- Tell me about yourself (a classic Hirevue question)
- What was the toughest challenge you’ve faced.
- Tell me about a time you faced a problem with a team member.
- Tell me something that is not on your resume.
- Access more of these questions at Voomer!
Blackrock HireVue Virtual Cover Letter Questions and Answers Practice
Interviews for Top Jobs at BlackRock
Summer Analyst Interview
I interviewed at BlackRock
Interview
Three 45 minute interviews by 3 different members of the team. You have 5 minutes between each interview. Part technical, part behavioral. It was online so I interviewed at home.
- How do you stay motivated?
Summer Analyst Interview
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at BlackRock
Interview
Standard financial services interviews that goes with multiple stages and different metrics measured. Friendly process with help at any point you need. Do your homework, be on time and relax.
Summer Analyst Interview
I interviewed at BlackRock
Interview
video interview. not face to face. one way interview with two questions. Gives 30 seconds to prepare and one minute and thirty seconds to answer. No second attempts are allowed.
- what attracts you to the role
I heard back two weeks later, but I’ve seen people hear back as early as 10 days I believe!
If anyone wants to contribute to the thread please do! Please put in the position you interviewed for and the timeline of your application (if possible)!
Applied on July 11th —> received an interview invite on August 20th —> Final round Superday was on September 30th
So the Superday/Final Round can vary depending on what team you’ve applied for. For me I had five 30 minutes interviews back to back.
Hey all! I recently just underwent the interviewing process with Blackrock and I noticed that it was really hard for me to find information all in one place! I understand that with recruiting season happening a lot of people are searching for information on the interview process.
Early career FAQs for Europe
When do applications open and when are they due?
All applications will open in August 2021.
Application deadlines for our Full-time Analyst Program, Summer Analyst Program and Placement Program:
Application deadline for our Advanced Degree Program:
Application deadline for our Spring Insight and Off-Cycle Internship Program:
Application deadline for Women of the Markets and Black Heritage Program:
You can apply to one program and up to two business divisions within that program. We offer a competitive salary in each of our businesses. For more information, please refer to the program description(s) on the early careers page.
How many applications can I submit?
You can apply to one program (Full-Time Analyst, Summer Analyst, Placement, Off-Cycle, Advanced Degree or Spring Insight) and up to two business areas within that program.
Can I apply to multiple regions?
You can only apply to one region (Americas, Europe or Asia Pacific). However, on your application you can note your interest in an alternative region.
What is the recruiting timeline?
We begin reviewing applications following each program’s respective deadline (not on a rolling basis). The recruitment process takes place throughout fall and winter, depending on business need. In some select cases, certain businesses may recruit through early next year.
What is the virtual cover letter?
The virtual cover letter is a short video recording that you must submit as part of the application process (for all teams except Software Engineering). We review this virtual cover letter instead of a written cover letter. Upon accessing the virtual cover letter portal, you will have time to test your system and set-up. When you’re ready, you can start the recording and a pre-selected question will appear on the screen. You’ll then have three minutes to prepare your response, immediately followed by up to 90 seconds to record your answer to the question. A second question will then appear, and you’ll have three minutes to prepare and then up to 90 seconds to respond. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes, however you must complete both questions in a single sitting within 72 hours of submitting your online application to be considered further.
What is the coding challenge?
The coding challenge is an online assessment that you must complete as part of the application process for our software engineering team. It contains three coding questions followed by one video question at the end. You can complete the coding problems over the course of four days, and it should take approximately 60 minutes to complete. The video question at the end of the coding problems must be completed in one sitting. Please note, you must complete your coding challenge within 96 hours of submitting your online application.
How can I acess the virtual cover letter or coding challenge?
Immediately after you submit your online application, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete this next step. You can also access the virtual cover letter or coding challenge via your application portal. Please log into your application portal and click the link that says, “start assessment”. This will take you to the platform where you can complete your virtual cover letter or coding challenge.
If I apply for two roles, will I be required to complete a virtual cover letter for both positions?
Yes, you’ll be required to complete a virtual cover letter for each position you have selected in your application form.
Can I retake the virtual cover letter or coding challenge once I have submitted it?
No. Unfortunately, you can’t retake the virtual cover letter or coding challenge once submitted.
What language should I use when completing the virtual cover letter if I apply for a role in a non-English speaking country?
