Tell me about yourself.

"My father worked for the IRS for nearly his whole career. When he retired, he started his own accounting practice. He was always sharing his passion for numbers, and for how many programs there are which can help your money work for you and help you in any given situation. He always said, despite their reputation, the IRS are the good guys. But you have to be willing to do the footwork to find out about the programs available to you to further yourself financially. So, the world of finance is deeply ingrained in who I am, and when you are good at something, two things happen. You love the work you do, and you have a passion to always be the best. So, following my career through university to my current company, my pursuits have now led me to the doors of HSBC."

This question is used as an icebreaker with the aim of getting you out of interview mode. Your resume and CV caught their attention, and now they are giving you an opportunity to introduce yourself. Not only does this question serve as a personality check, and how well you would fit into their work culture and their teams, but it also serves as a test of your communications skills, and how well communicated your 'elevator pitch' is. So before your interview, compose a brief professional biography that demonstrates your educational and professional accomplishments, covering why you chose your career and where you hope to take it. End on why you are interested in working with HSBC and why they feel like the right fit for you.

As they advertise on their career pages, "HSBC has engaged with a Video Interviewing technology partner called Modern Hire which has Live Video interviewing capabilities. A Live Video can be used in place of face to face interviews or meetings. On Demand interviews are questions that are pre-set for you to answer via video (or audio where indicated) which do not require an interviewer either on the phone or face to face to listen to your responses live." And as Modern Hire advertises on their site, they practice Automated Interview Scoring, "using the power of AI to evaluate and score the content of a candidate's response, and stack and rank their candidates by their score. Gain confidence with assistive Simplify selection and know you're moving the best candidates forward with rank-ordering based on an overall score."So when an AI driven assessment vendor asks informal questions like these, they are counting on it resulting in a more sincere answer. This will help them establish when you are being truly sincere and more true to yourself. They can then contrast your genuine personality against your more reserved or more performative answers.

HSBC offers some interview tips before you begin. "Allow some time before the interview start time to enter the virtual interview room and check that the webcam, sound and lighting is suitable for your interview before it begins. Close any unnecessary browsers or applications that may notify you and distract you on your device during your interview. Have a glass of water ready next to you if you need it during the interview. Ensure you are in a quiet room or area, well lit and free of distractions."

Tell me about a recent accomplishment you are proud of.

"I had a client who inherited five-hundred-thousand dollars, and they were dissatisfied with what our highest yield interest rate accounts had to offer. They were looking for a high yielding investment that was stable, yet there were no low-risk liquid investments which met their demands. At a certain point I mentioned that I couldn't necessarily offer them advice on real estate, but did suggest that a real estate investment in an up-and-coming market, in the right location, could yield the kind of returns they were looking for. I also suggested, that if they were to put down that inheritance on a down payment for a mortgaged property, with the mortgage through our institution, in a year or less they could see the return on their investment which they desired, if they could afford the mortgage payments. They liked this idea, ran with it, and it paid off for them significantly."

Your interviewer will evaluate how you answer to gain insights into your work ethic and your measure of going above and beyond. This will help them determine how well you would hold up to their standard, how well you would compliment their teams and represent their brand. As they state on their website, "We get it done. We create value for our customers and investors by always moving forward and making things happen. We're entrepreneurial: we try new things, we learn and improve, and we take smart risks. We're dynamic: we reject mediocrity. We move at pace. We're decisive: we make clear choices and take bold actions. And we keep our word: we always do what we promise."

Modern Hire "uses AI technology that analyzes candidate responses" and scores them" based on job-relevant data and competencies linked to job success." On their website, HSBC offers instructions and tips for navigating this process, "The link in your invite will take you to the Modern Hire log in page. Once logged in you will be able to see the interview you have been invited to complete. You'll be able to continue to log in and review your previously submitted interviews at any time."

While preparing for your interview, you'll want to present yourself as a professional in every regard. Your surroundings are just as much of a reflection of you as a professional as your attire. Additionally, you'll want your focus to be on you and not on your background. So make sure your space is organized, free of distractions, and work-appropriate. Here are some more tips HSBC offers when navigating their on-demand Modern Hire interview: "Your Hiring Manager/Interviewer will run the interview with the same questions as they would if it were a face-to-face meeting. Dress as you would for a face-to-face interview with the Hiring Manager/Interviewer, this will help you get into the interview 'zone' and you will be ready for the discussion. Look directly at the camera and engage with your interviewer as if you were in the room with them."

How do you go about building trust with a new team and new customers?

"I approach them with humility and transparency, and in the spirit of collaboration, give them everything I have to offer. I lean on them for insight, advice, and help, and reciprocate where appropriate. Trust is earned, and I do all I can to earn their trust."

Not only is it important to show that you have the right hard skills and interpersonal skills required for the role while delivering an excellent interview. Confidence can go a long way, especially if you were successful in your previous role, but you have to earn the trust of your new teams when onboarding. So your interviewer needs assurances you'll be able to perform well with their teams, fit into their work culture, all while building strong relationships with their clients. As HSBC puts it, "Navigating the future of work; We're empowering our people to learn with and from each other, our customers and our partners. We encourage collaboration, the pursuit of new skills and diverse thinking through our extensive training and mentoring programmes. We use our collective capacity to innovate and find new opportunities to shape the future both inside our organisation and in wider society."

On their careers page, HSBC states, "Typically, you will have an opportunity to review the questions and re-take your answer however this may not always be the case. The on-screen instructions will alert you to this as appropriate. You can complete this in your own time that suits you best, however there will be a deadline date set that we will need your submission by so please be aware of this." Despite this, your communication skills will be put to the test as well, so never ramble on or run out the clock. Be as succinct as possible.

Your camera angle should be at eye level. Positioning it too low may make you come across as domineering. Too high and you may seem too weak or small. So center it, and make sure your lighting is equally balanced as well. As HSBC puts it, "Look directly at the camera and avoid looking at yourself on screen, imagine the interviewer who will be reviewing this video is there and you are talking to that person." Be mindful of your facial expressions. Furrowing your brow while concentrating on how to answer a question can easily be misinterpreted as exhibiting anger and raise a red flag.

