How well do you perform in environments with people different from you?
The banking industry thrives on team players with communication and listening skills who can help build internal and customer relations with individuals of diverse backgrounds. This question tests your cultural competence. Give an example of how you led a team or collaborated with a group for a school project to show PNC Bank that you are perceptive and sensitive to the needs of others. Focus on inclusion, acceptance, and the unifiers of the human experience.
"I have worked with people from all backgrounds and personalities. Whenever I join a new team, I make a point to get to know each person and find ways we can connect. I'm outgoing and friendly with everyone I meet while respecting their different styles and any ideas they may bring to the team."
"Diversity is all around us, whether at work or home. I treat everyone equally and give everyone the respect and positive attitude that I would expect to receive from them."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I have challenged myself to spend time with and get to know people who have different backgrounds than I do. This started with some of my community service mentoring work with local income students. My high school was made up of almost exclusively white upper-middle-class students. I befriended a group of African American students with whom I played football, and we formed very close friendships. When I entered Ohio State, I pledged two business fraternities and received offers to join both. The natural fit was the marketing fraternity, but I got out of my comfort zone and joined the business fraternity that was made up of finance students and students from non-business majors. In each of these situations, I made friendships and developed a comfort level with people who may have been from different backgrounds.
Amanda's Feedback
This is a good beginning! Consider expanding your response to include the skills or characteristics you used to build strong friendships with diverse groups or collaborate inclusively with others such as cultural awareness, active listening, open-mindedness, or confronting bias. You can also talk about how using those skills impacted your student relationships or friendships.
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