You are required to complete the virtual cover letter in the local language of the office you’re applying to (e.g. for a position in Frankfurt, you should answer the questions in German). The exception is for roles in our Budapest office; for these positions, Hungarian is not required and you should answer the virtual cover letter in English.
If I don’t complete the virtual cover letter or coding challenge within the deadline, will BlackRock still consider my application?
No, your application is incomplete if you don’t submit your cover letter or coding challenge within the deadline and will automatically be rejected.
If I miss the deadline for my virtual cover letter or coding challenge, can I withdraw my application and submit another?
No, if you don’t complete your cover letter or coding challenge within the deadline, you can’t reapply. A withdrawn or incomplete application still counts towards your application limit.
Please ensure you have the necessary infrastructure (video-enabled device and internet connection) and enough time to complete all steps of the application before submitting your CV.
I’m having technical issues with my virtual cover letter or coding challenge. Who should I contact?
Please reach out to [email protected] with any technical difficulties.
Can I update my CV or other information in my application after I have submitted it?
You can update your contact details and CV after your application has been submitted. For any technical issues with your application, please reach out to [email protected].
How can I see where I am in the application process?
You will be contacted directly once a decision has been made on your application. We are unable to provide application updates via email, however you can check your application status in your candidate portal.
Will I receive feedback if my application is unsuccessful?
Candidates will receive a response for all applications submitted. However, BlackRock is unable to provide individual feedback on applications.
If I withdraw one of my applications can I reapply to a different one?
No, a withdrawn application still counts towards your application limit. Once you have withdrawn, you will not be able to reapply.
Can I reapply next year if my application has been rejected this year?
Yes, we encourage you to reapply next year, provided you still meet the criteria for the program you’re considering.
I’m having technical issues accessing the application portal. Who should I contact?
Please reach out to [email protected] who will be able to assist you.
I’ve been sent an email to complete the Rare Contextual Recruitment Survey – what is this?
The Rare Contextual Recruitment Survey is applicable for candidates who completed secondary education in the UK. This survey is not mandatory and does not influence the outcome of your application in any way. It is used for monitoring purposes only.
When does the Full-Time Analyst Program begin?
This program starts at the beginning of August, with a two-week BlackRock orientation. After orientation, Analysts join their team and receive business-specific training and professional development throughout the program.
When does the Summer Analyst Program take place?
This program takes place between June and August of each year and is a pipeline for our Full-Time Analyst Program the following year.
When does the Placement Program start?
The start dates for interns in this program are dependent on their degree requirements. Typically, placements start in April or June.
When does the Off-Cycle Internship Program take place?
The dates of this program are flexible depending on the availability of successful candidates.
When does the Spring Insight Program take place?
Our Spring Insight Program takes in April. The exact dates are dependent on the location you apply for and will be confirmed beforehand.
When does Women of the Markets take place?
This program takes place in October. The exact dates will be confirmed later this year.
Early career FAQs for the Americas
When do applications open and when are they due?
Applications open between May-September, but dates vary by program. For information on the specific application dates, please refer to the program description(s) on the early careers page.
How many applications can I submit?
You can apply to one program (Summer Analyst, Full-Time Analyst, MBA Summer Associate) and up to two business divisions. (For example: For the Summer Analyst Program, you can apply to the Sales and Relationship Management team and the Human Resources team.)
Can I apply to multiple regions?
You can only apply to one region (Americas, Europe or Asia Pacific). However, on your application you can note your interest in an alternative region.
Do you offer opportunities for MBA or PhD students?
We offer a Summer Associate Program that is exclusively for MBA students applying in their penultimate year of study. This program takes place between June and August of each year. MBA students in their final year of study are also welcome to apply to the Advanced Degree program on the early careers page.
PhD students are welcome to apply to the Advanced Degree program on the early careers page.
For information on the specific application dates, please refer to the program description(s) on the early careers page.
What is the virtual cover letter? (N/A for Software Engineering applicants)
The virtual cover letter is a short Q&A video recording that you must submit as part of the application process. We’ll provide you with two questions to record your answers to. You’ll then have three minutes to prepare and 90 seconds to answer each question. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes. You must complete both questions in a single sitting within 72 hours of submitting your online application to be considered. We review this virtual cover letter instead of a written cover letter.
