Point out that you have the resources and ability to care for yourself to keep you at the top of your game on the job.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"To begin with on the job, I consider myself very excellent at handling stress. Being a goal oriented person, I find happiness in obtaining goals and consider any necessary stresses in pursuit of a goal healthy. Outside of work, I am a very active person that trains for marathons and spends a lot of time outdoors with my family. I find that these activities help cleanse my mind and heal my body to prepare for a new week on the job."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"When I maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and spend as much time as possible outside of work with my children, any unnecessary work stresses are put on the back burner and often relieved immediately. I'm a firm believer in a healthy work-life balance, even though it can be very tough to do in our field. Having the ability to answer a client email or phone call during off hours while unwinding has made our work lives better as well."
12. How would you rate your ability to learn new software programs on a scale of 1 to 10?
How to Answer
In today's digital age, a majority of bank transactions are handled through digital software and for you to be successful in this role, your interviewer will expect you to be a very fast learner of any new programs that you would be required to work with at Bank of China. To give your interviewer a sense of how well you would be able to do this, talk about times where you've had to learn new software programs on the job in the past and talk about your best methods for learning on the job. As well, you can openly talk about the programs that you currently feel that you are proficient at as well to give them an idea of what type of training you would need if hired.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I would say that my ability to learn new software programs is easily ranked as an 8. I am very proficient at word processing programs and the entire Microsoft Suite of products. I'm also very proficient at the cloud based point of sale program that I use in my current role. When hired at my current job, I need about a day of side by side training with my mentor and I was up and running with no problems. I rated myself an 8 simply because I have room to grow in learning software in the banking industry but feel very comfortable in my ability to learn quickly if hired at Bank of China."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I would honestly rate myself a 9 for this question solely based on my prior history of mastering programs with my current banking institution. During my five years in my current role, I began by training on SAP programs and was able to pick up and run in my role as a Teller very quickly. Recently, we made an institution wide switch to the Oracle suite and my transition there was very smooth!"
13. In your opinion, what are the benefits of banking with Bank of China?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to be assured that you have done your research on Bank of China. Review their website to find out more about their products and services.
1st Answer Example
"I always have a great experience whenever I visit one of your branches. As a customer of Bank of China I am impressed by the consistency and care of the bank tellers. I also love how easy it is to access my account online and make updates to my credit card whenever I travel. The level of service that is demonstrated in Bank of China values is evident."
2nd Answer Example
"After researching Bank of China products, and what your customers are saying, I believe that the benefits of banking with Bank of China include low fees, no fuss banking, and no sales pitches. Your organization is genuine and has an interest far beyond the bottom line."
User-Submitted Answer
"After looking at the history of the bank and seeing how successful it has become, it is great to see that there are nearly 60 institutions worldwide and the bank offers a range of personal and corporate banking services. From pursuing excellence this bank is regarded as the people's bank and it is widely recognized for this."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Stephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
This is a great start, but I suggest doing a little more research on the Bank of China and pointing to any additional specific customer benefits. Imagine that you were telling a potential future customer why they should bank at Bank of China. What advantages would you provide? Being well-versed in the bank and the benefits it provides will help make you stand out during the interview process.
14. Due to the continued explosion of the digital world, Bank of China is becoming more virtual on a day to day basis. What job duties would you see as being fluent in this role as a Teller with us?
How to Answer
As banks have adjusted the way they do business over time to suit the needs of customers that are becoming more automated and mobile, the traditional Teller job description has certainly changed with the advancements in technology. With this question, your interview is simply looking to gauge how flexible you would be if hired for this role because Bank of China will be relying on the person hired this role to be highly adaptable in a changing work environment. As you answer, let your interviewer know that you are aware of how rapidly the banking industry is changing and give examples of a time or two you had to be flexible in your own job duties. Then, really put thought into what you feel are ways that the traditional Teller job role has changed and will continue to change over time.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"As my own personal banking has certainly changed to the point where I hardly visit a bank lobby any more and take care of more things online, I would venture to guess that a Teller is face to face a lot less with customers than they used to be and handling more job duties over the phone and online with customers. I would envision that on top of traditional withdrawals and deposits, Tellers at Bank of China are also seen as advisors to customers when it comes to different products within the bank. If hired for this role, I would be excited to be flexible and learn new duties to become a more complete member of the team here at Bank of China. In my current role as a Customer Service Rep, I've had to be very fluid in my job duties."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my current role as a Teller, I've been very adaptable over the last couple of years as my current institution moved a lot of services to a virtual format. I've received extensive training on ATM troubleshooting for customers using the ATM in our parking lot. I've also been trained on our branch kiosks and tablets that customers use for loan applications and other transactions. But because many of our elderly customers still prefer traditional in-person transactions, I've never lost my touch as a traditional Teller. If hired here at Bank of China, I'd look forward to being a flexible Teller that is willing to adapt with changes moving forward."