How do you like to spend your free time?

"I try to stay up on relevant pop vulture, on what's trending, and staying up to speed in my industry. For example, if everyone is huddled around discussing the latest episode of XYZ, and you don't know what that is, you can't participate. So, I try to stay up to speed on everything that can give you some connection with your peers, your clients, everyone. And I have fun doing it. So, I guess, I try to be fun, and in doing so, I have fun."

How you answer this question can inform your interviewer of many things. It can inform them of whether you have a life outside of your work, which will indicate whether you have a likelihood of burning out on the job. It could clue them into how well you manage your time, and it could inform them of how strong of a work life balance you have. So carefully consider what you should volunteer about yourself, and what it says about you as a professional.

HSBC advises that you should "mention any hobbies or interests that have a particular relevance to the role for which you are applying" on your cover letter. So, if you take this advice, you'll want to avoid sounding redundant, so steer clear of repeating the hobbies you put on your CV, and volunteer some more interesting facts about yourself. The more well balanced you can seem, suggesting you have a strong work life balance, the better.

Modern Hire's assistive AI technology will evaluate you for your consistency throughout the set. This includes how consistent your non-verbal cues are with you say, and whether you unintentionally contradict yourself from answer to answer, such as whether how you spend your spare time contradicts the hobbies you've detailed on your CV. While you don't want to be redundant in regurgitating what you've detailed on your CV, you don't want to contradict it either. This will also inform them of your attention to detail and the consistency they can expect from your work performance.

Where are you hoping to take your career in the five to ten years?

"I would like to work my way up into a leadership position, where I would be recruiting and building teams. I am a natural born leader and strive for greater success. I feel that if I were able to build and groom my own teams from scratch, I could truly accomplish greater things."

Your interviewer is curious how forward looking you are, how ambitious your career pursuits are, and whether you have mapped out your career goals. This will serve to inform them whether you are happy with the status quo and are cruising along, or whether you weigh success across all fronts; short-term goals, long-term goals, and the big picture.

As HSBC advertises in their recruiting efforts, "Whether you are looking for a first job or taking the next step in your career, we offer many ways for you to realise your ambitions. Come and work with us and you'll have opportunities to make connections all over the world and help build the bank for the future. We're investing in the development of our people through learning and mentorship programmes. Through our charitable partnerships and volunteering opportunities, they can share their skills and create a positive impact in society."

Remain objective and confident, keeping your face and posture relaxed and your body language open and at ease. Be mindful of the nonverbal cues of nervous or stressful behavior, such as fidgeting, which could include any small movements of your hands or feet, swaying, shifting your weight, rocking or tilting back in your chair, leaning to one side or the other, straightening and freezing your posture, cradling your neck with one or both hands, crossing your arms, cracking your knuckles or biting your nails.

"Well, HSBC's global opportunities for advancement from within are definitely a draw. But I really identified with HSBC's key phrase of opening up a world of opportunity. I am the kind of person who pays it forward and pays it back. So, while I am looking for opportunity, I am also passionate about providing others with opportunities. I am a natural coach and leader and enjoy developing others. I also love helping my clients discover more opportunities for themselves by helping them with their wealth. So, regarding why HSBC, it feels like the right fit for me."

Your interviewer is trying to assess your motivation for applying for this position at their company, and how compatible a fit you feel HSBC's values are with your desired working environment. How you answer should give them insights into how productive you would be in an environment that suits you, as well as how suited your skills are to the job requirements. They are also providing you with an opportunity to convey your enthusiasm for this opportunity.

This question will help Modern Hire evaluate how confident you are that you're the right fit for this opportunity, and whether you're pursuing it for the right reasons. Your answer could reveal if you are shooting for the stars, hoping to advance your skills by learning on the job, or whether this role is a realistic target for where you are in your career. "In a tight labor market marked by skills shortages, recruiters are working extra hard to hire customer focused candidates, committed to staying on the job, and ready to positively impact outcomes on day one. With Modern Hire, financial services recruiters engage candidates' interests and identify fit and hire faster than ever, for single positions and at scale."

ModernHire uses proprietary assistive AI technology that analyzes your facial expressions, eye movements, body movements, clothing details, and vocal inflections. It evaluates those data points, examining the consistency between your answers, your level of honesty, and flags indications of your confidence in your own statements. These will then be used to determine your experience level and to predict your future job performance. That information, with the recorded interviews, is passed on the company's hiring authority for further study. However, they do clarify that "No facial recognition or other invasive, non-predictive methods" are used, so as to mitigate hiring bias."Our interview and assessment tools are proven to mitigate hiring bias and improve diversity hiring efforts. Modern Hire's intelligent hiring platform elevates standards of fairness, designed and tested with faster, fairer hiring and diverse outcomes as the goal. With our AI-based hiring innovations, recruiters focus on job-relevant competencies and predictive analytics, and away from demographics and candidate resume claims, which are known to promote human bias."

Where would you like a career with HSBC to take you?

"My simple answer: I would like a career with HSBC to take my career as far as it can take me. I am flexible regarding my destination as well, but ideally if I weren't working in the US, I would be most interested in working either in Spain or in Ireland. But whatever HSBC would call on me for, I would rise to the occasion."

This question has two aspects to it. First, they are curious what your career goal are, and how well those goals align with the opportunities HSBC has to offer. Additionally, this question is curious where, geographically, you might want this opportunity to take you. A candidate who is willing to relocate, and rise to the occasion of meeting the needs of the company, will be more likely to accelerate their career. So the heart of this question is to determine the level of your ambition.

At HSBC, we offer exciting opportunities in different parts of the world for motivated people from all walks of life who are open to different ideas and want rewarding careers. We serve our customers through our global businesses, which are supported by our operational and functional teams. Discover all the locations around the world where we recruit people, and the teams and specialist areas where we are hiring as a priority. With a network that covers 62 countries and territories, we have opportunities for you to develop your career in established and faster-growing markets. Find out how you can help us meet the needs of our diverse customers. You will have many ways to develop your career. Find out more about a career in the country or territory where you would like to work.

