But finance is one of the best places in the world to be if you’re young, smart, charming, ambitious, or anything else. Or, at least, one of the in-demand places to be.
The benefits of a career in high finance are mostly self-evident. There is an enormous amount of prestige, dynamism, and compensation involved in the industry. There are also a lot of jobs in finance that start in investment banks. Some people end up working at hedge funds, private equity firms, or asset managers.
Getting into that first job, however, is easier said than done. Banks are fussy, to say the least. We have a long article about the application process here, but to sum it up: it takes a long time, starts in your second year of college (or maybe even your first), and includes many applications, interviews, and internships. We have lots of resources on applications and internships. Take a look at the “student” tab at the top of the page. You’ll be surprised at how far it leads you.
In terms of interviews, welcome. We’ve put together the longest list of questions we know have been asked in bank interviews for junior applicants (for summer internships and graduate programs after college). In interviews for Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, UBS, and other banks around the world, these people said the following things.
We can’t promise you that you’ll get a job anywhere, of course. But if you know how to answer the questions on this list, you may just have a chance.
Interviewing at CTBC Bank, one of the largest and most prestigious financial institutions in Taiwan, is a coveted opportunity. With its strong focus on talent development and career growth, CTBC attracts top candidates across industries and global markets.
Landing a role starts with conquering the interview process, which involves multiple rounds of thorough questioning. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore CTBC’s interview format, culture, commonly asked questions, and tips to help you put your best foot forward.
Overview of CTBC’s Interview Process
The CTBC interview process typically follows these stages
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Screening Call: 30 min call with HR or hiring manager to review resume and assess basic qualifications.
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Online Assessment: Psychometric tests evaluating critical thinking, problem-solving, and other cognitive abilities.
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1-3 Interviews: 45-90 min virtual/in-person interviews focused on technical & behavioral competencies.
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Final Interview: Panel interview with senior leadership evaluating culture fit.
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Reference Checks Feedback from provided references on past job performance,
The overall process can span 3-8 weeks from initial application to final offer. Expect to demonstrate strong technical expertise, strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with CTBC’s collaborative culture.
CTBC Bank’s Core Values and Culture
As Taiwan’s longest standing financial group, CTBC has a rich legacy built on the following cultural pillars:
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Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards and values.
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Professionalism: Pursuit of excellence through expertise, service quality and constant improvement.
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Innovation: Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and drive for digital transformation.
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Teamwork: Collaborative, transparent, and relationship-focused work environment.
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Social Responsibility: Commitment to enabling progress through financial services.
CTBC seeks candidates who embody these values and can contribute diverse perspectives. Highlight your cultural alignment throughout the interviews.
Most Frequently Asked CTBC Interview Questions
Let’s now dive into some of the most common CTBC interview questions and tips to ace your responses:
1. Why do you want to work at CTBC Bank?
This fundamental question evaluates your understanding of CTBC’s business and motivation. In your response:
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Demonstrate knowledge of CTBC’s services, values, and strengths in the market.
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Discuss your passion for the industry and interest in CTBC specifically.
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Explain why CTBC is the ideal next step to advance your career goals.
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Convey enthusiasm for contributing your skills and experience.
Example: “I’m excited to work at CTBC because of its leadership in digital banking innovation and focus on nurturing talent. With my background in consumer banking and eagerness to drive digital transformation, I see this as the perfect environment to make an impact while accelerating my expertise…”
2. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer.
This behavioral question tests your service mentality. In your response:
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Set up the situation by describing the customer and their need.
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Explain exactly what actions you took and why.
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Share the positive outcomes as a result of your effort.
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Demonstrate passion, creative thinking and commitment to delivering value.
Example: “When a long-time customer was denied a mortgage by our underwriters, I took the extra initiative to meet with them personally. By taking the time to understand their unique situation, I uncovered an alternative path to securitize the loan that satisfied our risk controls. The customer was incredibly grateful for the guidance through this difficult process and renewed their loyalty to our bank…”
3. How would you respond if a customer complained about an incorrect fee or charge?
This situational question examines conflict management skills and professionalism. In your response:
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Emphasize listening fully to understand the customer’s perspective.
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Outline the steps to validate their claim, such as reviewing transactions and policies.
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Discuss handling the situation calmly and making it right through credits, refunds or waiving of fees.
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Convey the importance of turning complaints into learning opportunities and improvements.
Example: “If a customer complained of an incorrect fee, I would first seek to understand their concerns and validate the accuracy by reviewing all transactions and applicable policies. If the fee was charged in error, I would apologize sincerely and take steps to resolve the issue immediately through a reversal or waiver of charges. My priority is correcting our mistake promptly and transforming the negative experience into an opportunity to improve our processes and rebuild trust…”
4. Describe a time you had to rapidly learn a new skill or technology. How did you achieve proficiency?
This question evaluates adaptability, critical thinking and resourcefulness. In your response:
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Introduce the new skill/technology and why it needed to be learned urgently.
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Discuss techniques such as hands-on practice, self-study, or seeking mentorship.
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Share specific examples of applying the new knowledge successfully.
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Convey enthusiasm and aptitude for continuous learning.
Example: “When our team needed to quickly adopt a new client management system, I took a multi-pronged approach to skill up rapidly. I went through the application tutorials, practiced hands-on transactions and reporting in a test environment, and asked our IT team for coaching on advanced features. Within two weeks, I became the go-to resource on the system. This experience demonstrated my ability to not just learn quickly but also apply knowledge in impactful ways.”