15. What customer service experience do you have that would greatly benefit the customers at Bank of China?
How to Answer
As the face of the organization for a lot of customers that will come through the lobby and drive-through of Bank of China, your interviewer expects that you'll be able to bring your A game to the job every day when it comes to customer service. To get an idea of your customer service experience, your interviewer is asking this question. As you prepare for your interviewer, try to think of customer service experience you have that would most apply to being a successful Teller. Talk about your duties when it came to serving customers and putting a smile on their face with each interaction that you had. Don't hesitate to use a real world example of a time you went the extra mile to provide the best service possible.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Being a people person by nature, I've always thrived in roles that put me face to face with customers at any place of employment. During my high school years, I was a waitress at a local restaurant on the weekends. During these busy times, I quickly learned how the little things can go a long way with customers that I would see on a regular basis. Knowing their usual drink orders and little things about them helped spark great conversations with them and, ultimately, their overall satisfaction with their dining experience. If hired here with Bank of China, I'd look to bring that same customer service attitude to your team."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"My current role in a large call center places me on the phone with consumers that are usually having either technical issues with our products or just overall unsatisfied with our products. Over the past two years in this role, I've learned how reflectively listen to customers that had a negative experience and how to quickly troubleshoot their problems with ease. As well, I've grown a very thick skin to not take things personally when consumers are downright mean about their products. I can imagine that in a bank setting, upset customers can be at their worst because finances are one of the most stressful things for people and I would be very confident in my ability to work with those customers."
16. As a Personal Banker at Bank of China, how would you select products to suggest to our customers?
How to Answer
At the heart of the role of a Personal Banker falls your ability to use your sales skills and customer service skills to match products that best suit each individual customer's needs. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you can do just that. As you answer this question, highlight your ability to learn and know the entire catalog of financial products you would have at your disposal and then switch to your sales skills mode where you talk about tailoring packages to each individual based on their needs. To really sell your interviewer on your ability, try to use a real world example where you used features and benefits to meet someone's needs in a sales related situation.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"To do this effectively, I would rely on my ability to get to know my customers and their needs and I do this through confident and friendly conversation with them. Once I know their needs and goals moving forward, I can then take a wise approach to our product base to get them involved with the products that help them meet their goals. Last year, I did this with a customer that I had over a years worth of history with. Through both email and in-person conversations, I learned that early retirement was definitely a goal of his and I used the benefits of our IRA accounts to help him open one and thrive moving forward."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"If hired for this role at Bank of China, my first goal would be to learn the entire package of personal accounts, savings, loans and investment products that customers here can take advantage of. Armed with that knowledge, I would then rely on my ability to get to know my customers and what they find important to them to help them grow and thrive into the future. I believe that my background in sales will help me to match the great products here at Bank of China with each individual's needs because I've done this in both the automotive sales industry and the food industry."
17. In the banking industry, customer service is essential. Give me an example of a time when you provided excellent customer service.
How to Answer
Think about what customer service means to you. Making the customer happy and receiving positive feedback are great examples! Bank of China wants to hear that you treat customers with respect and are careful to resolve issues. Explain some of the elements of customer service that you possess, like empathy and patience.
1st Answer Example
"I was working as a bank teller when a woman came in, upset about her account. I could tell she needed to vent and I wasn't quite sure what the actual problem was, so I listened first. Then I asked questions to figure out what was going on. She was so appreciative of me because I was able to think on my feet and troubleshoot to solve the problem quickly. She even apologized for raising her voice and thanked me for my patience."