Modern Hire advertises to their clients, "facilitating internal mobility is a priority, too, as banks, insurance companies, and accounting firms look to retain their talent." So, with this question, they are evaluating how willing each candidate is to advance within the company, and satisfy the company's needs for filling positions globally. Having an employee that is already onboarded and entrenched in the company culture is a more ideal fit than recruiting from outside the company. They'll evaluate your verbal and non-verbal cues for signs of honesty, adaptability, ambition, and flexibility. So answer with sincerity. If your career goals and interests align with doing whatever it takes to advance from within, all the better.

Why did you choose your career path?

"Through immersion. My parents both worked in the finance realm, and I had an aptitude for it as well. So, I did well throughout school, and when you are good at something, you want to do more of it. So, I find deep satisfaction in my chosen career, and feel lucky in that regard."

One of the defining values of HSBC is 'Purpose,' where they state, "Our purpose... Opening up a world of opportunity... explains why we exist. We're here to use our unique expertise, capabilities, breadth and perspectives to open up new kinds of opportunity for our customers. We're bringing together the people, ideas and capital that nurture progress and growth, helping to create a better world, for our customers, our people, our investors, our communities and the planet we all share." So when answering this question, try to define what your mission statement is, or rather, your career purpose. What is it that motivates you and drives you to advance in your field? When possible, draw distinctions with your purpose, and that of HSBC, but only where it is sincere.

What's important here, for all parties, is to determine whether this is the right career path for you. The goal of this question is to determine whether you have career satisfaction and won't experience burn-out syndrome. Too often, candidates who experience poor job satisfaction move to another company only to find they are not happy in their career, and may need to consider an adjustment to their professional pursuits. So, Modern Hire aims to help HSBC determine if you will thrive in this position, or if you will contribute to further turn over. As Modern Hire advertises to their clients, "Predict Fit Fast and Minimize Turnover. Hiring mistakes are costly and painful. Modern Hire's science-based interview assessment tools quickly measure competencies and the likelihood of staying on the job. No guessing or over-reliance on resumes."

Showing your personality can go a long way, just like when performing live or audio interviews. Even though you are talking to Modern Hire's assistive AI technology, you'll be better served to imagine you are speaking to a real person. So try to come across as relaxed as possible, speaking in a level yet enthusiastic tone. Maintain eye contact with the camera, and smile softly. Confidence, poise, and natural is the demeanor you want to strike.

Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your leadership.

"My boss had delegated me to collect data and type up a report for him, in his voice, that he could present in a meeting. But I felt, since the data I was compiling was from several company sources that already existed in several charts and pie graphs, why not just compile those, in the order he wanted to present it, and then he could speak to that in a more effective way, rather than reading a script he didn't write. I felt my suggestion required less payroll hours, was less likely to result in rework, and was just a better plan. He agreed, because he is open to suggestions, and knows I have his intentions at heart. We work well together, for which I am grateful."

Your interviewer is curious how you will interpret this question, which is designed to partition their ideal candidates from those who present red flags. How you answer will inform them whether you have issues with authority, and are prone to insubordination, and work against the team, or if you exhibit integrity, are courageous, and will step up to advance the goal of the team in a respectful and innovative manner.

Here is how HSBC puts in on their website, which will offer insight as to why they ask this question. "We want everyone to feel included, valued and respected at work. We're removing potential barriers and encouraging our leaders to help build an inclusive environment where difference is celebrated, and colleagues choose to stay and develop their careers. 'We value difference' is one of our values. The performance of our employees is assessed against both what they achieve and how they demonstrate our values."

Another aspect of this question is to assess how skilled a communicator you are. So try to exhibit your strong communication skills when answering this question. Try not to stutter, ramble on, take awkward long pauses, or use habitual speeches, such as "uh," "like," "um," "you know," among others. Record your voice while answering some of these questions to identify your tics so you can better practice answering these questions without relying on such words. Also, pay close attention to your choice of words and what they might suggest beyond your intended meaning. Doing so will aid in presenting yourself as a clearer communicator and more of a professional.

How have you given back to the community?

"I feel everyone should do something, big or small. It sounds silly, but I live in a small community, and when it snows, well, I happen own a snowplow attachment, which I hook up to my big truck, and so on those days I clear the roads. Most of the people in my community, if I miss a day, they call and complain to the city, not knowing it's me. I get a kick out of that. But I'm not in it for the recognition, though. I just want everyone to be safe on the roads. Give back where you can. I also donate to several charities. They're tax writeoffs, after all, so no reason not to do it."

This question aims to determine how well you will fit into their culture, and predict whether you will participate in the many charitable activities which they sponsor for their employees. Not only does this aid in building and strengthening the relationships of their teams, and often their clients, but giving back to their communities is an integral part of their company culture. So whether you donate to charities, have volunteered in the present or in the past, or simply haven't been able to prioritise it in the manner you'd prefer, examine the ways in which your values align with theirs, and share any enthusiasm you have for embracing and representing this aspect of their company culture.

Here are but a few of the methods in which HSBC advertises on their website how they give back. "Our employees spent more than 67,000 hours volunteering during working hours in 2022. Skill-building in the community; We are committed to supporting both our own people and those in our communities. Our partnerships with governments, businesses and non-profit organisations are helping to build skills and work towards a fairer society. Colleagues are playing a key role by volunteering their time and skills."

Modern Hire will also evaluate your professional appearance beyond your attire, such as how tidy and clean your surroundings are, how well groomed you are. It will monitor your posture, your facial expressions, eye movements, head movements, and hand movements. It will also scan tone for your vocal cues, such as placing stress or emphasis on certain words, stutters, or taking long pauses.

What do you know about the history of HSBC bank?

"Well, the first branch opened way back in 1865 in Hong Kong. But what I find really interesting is how they opened up in San Francisco in 1875, due to such a large influx of Chinese immigrants, as from everywhere during the gold rush days. The company has a rich history, and I read through the website and enjoyed combing through the gallery and archives as well."

Company specific questions are designed to determine how much you embrace their culture and identity. Such questions also serve as a test of your work ethic, and are used to gauge your level ambition to compete for this opportunity. How this question is answered will help the hiring authority hone in on those candidates who are over performers and stand apart from the herd. So do your homework before your interview and be ready to demonstrate that going above and beyond is your performance standard.