What is the coding test? (Software Engineering applicants only)
The coding test is an assessment that you must complete as part of the software engineering application. It consists of six coding problems and a brief Q&A video recording. You can complete the coding problems over the course of the four days and it should take 90 minutes to complete. The Q&A video recording must be completed in one sitting. You’ll have three minutes to prepare and 90 seconds to record your answer. Both the coding problems and Q&A are due within four days of submitting your online application.
How can I complete the virtual cover letter or coding test?
Immediately after you submit your online application, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete this step. You can also access the virtual cover letter or coding test directly from your application portal.
If I apply for two roles, will I be required to complete a virtual cover letter for both positions?
Yes, you’ll be required to complete a virtual cover letter for each position you selected in your application form.
Can I retake the virtual cover letter or coding test once I have submitted it?
No. Unfortunately, you cannot retake the virtual cover letter or coding test once submitted.
What language should I use when completing the virtual cover letter if I apply for a role in a non-English speaking country?
You’ll be required to complete the virtual cover letter in the local language of the office you’re applying for (e.g. for a Frankfurt position, you should answer the questions in German).
If I don’t complete the virtual cover letter or coding test within the deadline, will BlackRock still consider my application?
Your application is considered incomplete if you don’t submit your cover letter or coding test within the deadline and your application will automatically be rejected.
If I don’t complete my virtual cover letter within the deadline, can I withdraw my application and submit another?
No, if you didn’t complete your cover letter or coding test within the deadline, you can’t reapply.
I’m having technical issues with my cover letter or coding test. Who should I contact?
Please reach out to [email protected] or call 1-800-655-4106 with any technical difficulties. They will be able to assist you.
I never received the link to complete my virtual cover letter or coding test. How do I proceed?
You can complete your virtual cover letter via your application portal. Please log into your application portal and click the link that says “start assessment.” That will take you to our HireVue platform where you can complete your virtual cover letter or coding test.
Can I update my resume / CV or other information in my application after I have submitted it?
You can update your contact details and your CV after your application has been submitted. For any technical issues with your application, please reach out to [email protected].
How can I see where I am in the application process?
You can log in to the application portal to see any updates. You’ll also receive email communications if your application has progressed to the next stage or been rejected.
Will I receive feedback if my application is unsuccessful?
Unfortunately, BlackRock is unable to provide feedback on your application.
If I withdraw one of my applications, can I reapply or submit a new one?
No, you will not be able to submit a new application if you withdraw your original application. A withdraw application still counts towards your application limit. Candidates are eligible to submit a total of 2 applications each year. Both applications must be submitted at the same time, within the same program (i.e. Summer Analyst, Analyst, etc.) and within the same region (APAC, Americas or EMEA).
Can I reapply next year if my application has been rejected this year?
Yes, we encourage you to reapply next year, provided you still meet the criteria for the program you’re considering.
I’m having technical issues accessing the application portal. Who should I contact?
You can reach out to [email protected]. They will be able to assist you.
When does the Summer Analyst Program take place?
This program takes place between June and August of each year and is a pipeline for our Full-Time Analyst Program the following year.
When does the Full-Time Analyst Program begin?
This program starts at the end of July, with a two-week global orientation in New York City. After the orientation, Analysts join their local office team and receive regional and business-specific training throughout the duration of the program.
When and where does Fast-track to FinTech take place?
Fast-Track to FinTech takes place during the summer in our Atlanta office.
When and where does Find Your Future Forum take place?
Find Your Future Forum takes place virtually in the spring. We will be hosting the program twice in 2021 on March 24th and March 25th.
What is the recruiting timeline?
We begin reviewing applications following each program’s respective deadline (not on a rolling basis). The recruitment process takes place throughout the fall semester, depending on business need. In some select cases, certain businesses may recruit through early next year.
When and where does the BlackRock Founders Scholarship process take place?
The BlackRock Founders Scholarship process takes place in fall in our New York City, San Francisco and Atlanta locations. Students will be considered for the location that they have applied to.
FAQ
What questions are asked in a video interview?
- Why are you interested in this position? …
- What do you know about our company? …
- What are your strengths? …
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years? …
- What is your ideal work environment? …
- Describe your work ethic. …
- Tell me about yourself.
How do I prepare for a BlackRock interview?
How many interview rounds at BlackRock?
What is the BlackRock virtual cover letter?