2nd Answer Example
"In my current position as a bank teller, customers are encouraged to provide feedback via a survey app, after each in-branch visit. For the past three months, I have received the highest ranking for overall customer satisfaction. Delivering excellent customer service is a must for me, and I look forward to bringing this level of service to the customers at Bank of China."
User-Submitted Answer
"When working in a supermarket, I was very busy with my own work one day but a customer needed some assistance around the store to find certain products from different areas of the store. Instead of pointing them in a direction, I walked them to the items and even searched in the warehouse & on the computer for any that were not in stock. I let her know when the missing items would be back on the shelves then left her once she was happy. I later found out this was a mystery shopper and they praised me to my manager."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Stephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
This is an excellent example of customer service at its finest. It sounds like you would be a great asset to any company!
18. Tell us how you keep your knowledge current with ongoing changes in the banking industry.
How to Answer
Due to the competition within the banking industry, Bank of China strives to stay relevant by adapting their products and services to meet customer needs. Consider reading some news articles, press releases, or blogs, to learn more about the industry.
1st Answer Example
"I am interested in learning about helping my customers with their investments. I like to read financial blogs to stay on the cutting edge of latest trends. I also enjoy reading the latest books with a financial scope and listening to financial advice. I also follow Bank of China on Twitter and keep abreast of relative headlines."
2nd Answer Example
"I am an avid reader, and my top go-to books for banking related knowledge are A, B, and C. I also listen to a few investment-related podcasts on a weekly basis. I understand the importance of staying on top of the latest trends and news in the banking industry."
19. Have you ever had to work with a difficult colleague? How did you handle that situation?
How to Answer
A potential job with Bank of China will put you in a branch office that has many different people, with many different personalities, working in one place at one time. It is simple human nature for their to be conflict within a workplace like this and your interviewer is looking to hear how you personally manage interpersonal conflicts with your coworkers by asking this question. As you answer, be sure to use a real life situation and talk open and honestly about how you handled the situation. Try to focus on the positive things you did to make things work out and make sure that the situation you describe ends with a positive results. In the end, your interviewer is looking to hear that you can be a true team player no matter who you work with.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"In my current job, I am paired in a small office with a colleague that can be rather difficult at times. We handle a lot of work over the phone and he can be very loud and boisterous at times. On top of that, he can tend to get very upset following certain phone calls with clients. When first hired and paired in an office with him, I was taken aback by his behavior and remained quiet. One day, at the advice of our manager, I simply talked to my colleague and told him that I would be very thankful if he could tone his voice down in our office and to try and use more healthy ways of handling anger on the job. In the end, this was an approach I should've used right away as he thanked me for the feedback and told me that his old officemate was the same as him regarding how they handled frustration. With him knowing that I didn't care for that approach, he vowed to be better moving forward and things are great to this day."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"First and foremost, I consider myself a great team player and any of my current or past coworkers would echo that same thought. While I do work great in teams, conflict among people is always inevitable and I feel that I excel in working with difficult teammates. A couple of years ago, I was on a project team with a person that tried to take over meetings with their own thoughts on processes moving forward and wouldn't budge for other people's ideas. After seeing a few of our team members become visibly frustrated during our first gather, I took it upon myself to talk with this person face to face. The person became very confrontational with me and ended up berating the overall knowledge of the members of the team. I decided that I would let that conversation sink in with the individual and see how the next meeting the following week went. When the belittling and combative behavior continued, I approached the project lead the next day to see what could be done. While the difficult decision was made to remove that person from our project team, I have no regrets in the approach I took because it was good for the overall health of the team."
User-Submitted Answer
"In the past, I had worked with a difficult colleague when I was working in a phone shop. This colleague was not patient with customers and would try to force sales on people without even listening to their wants and needs, only to make himself look better in our monthly reviews. I didn't care at first but once I saw it drive customers away, I pulled him to one side and explained what his approach to customers was doing and why his sales were so low. I asked him to watch what I did for the next few customers and then asked him to try. From then on he became really good at his job and performed very well while meeting customer needs."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Stephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
This is an excellent example of positively navigating a challenging interaction with a colleague. It sounds like you used a strong interpersonal approach, while also helping him improve his skills on the job.