Here are but a few snippets from their webpage on their company's history; "HSBC was born from one simple idea - a local bank serving international needs. In March 1865, HSBC opened its doors for business in Hong Kong, helping to finance trade between Europe and Asia. HSBC opened its first branch in the USA in San Francisco in 1875. Today, we provide a full range of banking and financial services to three million customers nationwide, including individuals, businesses, institutions and government administrations."

You always want to be in the position of seeming prepared to answer the question posed, while exuding confidence and communicating clearly. Sounding too rehearsed can make you sound wooden or boorish. So, practice in front of your computer's camera, and keep at it until you come across as relaxed and natural. You basically want to come across as an expert on your own company, and share the information you have to offer as if you were speaking to a potential client.

Why should we hire you over another candidate?

"Well, I march to the beat of my own drum, consider myself cultured and well traveled, and have a unique lens through which I see the world. I consider myself very innovative and resourceful, and integrity is my number one core value. I really want to work in an environment where these traits are celebrated and valued, and among your competitors, you stand the tallest in this regard. So, seeing as how I feel that this is such a good fit for me, it's my hope this sentiment will be reciprocal."

This question offers you the opportunity to showcase what your unique skills and unique perspective could contribute to their company. It also offers you the chance to detail how much you feel a working relationship with them would be a good fit for not just you, but all parties. The best method of communicating the sincerity of this is to be well versed in their culture and know what this opportunity could offer your career and thereby what you could offer HSBC and their clients. Consider this advice from HSBC: "How we hire directly influences how diverse we are. We are focused on ensuring our hiring processes continue to be fair, transparent and inclusive for all. This ensures we attract and hire the strongest candidates, including those from diverse talent pools, and provide a positive candidate experience."

One of the aims of Modern Hire is to find candidates who are more likely to stick around for a long time. So, when communicating why they should hire you, it is worth relaying how this opportunity would fit into your long-term career plans and career growth. The ideal fit would be entering into a mutually beneficial and enduring professional relationship. As Modern Hire put it, their "intelligent hiring platform is rigorously designed to predict success. The Modern Hire Intelligent Interview embraces science, analytics, and AI to continuously learn, improve and evolve, driving quality of hire and higher retention. Decades of research have consistently shown that well-developed and executed interviews, throughout the entire hiring process, are among the strongest predictors of a successful hire."

As HSBC advises, "We aim to set up the questions to allow you to answer at your best and showcase your experience and what you'd bring to the job and HSBC. In the same way as any other interview, we are looking for candidates that demonstrate the best potential fit to the role we are hiring." So, take the time to showcase your experience, to elaborate how you would be the best potential fit for the role, based on their definitions. Additionally, elaborate on what you would contribute above and beyond this, regarding your unique perspective and background.

Tell me about a conflict you experienced while on the job.

"A while back, I witnessed an unfortunate incident between two coworkers, and it fell under the classification of sexual harassment. A man in a leadership position took credit for a woman's work, and she was in a subordinate position. When she confronted him over it, he spoke to her in a condescending manner, and ultimately said that he would consider giving her some credit if she got him a cup of coffee, and referred to her as 'Missy.' She was clearly upset and intimidated by this exchange. She was also concerned that if she reported this behaviour, it would result in retaliation. So, I went with her to corroborate her story, having witnessed the incident. HR implemented corrective training for the entire department, and when upper management learned of her accomplishment, she was promoted ahead of the supervisor who stole the credit from her to begin with. Although it was a very messy situation, and among some considered unpopular, I have no regrets. Supporting her in that moment was the right thing to do, and in line with the core values of the company code."

This question is all about how you interpret it. It could pertain to a conflict of interests, to conflict you witnessed between two other employees at work, or a conflict between yourself and another employee or a client. It also stands to reveal a lot about you and whether you responded to the conflict defensively or with emotional intelligence. Take measures to demonstrate your stability, strong work ethic, your sense of teamwork, and your integrity. Consider their code of ethics as well, where they advise, "Speak Up: People who have experienced poor behaviour from a colleague or manager can report their concerns to Human Resources directly and discreetly. We recognise there will always be more we can do to build trust and give our people confidence that concerns will be properly addressed, and that they will be treated fairly. By doing so, we will foster a culture of support and trust, and enable our people to thrive at work."

Often, when a person recalls a conflict situation, the emotions of that moment rise to the surface. This may cause one's eyes to narrow, to furrow their brow, or to fold their arms. Modern Hire's assistive AI technology may watch for defensive cues while you recall your experience with a conflict at work. So, in order to come across as emotionally mature, try not to regress into the emotion of that conflict when reflecting upon it. Avoid any defensive behaviour, such as posture, movements, or gestures that could be interpreted as insecure, closed-off, unapproachable, hostile, or disinterested. Rather, you want to come across as confident and relaxed.

HSBC advises, "Relax, and enjoy your interview!" The best way to do this, is before your interview, research the body language of a relaxed person in a seated position. To manifest confidence, go into a private space with a mirror, look yourself in the eye, and give yourself a pep talk. Raise your arms, stretch your back, and make yourself as big as possible. Then practice your answers in front of the camera and record your voice to cast away any insecurity, nervousness, or self doubt. Share what you have to offer and why you believe it.

What are the pillars to delivering good customer service?

"For me, those pillars are delivering customer service efficiently, addressing the client's needs as a trusted resource, and at speed. You need to anticipate your customer's needs to be client-centric. So, whether it is providing them with all the online or digital tools available to them, or making your best self available to them at all times, you want to listen, to understand, and to deliver with ease and at speed."

HSBC places equal value on both how the representatives of their company build relationships with their clients, and how their digitization and automation offers "deliver fast, easy, digital customer experiences", and increased accessibility. So explore not only their philosophy, but all of their digital offerings, product offerings, and services. Then explore the value you place on such offerings, and how your style of customer service aligns with theirs to formulate your answer.