5. Tell me about a time you faced a challenging situation with a client or stakeholder. How did you handle it?
This question evaluates problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills. In your response:
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Briefly describe the challenging situation or conflict.
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Explain your process for addressing it, such as active listening and analyzing root causes.
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Share how you collaborated to arrive at a solution.
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Highlight the positive end results due to your efforts.
Example: “When a key client was considering leaving due to dissatisfaction with their account manager, I immediately scheduled a meeting to understand their frustrations. Through active listening, I realized the core issues were misaligned expectations and lack of communication. I worked closely with our account team to overhaul the client management strategy and improve transparency. The client appreciated our responsiveness and ultimately renewed their contract, thanks to the relationships rebuilt.”
6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This question gauges career ambitions, trajectory and fit with CTBC’s talent development process. In your response:
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Align your 5-year goal with CTBC’s business strategy and growth areas.
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Demonstrate eagerness to take on expanded responsibilities over time.
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Convey interest in leadership/management roles supported by CTBC’s training programs.
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Highlight desire to deliver value and make meaningful contributions.
Example: “In 5 years, my goal is to take on a leadership role at CTBC, managing a regional team of retail branch managers. With my background in branch operations and your management training programs, I’m confident I can excel. I’m eager to expand my skills and responsibilities at CTBC, while driving excellent customer experiences and loan portfolio growth in new markets.”
7. Why should we hire you over other candidates?
This question requires you to sell your unique value proposition. In your response:
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Concisely list your most relevant qualifications and experiences.
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Connect your background directly to the role’s requirements.
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Share one or two stand-out strengths or achievements that differentiate you.
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Convey passion and fit with the role, team or company culture.
Example: “With over 7 years in commercial lending and top performance reviews driving portfolio growth, I have the specialized skills and experience to fulfill this role’s requirements. Beyond my technical expertise, I bring a collaborative approach and relentless drive to enable client success that makes me stand out. My vision strongly aligns with CTBC’s innovation and social responsibility focus. I’m confident my diverse background makes me the ideal candidate to help CTBC achieve its ambitions.”
8. How would you handle a situation where you disagreed with your manager’s instructions or feedback?
This question tests your communication skills, emotional intelligence and professional integrity. In your response:
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Emphasize respectfully sharing your perspective and hearing your manager’s rationale.
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Discuss finding common ground or reasonable compromises.
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Explain following instructions once a collaborative decision is made.
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Convey commitment to open communication and building trusted relationships.
Example: “If I disagreed with my manager’s instructions, I would first seek to understand their reasoning and respectfully share my perspective. Finding common ground is my priority, so I would identify ways to align our approaches or compromise when possible. At the end of the discussion, I would follow my manager’s decision graciously. Having candid but thoughtful conversations builds trust, and I remain committed to executing on the team’s goals while strengthening our working relationship.”
9. How do you stay up-to-date on fintech trends
The market knowledge questions banks ask
Banks need to know that you know what you’re doing. You’ll be asked about the market right now, the world economy as a whole, and many other things. You should know about news in your field and also have a general understanding of things to answer these questions correctly.
- What does the Dow Jones/FTSE/S mean?
- A trader wants to hedge a digital option. What would they need to do to buy or sell?
- What did the markets do in the last three months? Tell us in your own words.
- What industry or company are you currently following?
- It will be worth what you think it will be in a year.
- What two companies should merge? Why?
- If we’re not already in a recession, is the economy going to get worse?
- To which company would you lend money and why?
- What is [interviewing bank’s] stock price?
- How do you see the market?
- Which number on a company’s balance sheet is the most important?
- How do you keep up with what’s going on in the world of money?
- Would you purchase stock X or bond Y?
- Pitch me a stock.
- Tell me about today’s economy, globally.
- Explain the Russo-Ukrainian war. What consequences has it had on the economy?.
- What’s the sell-side? What’s the buy-side?
- Tell me about a recent deal involving [interviewing bank].
- What is the current value of [interviewing bank]?
- How do you see AI impacting the workforce?
- What is the most important event in the world right now, and how might it affect the job you’ve applied for and the markets?
- Which kind of risk does a bank face the most?
- Tell me about a news article you recently read.
- What does “finance” mean to you?
- What does an inverted yield curve imply?
The Brainteaser questions banks ask
There’s much more to banking than just hard graft. That’s a lot of the experience, don’t get us wrong, but there’s more to it. You have to think on your feet, come up with solutions, and think outside the box. In many of the questions below, giving your response will be more about showing how you thought than getting the right answer.
- What is the angle between the hour and minute hands if you look at a clock and see that it is 9:45?
- What are some other uses for a coat rack?
- If printers A, B, C, and D are all working at a certain speed and D can’t work until an hour after C has, tell me which printer can be used when. Assume that no printers can work together.
- How would you invest one billion dollars?
- 5 students use 18 pencils in 9 days. If 15 students use the same number of pencils every day, how long will 66 pencils last them?
- There are 100 golf balls in your bag that are all the same. A number from 1 to 100 is written on each ball. You can pick one ball from the bag for $1 per draw. Then you can either stop, which will earn you money equal to the number on the ball, or you can put the ball back in the bag and try again. What is the optimal strategy to maximize the gain?.
- How many chickens are there in the United States?
- How many pigs are there in China?
- It’s possible for 747s to hold how many ping pong balls.
- What percentage of doors open inwards vs outwards?
- Which TV ad do you think is the best of all time?
- Every day, the lilies in a pond grow twice as big. After 7 days, they cover half of the pond. On what day will they cover the whole pond?
Answer: Day 8.