20. What do you know about Bank of China?
How to Answer
Bank of China makes it easy to find out basic company information by simply browsing their website. You can also search employee reviews to learn about experiences interviewing and working there. Share a few of the facts you learned from researching the company.
1st Answer Example
"I was impressed by the variety of services you offer your customers, and the mission statement at Bank of China. I found the mobile app extremely user-friendly, and I like the new features that help customers save money."
2nd Answer Example
"I've read great things about working there and I'm excited for the opportunity to work in such a fun environment.Your employee reviews are strong and I understand that you spend a lot of time with community outreach programs."
21. At Bank of China, our Personal Bankers work with clients from all different walks of life. How do you handle working with many different personalities throughout the day?
How to Answer
As a Personal Banker with Bank of China, you will be dealing with a wide variety of clients and your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are able to tailor your approach to working with many different personalities while maintaining a knowledgeable and professional approach with each person. In your answer, be sure to stress that you have the patience to work with all different types of people effectively and the calmness to handle customers that are demanding or full of questions. If you have an example of a role you've held in the past where you've worked with customers, feel free to bring examples of times you had to work with differing personalities first hand.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"In my current role in sales, I work with customers from all different economic and cultural backgrounds. My personality really suits a sales based role well because I have the ability to personally connect with any person that I work closely with and I do this with a very friendly, yet professional approach. I take as much pride in selling a lower end product to a person with lower socioeconomic status as I do in selling a product to the CEO of a large company. I've been in both of those situations and as long as the customer leaves satisfied with a smile on their face, I know it was a job well done."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I really pride myself on my ability to work effectively with many personality types and people from different backgrounds. In my current role as a Financial Advisor, I work with clients that range from C-Suite Executives all the way down to entry level employees making close to minimum wage. I have the ability to connect with and relate to any individual on a personal level as this is so important in the financial field. If hired here at Bank of China, this ability would greatly help your customers that are in need of personal banking advising."
22. We pride ourselves on teamwork here at Bank of China and this role in Client Services relies on teamwork. What are the top qualities you would bring to a team based atmosphere here?
How to Answer
At the heart of this question falls your interviewers need to determine how well you will work with others on the team at Bank of China. You will be working with high level advisors and managers that are under a lot of pressure to perform in their jobs and your communications with them will either alleviate some of that stress or add to it. To ensure that your interviewer walks away from your conversation knowing that you are a team player that keeps the end goals of the company in mind, focus your answer on your effective communication skills, your knowledge of everyone's role on the team and your knowledge of what your role on the team will be.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"As with any team that I have worked on in the past, my priority is knowing that everyone has an important piece in the overall success of the team. In customer service, this is knowing who to contact with the right questions and who to guide customers to when needed. This ensures that our work is done efficiently on our end of things and that our customers are handled efficiently and effectively. If hired here at Bank of China, my first goal would be to get to know everyone on the team that I would work with, what their roles are and how to best communicate with them."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"My top quality is my ability to communicate, both verbally and through writing. I have excellent interpersonal speaking and listening skills and my past colleagues have always appreciated this. Here at Bank of China, your clients would appreciate this in my work as well. I am a very efficient and effective written communicator as well and this would be very beneficial at a company like Bank of China, where your offices are spread throughout the country and I can imagine that email communication is vitally important."
User-Submitted Answer
"I know that everyone has a part to play and without everyone's contribution, the work cannot get done efficiently, instead would cause more problems for the team. I always work to get things done in a timely manner to avoid holding up other colleagues. In addition to this, I always get to know my colleagues very well and what their roles are so I can work well with them."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Stephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
This is a great start, but I suggest being a little more specific here. You do your own work in a timely manner, but do you dip in to help colleagues if they're behind schedule? You mention that you get to know your colleagues well, but what strategies do you use to build relationships with them? A few specific details will take this response from good to great!