"As people lead increasingly digital lives, we are delivering faster, easier and more secure digital banking. We are building a dynamic, efficient and agile global bank with a digital-first mindset, capable of providing a world-leading service to our customers and strong returns for our investors. We're supporting our people to build the personal skills that form the foundation to develop new skills across digital, data and sustainability. Adopting a mindset of continuous learning will enable us to be ready for what's next. Strive to listen to your clients to understand their financial needs, understand the services and products available to them, and guide them on what is most suitable to meet their goals and grow their wealth."

How do you go about building relationships with your customers?

"I build relationships with my clients the same way I do as with my teams. I listen to them, learn from them, and work with them. I aim to deliver an outstanding customer service experience at all times, and that takes earning your customer's trust. It isn't enough to have their brand loyalty. They need to know that their goals are your goals, and that you are on the same team. So I practice active listening, empathy, humility, and make sure I am a trusted resource for all their needs. They are trusting you with their wealth. That's a big deal. So I earn that trust, and I stand by the commitments I make to my clients."

This question has as much to do with your personality as it does with your skill set. How you answer will enable your hiring authority to evaluate how well your approach will complement theirs. "High-quality relationships are at the heart of what we do. As the pace of change increases across the world, we help our clients maintain a competitive edge over the long term and make the most of commercial opportunities in both developing and developed markets."

When conveying your interpersonal skills, you'll want to communicate effectively both verbally and nonverbally. Nonverbal cues for empathy are slightly tilting your head, nodding slowly, keeping your palms open, maintaining eye contact, smiling softly, and slightly raising your eyebrows. Posture yourself in a relaxed and comfortable position.

Tell me about the last time you took ownership of something.

"When my clients are trusting me with their finances, I consider myself a stakeholder in their success. So, this attitude is a defining trait to my work style, and that being the case, I take ownership of every decision I make. I follow through with my commitments, and I own my mistakes and learn from them and grow and outperform my previous record with consistency."

As a professional, taking ownership could apply to following through on your commitments, taking charge of your own development, or holding yourself accountable for your own mistakes. This question aims to determine how aligned you are with their core values, mission statements, and value propositions. Convey your like-mindedness and that it will take no time during your onboarding to get up to speed. You want to convey, in principle, that you are already one of them.

As HSBC details in their mission statements, "We ensure we leverage with integrity. What we do has a real impact. We take this responsibility seriously. We set high standards and are each accountable for our actions. We always use good judgement. And if something doesn't feel right, as colleagues, we speak up and act. We build for tomorrow, today. We succeed only by taking the long view, by focusing on the sustainable interests of our customers, investors, and the planet we all share."

What would you do if you suspected a coworker of unethical behavior on the job?

"That would, of course, depend on the circumstances and gravity of the unethical behaviour. I think it is important to take into consideration the intention of the unethical behaviour. Is it deceptive or is it a poor work ethic? Regardless, I would speak up. I would either address my concerns with the ethical violator, and see if I personally could correct their behaviour through advice or coaching, or I would bypass that and go straight to my higher-ups. Either case should be brought to the attention of management. But, where appropriate, I would try to handle the situation myself."

HSBC communicates in their code of conduct that they want their employees to feels safe and secure in their roles. They do this with the aim to ensure their employees follow their code of conduct in equal measure, and operate with integrity. "We want our people to feel safe and confident to speak up openly and to raise concerns about actions and behaviours that go against our values, break the law, or breach regulations or policies. We are committed to continuing to raise awareness about how to speak up, listen up, how investigations are conducted and, crucially, what action we take as a result. By doing so we will foster a culture of support and trust, and enable our people to thrive at work. Speaking up fixes problems and helps us do what's right."

How you answer this question will inform them whether you exemplify the character and integrity they look for in their ideal candidates, and whether you already embrace their culture and values. When researching their website, identify the language that effectively answers this question. You can find this in their code of ethics. Integrate their language into your answer as naturally as possible.

Modern Hire may assess your integrity partly by evaluating how honestly you present your answers through your body language, so answer as sincerely as you can, and avoid any gestures that could potentially be open to misinterpretation. Some non-verbal cues the assessment vendor may use to detect signs of dishonesty are stroking your chin, covering your mouth or your eyes, gaze avoidance, the direction of your eyes, excessive fidgeting such as restless foot and leg movements, frequent body posture changes, and grooming behaviours such as playing with hair or pressing your fingers to lips.

How do you feel about undergoing a series of background checks?

"I feel perfectly comfortable under going any series of background checks. I would prefer to be informed of which background checks were going to be performed first, and would like to know whether any credit checks that would be performed might register on my credit report, as I would rather they not impact my score."

If you have anything on your record, such as a misdemeanour for, say, participating in a protest, or derogatory marks on your credit report, don't dodge the question. The more sincere you are, the better. But sometimes less is more, and you could simply say you have no issues participating in such checks, and when granted a face-to-face interview, you can then provide context to any concerns you have about what might turn up on a background check. The aim is it to show you have nothing to hide or be concerned about, and be willing to do whatever it takes to land the job with confidence, transparency, and integrity.

Modern Hire advertises that they provide their clients "better candidate evaluation for better outcomes." They state that their "automated interview scoring evaluates candidate responses, and offers recommended scores rankings. The interview process has never been more frictionless, thorough, or objective." So, as HSBC advises, relax, and showcase your best self throughout your interview.

Most assessment vendors study a candidate's performance for any signs of discomfort or dishonesty. Verbal cues they'll analyze for exaggeration or dishonesty include repeating a question before answering, speaking in sentence fragments, displaying a change in speech pattern, irregular speech, and rising and falling tone. When one's words don't match their gestures, it's the gestures that will be seen as the truth. So maintain eye contact and confident body language, make yourself comfortable, and speak from the heart. When possible, with questions such as these, be succinct in your answer. In cases like this, less is more.

Tell me about the last time you felt you weren't properly recognized for your contributions.

"Early on in my career, I was constantly on the go and doing every little thing I could to improve the systems and workflow of our office, and I always finished ahead of schedule with every assigned task, and then some. But when reviews were given, I felt most of what I had accomplished for the team went unnoticed. When I addressed this with management, they apologized for not noticing, but offered a context for everything they had to focus on, and that I couldn't work in stealth mode all the time. If I wanted to be recognized for my accomplishments, I had to bring more attention to them. So, I realized I was responsible for my own actions in this situation, and have had no issue shedding light on my contributions since."

