Question Overview: The candidate should be able to assess the value of a product based on the customer's needs. He or she should be able to determine if the product will help the consumer and if it's a good fit for the individual's financial situation. The applicant should have experience with the product and understand how it works.
Sample Answer: I would assess the value of a product by determining if it would help the consumer meet his or her financial goals. I would also consider if the borrower could afford the product and if it was a good fit for their financial situation.
Question Overview: The candidate should have a plan for their career and a goal for their future. The answer indicates that the person is motivated and has a long-term vision for their career. The candidate should also be able to explain how they will achieve their goals.
Sample Answer: I see myself as a senior analyst in your company in five years. I will continue to learn new skills and take on more responsibilities within the company.
Question Overview: The candidate should be someone who is honest and has a positive attitude. The applicant should be someone who is willing to work hard and learn new skills.
Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker who is willing to learn new skills and take on new challenges.
Question Overview: The candidate should be someone who can remain calm and collect the facts before making a decision. He or she should be able to listen to the client's concerns and address them in a professional manner. The applicant should be someone who can resolve the issue and make the client feel comfortable with the decision.
Sample Answer: I remained calm when a customer confronted me about an error on their account. I listened to their concerns and explained the error in terms of our company's policies. I resolved the issue by correcting the error and making sure that they understood our policies.
Question Overview: The candidate should be someone who understands the importance of the financial statements and how they affect the business. The financial statements are the most important documents for a credit analyst. They help the analyst determine if a borrower can afford to pay back a loan. The financial statements also help the analyst determine if a borrower can afford to pay back a loan.
Sample Answer: The balance sheet is the most important financial statement because it shows the company's assets and liabilities. It shows how much money is available to pay off debts.
Question Overview: The candidate should be able to explain how leverage works and how it can be beneficial to a borrower. He or she should also be able to discuss a time when leverage was not a good idea.
Sample Answer: Leverage is the amount of money borrowed compared to the amount of money invested. For example, if you borrow $100,000 to invest in a business and the business earns $10,000 in profits, your return on investment is 10 percent. If you borrow $1 million and the business earns $100,000 in profits, your return on investment is 10 percent.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate who has the right skills and experience for the job. The applicant should be able to explain how they will use their strengths to help your company succeed.
Sample Answer: My greatest strength is my ability to work with people. I enjoy helping others find solutions to their financial problems.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate who can handle a difficult situation and resolve it in a professional manner. A credit analyst must be able to work with all types of people, including those who are difficult to deal with. The applicant should be able to work with the consumer and explain the financial situation in a way that helps the borrower understand the problem.
Sample Answer: I had to deal with a customer who was upset about his credit report. I explained that he had too many open accounts and that his debt-to-income ratio was too high for him to qualify for a mortgage loan. He didn't like my answer, but I explained the situation again and he understood the problem.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate who has a clear vision for their career and who has a plan to achieve their goals. A candidate who is willing to take on new challenges and responsibilities will help your company grow.
Sample Answer: I want to continue my education and earn a master's degree in business administration. I plan to apply for a position as a credit analyst at a larger financial institution.
Question Overview: The candidate should be able to explain the difference between the two financial statements and know how to use them to determine the financial health of a company. The balance sheet shows the company's assets, liabilities and equity at a specific point in time. The income statement shows the company's revenues, expenses and net income over a period of time.
Sample Answer: The balance sheet shows the company's assets, liabilities and equity at a specific point in time. The income statement shows the company's revenues, expenses and net income over a period of time.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate who has experience in the credit industry. A candidate who has worked for a bank or credit union will have a better understanding of the industry and the products offered.
Sample Answer: I worked for a credit union for two years as a credit analyst.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate with a bachelor's degree in business or a related field. A candidate with a degree in finance, accounting or economics has the knowledge and experience to work in the financial industry.
Sample Answer: I earned my bachelor's degree in finance from the University of California, Berkeley.
Question Overview: A candidate who knows the company's history and mission statement and can explain how he or she will fit into the company's culture is a good fit. A candidate who doesn't know about the company's history or mission statement may not be familiar with the company's products or services.
Sample Answer: I've been a customer of your company for five years. I'm familiar with your products and services and believe I can contribute to your team.
Question Overview: A candidate who understands the financial statements and how to analyze them will help your company make a decision on whether to extend credit to Wal-Mart. The applicant should be able to explain the balance sheet and income statement and how they affect the company's overall financial health. The applicant should also be able to explain how Wal-Mart's financial statements compare to other retailers.
Sample Answer: Wal-Mart's balance sheet shows cash and cash equivalents of $1.3 billion and total assets of $86.2 billion. The company has total liabilities of $8.7 billion and shareholders' equity of $78.5 billion. The income statement shows net sales of $466.6 billion, cost of goods sold of $352.4 billion, operating expenses of $26.9 billion, interest expense of $1.2 billion, income before taxes of $17.5 billion and income taxes of $9.6 billion for the year ending January 31, 2010.
Question Overview: The candidate should be someone who can explain how they solved a problem and how they overcame the challenge. The response should include a description of the problem, how the applicant solved it and what the outcome was.
Sample Answer: I faced a challenge when I was working for a financial institution and our system crashed. I had to call all of our customers and apologize for the inconvenience. I worked with our IT department to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate who has experience with clients and who can explain how he or she handled customer service issues. The candidate should be able to explain how he or she resolved customer complaints and how he or she handled customer concerns. The applicant should be able to explain how he or she handled difficult situations and what he or she learned from the experience.
Sample Answer: I helped clients resolve their concerns by listening to them and finding solutions that worked for them. I learned that it's important to listen to the client and find a solution that works for them.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate who can make a decision based on incomplete information and who can make a decision without all the facts. A credit analyst must be able to make decisions without all the facts and still be able to make a sound judgment. The applicant should be able to identify the missing information and find it quickly.
Sample Answer: I had to approve a mortgage loan for a consumer who had not yet provided me with his tax returns. I knew that he had filed his taxes on time and that his income was higher than average. I approved the loan based on my knowledge of the borrower's financial history.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate who can lead a team of employees and work with them to complete a project. A good leader has the ability to motivate others and work with them to accomplish the goals of the company. He or she will be able to keep the team focused on the task at hand and will be able to resolve conflicts among team members.
Sample Answer: I led a team of six employees at my previous job. We were responsible for processing all loan applications for our company. I kept the team focused on the task at hand and motivated them to complete their work on time.
Question Overview: The candidate should be able to answer this question with a basic understanding of the database language. SQL stands for Structured Query Language and is used to create, read, update and delete data in a database. The analyst must understand how to use the language to access data and create reports.
Sample Answer: I know how to use SQL to access data from a database and create reports.
Question Overview: Look for a candidate who can handle an angry customer without losing his or her temper. The candidate should be able to remain calm and listen to the customer's concerns. He or she should be able to explain the situation and offer a solution that satisfies the customer.
Sample Answer: I would listen to the customer's concerns and offer a solution that satisfied him or her.