23. Why would our clients here at Bank of China want you to be their financial advisor?
How to Answer
As a professional in financial advising, you know that relationships are built on trust and integrity and for the business at Bank of China, this is equally important. For your answer, your interviewer will be looking how to hear how you build trust with your clients to ensure that they are customers for life. In your answer, make sure that trust and integrity are common themes as you discuss how you work with each client's individual needs to build their portfolio.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Looking back on my career to this point, I can say with confidence that my success, and the success of my clients, has been due to my ability to build trusting relationships. My path for building a trusting relationship consists of education, communication and action. I educate each client on a personal level, I set expectations for them and deliver on what I say I'm going to do. If hired for this position here at Bank of China, you'll be hiring a Financial Advisor that will be great at bringing aboard new clients as I have many current clients that I am confident will follow me here."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"Like in any financial advising relationship, confidentiality and integrity are of utmost importance to clients and these are pieces of the relationships with my clients that I hold in the highest regard. My clients know that I can be trusted to safeguard their personal information and use the best resources possible to help make the best decisions for them based on their personal information and situation. I pride myself on the fact that my clients trust me with their personal information and your clients will have this trust in me as well if I'm hired for this position."
24. The banking industry is built on trust and this is no different at Bank of China. Do other people you have worked closely with consider you to be trustworthy?
How to Answer
While the easy route for this question would be to simply answer yes and move on, your interviewer will be looking for you to talk about a specific situation or two where you proved your ability to be trusted in the workplace. Take the time to think about a time where trust was instilled in your beyond your normal job duties and explain the situation to your interviewer. Be sure to explain why the situation was important, what you learned from it and how it helps you be seen as a more trustworthy candidate for this role at Bank of China. In the end, remember that the ability to be trusted as a Teller with Bank of China is one of the premier qualities that your interviewer will be looking for in an ideal candidate for the role.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"If you were to ask any former colleague or manager that I have worked with, they would all say that I am worthy of any trust you would instill in me. In my current role, my manager has given me the duty of physically transporting our daily bank deposits and has given me a set of office keys and the code to the security system as a backup to our management staff. In my five years with the organization, I have proved myself to be trusted with these duties through my error free work, great attendance record and honesty."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I have always put it on myself to try and cross-train and learn as many roles with companies that I have worked with in the past. As well, I've always strived to become an expert on all total process at any given job. Because of this extra effort, my current manager has asked me to be a department representative on a few different committees in my current organization. As well, I've also been asked to lead a few process improvement projects within our department. My manager has directly told me that I was asked to take on these extra responsibilities because of the trust that he has in my work ethic and my overall knowledge of our organization. If lucky enough to come work for Bank of China, I would bring this same attitude to the team here."
25. What has been the most stressful situation that you faced in the workplace and what did you do to ensure that you navigated that situation successfully?
How to Answer
At times, the work at Bank of China can get stressful in a customer facing role and this question is giving your interviewer insight to how you will be able to handle the stress that will potentially come in this role if you are hired. In your answer, speak openly and honestly to your interviewer by explaining the situation that you were in and why it was stressful to you. Then, talk in detail about the things that you did to work through the situation to make sure that there was a positive outcome. While answering, try to give your interviewer the sense that you are not easily stressed out on the job and are able to work through high pressure situations with ease.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Last year, my staff of nine people was brought down to five people with one termination and three other resignations in a short period of time. Given that recruiting new staff in my current field can be difficult, we worked at almost 50% staffing for two months. To avoid burnout, our manager decided the best route was to only have two of our staff on shift at a time when we would normally have three to four on at a time. This is where work became the most stressful. For me, keeping upbeat, positive and focused on all of my duties was what helped me through each work day. I really appreciated the fact that we didn't need to double our work hours during this time and my remaining team members ended up navigating this period with great success."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"A couple of years ago, my current company purchased my previous employer and there were many unknowns surrounding my job and my job duties moving forward when it was announced that the company was being sold. When I saw a lot of my coworkers in distress, I took the direction of trying to lead by example with a positive attitude. From the start, I began asking a lot of questions to our managers to try and become as educated as possible on the changes that were coming. I also tried to hear the concerns of my colleagues as well and tried to a be a reassuring person for them. In the end, the transition was great for me and I have my positive and inquisitive attitude to thank for that. During the process, one close colleague did leave the company in fear of what would happen and they still regret that decision to this day."