How you answer this question could offer perspective as to why you are leaving your current position and hoping to advance your career elsewhere. Most ideal candidates are motivated by receiving recognition for their contributions, with the hope those contributions and efforts will be rewarded by being increasingly entrusted with more responsibility. Or, it could also offer insights into whether you work well with those in positions of authority, and whether your perception of your professional worth holds as much value as you think it does. So, try not to pain yourself a victim, and keep your focus on your contributions to the team, and your goals to advance your career.

Modern Hire recognizes that "in a market with more financial services jobs than candidates and record-high voluntary quit rates, recruiters are working extra hard to hire customer-focused candidates, committed to staying on the job, and ready to positively impact outcomes on day one." Additionally, HSBC advertises that they "are focused on ensuring our development and promotion processes continue to be fair and equitable to all." Consider this when framing your answer to this question, by demonstrating your motivation for pursuing a long-term career with them, with the aim of restoring your job satisfaction, and achieving your goals.

When delivering your answer to this question, try not to be in the emotional state of the moment where you felt unappreciated or under-rewarded for your efforts. Practice being in the emotional state you want to convey, of emotional maturity, and taking responsibility for advancing your career and recognizing opportunity, for yourself, your teams, and your company and clients. If the example you've thought of doesn't allow you to remove yourself emotionally and observe it situationally, think of another. You want your answer to resonate with emotional maturity and professionalism.

How comfortable are you with working in a inclusive and culturally diverse environment?

"Due to my heavily mixed genetic background, I have been mistakingly profiled with several diverse groups, and even characterized as 'that ethnic guy'. I consider myself very cultured, and am well traveled, and as a result, embracing diversity and inclusion is integral to my values. Having also experienced exclusion, I am looking to work for a company where I am recognized for my merits above all else."

This question aims to evaluate your cultural competence. The hiring authority is looking for candidates who will feel comfortable communicating with, and serving customers from varying backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life. Serving over 50 countries, HSBC considers their global reach a unique strength. "We're better when we reflect the communities we serve. We value difference and were founded on the strength of different people, experiences and voices. They are integral to who we are and how we work. Promoting diversity and fostering inclusion helps us to energise for growth. By valuing difference, we can make use of the unique expertise, capabilities, breadth and perspectives of our colleagues to the benefit of our customers. Bringing together diverse people, ideas and perspectives helps us open up opportunities and build a more inclusive world. We are dedicated to building a connected workforce where everyone feels a sense of belonging and can learn from and with each other.

Mitigating hiring bias is one of Modern Hire's selling points, where they promise to improve diversity hiring efforts and help "build your most diverse, engaged, and qualified workforce. Modern Hire's intelligent hiring platform elevates standards of fairness with pre-hire assessments and automated interview technology designed and tested with faster, fairer hiring and diverse outcomes as the goal. With our AI-based hiring innovations, recruiters focus on job-relevant competencies and predictive analytics - and away from demographics and candidate resume claims, which are known to promote human bias."

Conveying cultural competence requires interest, openness, and curiosity. Nonverbal indicators for these emotions are leaning in, tilting your head as you speak, smiling and making eye contact. Signs of discomfort and avoidance could be interpreted as indicators of negative bias and antipathy. Such nonverbal cues include decreased positivity, less eye contact and more gaze aversion, fewer smiles, greater interpersonal distance, and increased blinking. Consider these points when formulating your answer.

Tell me about your education.

"Well, beyond what I learned at university, and earning my degree, there is no better education than real world experience. So, I am a glutton for seeking out mentors and learning from them. So, I absorb knowledge whenever I can, am constantly asking questions, which leads to more questions, and am always excited to learn more. This is partly why I was drawn to this opportunity with HSBC, was their educational opportunities within the company."

You've stated the bare facts of your educational accomplishments on your resume. But this question offers you the chance to breathe life into your educational experience, and to share it has offered your career. Additionally, the potential path of one's professional and personal development is never ending. So branch off from your formal educational experience, and share what you've learned on the job, through additional training, or self education, and volunteer any intentions to further your education in the future. Perhaps the opportunities HSBC offers regarding furthering the education of their workforce were a motivator for pursuing this position. If so, communicate that as well.

As part of their recruiting efforts, HSBC advertises they provide their "people the option to train, upskill and obtain qualifications in a way that's right for them. We offer on-site HSBC University training in the UAE, Mexico and the UK, online courses and opportunities outside the classroom through volunteering. We are working to ensure everyone has the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow." This helps ensure they maintain employee retention, by providing long-term career opportunities and growth. But, it also affords them the ability to customize these educational opportunities to the needs of their company, and then reap the benefits and rewards of their investments in their employees' customized furthered education.

Tell me about the last time someone challenged your direction with a different perspective.

"The word challenge is interesting. I would say that I always invite anyone on my teams to offer their opinions, suggestions, or perspectives. If you are a team, then you work together as one. So, I wouldn't necessarily feel challenged by a team member, as I am never resistant to learning from them, and consider myself emotionally mature enough to not feel threatened by any suggestions they have to offer."

HSBC advertises that they value diverse opinions, recognizing how unique perspective contribute to innovation and greater success for the company. So this question focuses on your emotional intelligence, and how receptive you are to feedback. How you answer this question will offer insights into your leadership style, and whether you are focused on the development and success of your teams.

Let the way HSBC puts it guide your answer. "We value difference. We were born speaking different languages. We were founded on the strength of different experiences, attributes and voices; they are integral to who we are and how we work. The greater our empathy and diversity, the better we reflect the worlds of our customers and communities - and the better we can serve them. So we champion inclusivity. We listen. We remove barriers. And we seek out views different from our own."

Remember, the body language and facial expressions you want to maintain are relaxed and confident. When confused or concentrating, we tend to furrow our brow or redirect our gaze. However, this could easily be misinterpreted by the assistive AI technology. So practice relaxing your brow and widening your eyes. Tilt your head slightly and nod slowly. Speak softly and with ease.