User-Submitted Answer
"My Colleague who was training me up became ill not long after I began my role leaving me to pick up her workload when I wasn't even completely sure of my own. Nevertheless, we were approaching the busiest time of the month when other colleagues from different departments relied on me to get things done by set dates. I spent my free time practicing the processes I'd have to follow and used old data from the previous months to teach myself and get an understanding of what I had to do so this made me ready for when the time came. In the end, I managed to get all the work done on time but this was only because I had put the time in to prepare myself for it."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Stephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
This sounds like a pretty stressful situation, but you used exceptional problem-solving skills to ensure a successful outcome. In order to improve your response, I suggest adding a few more details to the closing sentence. You mentioned that you managed to get all of your work done, but how did your work help to improve outcomes at your company, specifically? A few additional details will make your response top-notch!
26. If hired for this role here at Bank of China, how would you manage your daily tasks on the job to ensure that your work is completed in a timely and efficient manner?
How to Answer
Your interviewer is posing this question to gain insight into how you use resources and technologies to keep you on track in your work and to also get a sense for how you prioritize the small details in the work that you do. As you answer the question, be very specific as you describe your ability to multitask many duties throughout a given work day and talk about the tools that you use to keep yourself on track in your work. As you talk about this process for yourself, don't lose sight of your focus on the small details in your work and discuss why doing things in detail is important in the work that you do. Make sure to talk about real world examples that you've used in the past that you feel would be helpful in this role as a Teller with Bank of China.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I consider myself to be highly organized in my work and I do this by using my calendar
and task functions within Microsoft Outlook. I schedule time each day for my daily tasks and it doesn't take me very long to have a quick understanding for how much time is needed to complete the routine tasks on a daily basis. I always make sure to allow for enough time for each task to be done as thoroughly as possible. Then, for the tasks that pop up from time to time, I always make sure that I add those to my to do list quickly."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my current role, I print a daily checklist of my duties and begin working on that list as soon as my day starts. Some of the tasks have a prerequisite task that day, so I have my checklist prioritized by needs from the top. I have found this method to be extremely useful in helping me make sure that my duties are handled each and every day and I wouldn't hesitate to utilize something similar if hired for this role with Bank of China"
27. What experience do you have in multitasking different duties in any of your prior work experiences?
How to Answer
As a Teller with Bank of China, you will be relied upon to have excellent organizational skills when handling multiple tasks throughout each workday. Oftentimes, customers can have multiple transactions that must be process and your job will be to ensure that the needs of the customer are handled accurately and efficiently. To gauge your ability to handle this, your interviewer is looking for you to describe a time that you had to be a great multitasker on the job. As you answer this question, be sure to point out the organizational skills that you used to ensure that all of your duties were handled with ease. If you are a new graduate, it is okay to talk about multitasking in your school or personal life as long as you see it is relevant to proving how you can utilize those same skills in this role.
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"In my current role as an Administrative Assistant, I often am juggling multiple tasks at one time. While handling schedule coordination for five different managers at my company, I'm also working on setting up many different organization wide meetings where I'm required to send multiple communications out at the same time. To keep myself organized when handling many things at once, I utilize both my Outlook calendar and a written checklist to ensure that all tasks are getting done in a timely manner."
Written by Ryan Brunner on October 7th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"During my years working in the restaurant industry, I became an expert on handling many tables of customers at once. While juggling the order of all of these customers, I also had the responsibilities of manning the cash register at times. This experience really helped me with accurately recording customer orders on my order pad. I also developed what I would call a multitasking mind by training my brain to keep all of my customers orders at the top of my mind. I think my years in that industry will translate well to the Teller role here at Bank of China"
User-Submitted Answer
"During my time as an accounts assistant, I'm always finding myself dealing with multiple tasks at any one time. Aside from uploading all invoices that come in for all the different entities of the business, I must keep on top of key dates where money leaves the company but also chase colleagues for approvals, staff expenses, or even general queries. To manage everything I make use of our company diary to schedule meetings and set reminders for myself."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Stephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
It sounds like you've created some great strategies for staying organized and multi-tasking, which will come in very helpful in future roles!