What are your strengths?

"I would say my attitude is one of my strengths, as is my emotional intelligence. Both of these make me fearless, and less prone to stress. I am never hesitant to step up to the plate when needed, or to come to the aid of the team. I strengthen the camaraderie at work, and truly love what I do and all those I work with."

One of HSBC's core values is 'Focus on our strengths', where they state, "To achieve our ambition, we are focusing on the areas where we have distinctive capabilities. This pillar of our strategy outlines where we are prioritising our efforts and investing for the future." So when answering this question, focus on those you use to overachieve, to strategize achieving your ambitions, and reach your goals.

Madern Hire advertises their "advanced hiring tools are the best in the business at predicting performance and job fit for external and internal candidates." So, when detailing your strengths, you want to align what you have to offer with what HSBC is looking for in a candidate.

When speaking, try not to speak too fast as this could make you seem nervous. Rather, try to moderate your tone to come across as relaxed. Use professional adjectives to describe yourself and your situation, such as career focussed, ambitious, persistent, genuine, patient, enthusiastic, disciplined, and passionate. Lastly, integrate some of HSBC's branded keywords and key phrases into your language where ever you are able to do so naturally.

What is your greatest weakness?

"I really love working side by side with others. I am perfectly capable, and effective at delegating, and communicating in more efficient ways. But since I so enjoy working with people, I am often too tempted to do so, which has in the past compromised my efficiency. That is to say, I have a strong work ethic, and consistently deliver at speed and ahead of schedule. But I often can do better, and am working on this."

How a candidate answers questions about their weakness could reveal their strengths as a candidate. Remember, HSBC says that they "set high standards and are each accountable for our actions." Being able to take ownership of your growth opportunities, and being willing to admit to them with details as to how you are taking charge of your professional development, is a strength. Whenever you can suggest a weakness is something like being a perfectionist, or get hung up on pet peeves that benefit the company, that reveals integrity and taking a strength of yours too far where it turns into a weakness. But the key here is to convey that you are well along your way down the road to self improvement.

The Modern Hire's assistive AI technology may evaluate a candidate for their consistency, not just concerning how consistent their answers are from question to question, or in relation to what they've detailed on their resume and. cover letter. They may also flag a candidate for how consistent their non-verbal cues are compared to what they're communicating verbally. When words and statements are incongruent with tone, facial expressions, or mannerisms, it is commonly considered an indication of limited emotional intelligence or burnout syndrome. It may also suggest a lack of self-awareness of one's nonverbal cues as being inconsistent with their narrative.

How do you stay up to date on the latest news and insights in finance?

"I do enjoy reading up on HSBC's Insights, from your experts and the recent analysis from your economists. I also read the economist, Bloomberg, and hit all the other regular stops. I also get the newsletters and bulletins from the FED on upcoming changes in regulation."

Part of recruiting their ideal candidate is determining which of their applicants will meet their standard of being an informed and trusted resource of finance in the industry, and within the company. That candidate will need to be an effective representative of HSBC, who can be relied upon by their clients. So, to showcase that you are a good fit, showcase how informed you are, in the financial realm, and in company news. Checkout their webpage on their site, which is dedicated to HSBC's 'Insights', where you can read "the latest views from HSBC experts and analysis from our economists." They also have pages dedicated to recent news and media releases.

Tell me about the last time you led by example.

"I'm the kind of person that will never take the easy path unless it is the right path. So I try to consistently lead by example. So, if there is hard work to be done, and I expect my team to get to work, I will get to work side by side with them and set the pace. I prefer to do this, actually, because I can then steer the attitude and inject pride into the work we are collectively doing. Then, when the work is done, there is strong camaraderie, and a collective sense of accomplishment. When this is achieved, we all look forward to getting back to work tomorrow."

This question not only examines your leadership style, but your level of integrity. One of HSBC's values is "Be visible and lead by example. Listen actively, without judgement." How you answer could also offer insights into how trusted and respected you are by your fellow teammates and your clients. It will speak to your integrity and your work ethic, and whether you are willing to work side by side with your teams, or take the more authoritative approach of 'do as I say, not as I do'.

Try to make your responses as structured and concise as possible. Avoid rambling or delivering roundabout answers. Use the STAR method when structuring your answers. Address each answer by first offering the SITUATION involved with your example. Then move into the TASK which this situation required. Then share the ACTION you took and the RESULT of your actions. This will add structure to your answers.

Tell me about the last time something didn't go according to plan.

"I was next in line for a promotion in another department, and I was slated to move into the next phase of my career goals in the next couple of months, when corporate announced they were making some cutbacks and eliminated that position, among others. So, that closed the door to advancing my career with my current company. But, I am responsible for my own actions, and I have to keep moving forward. I am sad to be leaving my current company and am grateful for all I learned from them. But, I am in charge of my own development, and am excited about furthering my skills elsewhere, and am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead."

You want to come across as confident when answering this question. The more calm and collected a professional is when things don't go according to plan, the more successful they will be in navigating uncharted waters. Whereas someone whose behaviour is dictated by their emotions will be more prone to panic, prone to task paralysis or procrastination, and more likely to communicate in a more volatile manner. Someone who has strong time management skills will set allotted time aside for contingency. Someone who is resourceful will be able to think quickly on the feet and stay productive. All traits of a desirable candidate.

When answering questions such as these, you want to come across as in your comfort zone. Try to convey that going above and beyond is your work standard. Be mindful of your posture and smile with both your mouth and your eyes. Keep your body language open, your tone steady, even, and consistent with your statements. When looking into the camera and answering Modern Hire's questions designed for HSBC, imagine you are speaking to a real person or to an audience. The more charismatic and confident you can be, the more likely you'll land that live interview.

Tell me about the last time you had to make a decision without all the necessary information to do so.

"I think it is rare in any given situation that you safely have all the information you need. But when you take every opportunity to keep learning and expanding your skills, you often have all you need. Recently my supervisor, who I consider a mentor since I am always learning from her and actively listening to, had to leave town on urgent business and asked me to complete a project she was working on by day's end. She pointed me in the direction of where all the necessary materials were and said that I could do it. So, I agreed, and when I started, it felt out of my scope, and I didn't quite understand the content of the materials or what the goal was. But I just kept asking questions, doing little bits of research anytime I ran up against something I didn't fully understand, and soon all the pieces fell into place. When I finished her project before the deadline, everyone was super pleased with the end result. The credit was all hers. My accomplishment was learning something totally new, and at speed, and putting it all together."

Questions such as these are designed to determine how self managed you are in your performance or if you need constant hand holding and reassurance. One of the standards HSBC has for their employees is for them to 'Educate themselves', where they elaborate, "Commit to learning more about topics they may be uncomfortable with and acknowledge privilege." So when answering this question, offer an example of a time where you had to be quick on your feet, and how you took a calculated risk that benefitted the company.

As advertised on their website, "Modern Hire's intelligent hiring platform combines a pre-hire assessment and interview experience that measures the problem-solving, leadership, communications, soft skills, and other competencies we have identified as predictive of performance, as well as key metrics for proven and ongoing success among professionals." So, when answering questions about how resourceful you are, and how capably you think outside of the box to get things done, you want your personal space to be organized, tidy, and representative of a high performing individual. Make sure your surroundings are clear of distractions, uncluttered, and professional.

How well do you cope with stress on the job?

"I cope with it. Stress is a natural response, but when I experience it, I have it rather than my stress having me. I objectify my stress, and don't let it mix with my emotions in the moment. Sure, when stressful situations come up, and urgency is required, I will communicate that urgency, but calmly and effectively. So I would have said that I deal well with stress."

HSBC's Group Chief Executive, Noel Quinn, is quoted on their website as saying, "I'm deeply committed to supporting the mental wellbeing of our people. Our commitment to speak up and take action around mental health is fundamental to the culture we are creating at HSBC. In fact, it has never been more important." HSBC makes generous contributions to ensure the wellbeing of their employees, and they will want assurances you are willing to put in the time and effort to take care of yourself as well. So use this opportunity to share any stress management tools you utilize. Doing so will assure them that you have what it takes, and will be less likely to burnout on the job.

More often than not, when a person recalls stressful situations from their past, they'll revert to the stress of that situation. So it is important to know that Modern Hire will probably screen you on your non-verbal cues, facial expressions, eye movements, body movements, tells and posture, and the nuances of tone and choice of words. Consider this when you aim to convey that you keep calm under pressure and practice and meditate on your accomplishment, where you were able to act decisively and drove success for your teams. Let the confidence and emotional maturity of those moments come through.

Do you work better alone or as part of a team?

"I would say that I work well in either, though I enjoy working more as part of a team. However, I am able to find satisfaction in my work when working alone as well, and am able to remain productive and distraction free when doing so. But I hold true that I will perform well where ever I am needed."

This question aims to reveal how team oriented you are. Regardless of whether you are more of an introvert or an extravert, you'll want to focus on your support of the team's effort, and strike more of an ambiverted to an extroverted tone. But your ultimate aim should be to exert your success as equating to the success of the team.

HSBC advertises on their website, "We succeed together. We offer our customers a unique breadth of opportunity. And we can only deliver the full promise of this by being truly connected, across boundaries. With our customers and partners. Together as colleagues and as an organisation. So, we collaborate across boundaries. We break down silos. We trust and support each other. And, when necessary, get out of each other's way. Together, we make possible what we cannot do alone."

HSBC Bank HireVue Interview Questions

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1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Tell me about a recent accomplishment you are proud of.
3. How do you go about building trust with a new team and new customers?
4. How do you like to spend your free time?
5. Where are you hoping to take your career in the five to ten years?
6. Why HSBC?
7. Where would you like a career with HSBC to take you?
8. Why did you choose your career path?
9. Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your leadership.
10. How have you given back to the community?
11. What do you know about the history of HSBC bank?
12. Why should we hire you over another candidate?
13. Tell me about a conflict you experienced while on the job.
14. What are the pillars to delivering good customer service?
15. How do you go about building relationships with your customers?
16. Tell me about the last time you took ownership of something.
17. What would you do if you suspected a coworker of unethical behavior on the job?
18. How do you feel about undergoing a series of background checks?
19. Tell me about the last time you felt you weren't properly recognized for your contributions.
20. How comfortable are you with working in a inclusive and culturally diverse environment?
21. Tell me about your education.
22. Tell me about the last time someone challenged your direction with a different perspective.
23. What are your strengths?
24. What is your greatest weakness?
25. How do you stay up to date on the latest news and insights in finance?
26. Tell me about the last time you led by example.
27. Tell me about the last time something didn't go according to plan.
28. Tell me about the last time you had to make a decision without all the necessary information to do so.
29. How well do you cope with stress on the job?
30. Do you work better alone or as part of a team?

HSBC Bank HireVue Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. Tell me about a recent accomplishment you are proud of.

3. How do you go about building trust with a new team and new customers?

4. How do you like to spend your free time?

5. Where are you hoping to take your career in the five to ten years?

6. Why HSBC?

7. Where would you like a career with HSBC to take you?

8. Why did you choose your career path?

9. Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your leadership.

10. How have you given back to the community?

11. What do you know about the history of HSBC bank?

12. Why should we hire you over another candidate?

13. Tell me about a conflict you experienced while on the job.

14. What are the pillars to delivering good customer service?

15. How do you go about building relationships with your customers?

16. Tell me about the last time you took ownership of something.

17. What would you do if you suspected a coworker of unethical behavior on the job?

18. How do you feel about undergoing a series of background checks?

19. Tell me about the last time you felt you weren't properly recognized for your contributions.

20. How comfortable are you with working in a inclusive and culturally diverse environment?

21. Tell me about your education.

22. Tell me about the last time someone challenged your direction with a different perspective.

23. What are your strengths?

24. What is your greatest weakness?

25. How do you stay up to date on the latest news and insights in finance?

26. Tell me about the last time you led by example.

27. Tell me about the last time something didn't go according to plan.

28. Tell me about the last time you had to make a decision without all the necessary information to do so.

29. How well do you cope with stress on the job?

30. Do you work better alone or as part of a team?