Why HSBC Interview Questions
How to answer the question "Why HSBC"?
Founded in 1865 by Scottish banker Thomas Sutherland, HSBC is a British multinational bank and financial services corporation with $595 billion worth of assets under management as of 2022.
The company name stands for Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, although its HQ is in London. Today, HSBC has offices in 64 countries worldwide and services approximately 40 million clients.
HSBC originally had four business groups:
- Commercial Banking
- Global Banking and Markets
- Retail Banking and Wealth Management
- global private banking
In 2020, the company combined the latter two divisions to form the Wealth and Personal Banking group.
The British-based bank has primary listings on both Hong Kong and London Stock Exchanges and secondary listings on the New York and Bermuda Stock Exchanges.
Unlike many other banking application interviews, HSBC has included a “HireVue interview” process, which offers video and virtual interviews instead of in-person ones. Thus, applicants record their responses in a video format.
For every question, applicants have around 30 seconds for preparation and 2 minutes for answering each question. The number of questions varies from 2 to 5.
The focus of the question depends on the position. However, refrain from memorizing answers, as it will make you seem less authentic and confident.
Note
While some questions may be pre-recorded, avoid memorization when tackling the interview process.
This article will provide a general framework and approach to preparing your responses.
HSBC Interview Application Timeline and Tips
Before providing sample questions and answers to HSBC’s interviews, here is a general overview of its application timeline. It is essential to ensure you know the selection process steps to prepare in advance.
1. Prepare your CV and resume
As the first step of the application process, please ensure your CV and resume are as polished, concise, and detailed as possible.
Not only can presenting a high-quality resume increase your prospects of receiving an offer, but it also allows HSBC to consider future roles for you depending on your strengths and areas of expertise.
HSBC wants to see your CV first include a summary of skills, goals, and achievements as an overview. Then, include your work experience, from the most recent to the least. Finally, please include the periods of employment, job titles, and details in your roles, and provide examples.
Below the employment history section comes the education history. Please also mention the related coursework and grades in a bulleted format, from the most recent to the least. After completing this section, feel free to include some relevant hobbies.
Before submitting your CV and resume, ensure the contacts and addresses are updated. The length should be at most two pages.
2. Online assessment
Depending on the position you applied for, you will receive a link to an online assessment to see if you have the required knowledge and skills. These questions also testify to how suitable you may be for the company.
As the email will indicate, you will have a set number of days to complete the assessment. It is recommended to practice some questions before you take the test.
3. Interviews
Beyond the technical components of excelling in your application process, HSBC also emphasizes the importance of fitting in with the company’s values, such as valuing differences, succeeding together, taking responsibility, and getting it done.
HSBC has two interview formats:
- on-demand video interviews, known as HireVue
- live, in-person meetings and calls
The interview format does not dictate the chances of your offer, as it depends on the role. Moreover, an interview lasts roughly half to a full hour.
Feel free to sign up for HSBC’s preparation program for more support.
HSBC also suggests that candidates approach the interview responses using a reflective approach known as the STAR Method:
- Situation: Provide examples and details to set the scene.
- Task: Describe your responsibilities in the situation, story, or scenario.
- Action: Explain how you resolved an issue.
- Result: State the outcomes of your actions.
Why HSBC Interview Question
The “Why Us?” question is a typical interview question that assesses how fitting you are to the company’s focus, career offerings, corporate values, and potential as an employee.
Since this question is an almost guaranteed question you will encounter, you should expect to hear something along the lines of:
Why do you want to work for HSBC?
When answering this question, you must be authentic and research the company in advance. You should find some aspects of the company, whether a recognition, program, mission, or other strengths, and tie them to your ambitions in working for them.
Avoid mentioning financial benefits or exit opportunities; be specific with your response. Companies want to know if you have taken the time to prepare for the interview and if you demonstrate interest and commitment in joining and staying with the company for a long time.
If possible, come prepared with a list of things that made the company appealing and boil down the list into the top 3 qualities. Since you have limited time when answering each question, you should pick the most important qualities that made you choose to apply to the institution.
It also may be beneficial if you have a story to tell that you can connect to your decision to join the company. It is also imperative to come up with a straightforward answer that captures the prompt. Feel free to be creative and use specific stories to showcase your interests.
Sample answer
"As someone pursuing a career in finance, I had always viewed HSBC as my first choice. With the firm’s recognition of being in the Top 50 Employers for Women in The Times, it becomes more evident that HSBC emphasizes representation and diversity.
Furthermore, I am interested in working with SMEs, which HSBC is known for. My goal in finance is to always support smaller corporations by helping them grow."
What made you apply to HSBC?
Sample answer
"During college, I talked to many upper-level students about their work experiences and gathered information about career opportunities with my guidance counselor. From both parties, HSBC has always been one of the best companies they worked at.
Whether it is the dynamic work environment or the diversity of its employees, I have heard many stories and meaningful lessons current and past HSBC employees had while working or interning there. Therefore, HSBC naturally became my number one choice."
What do you like about HSBC?
Sample answer
"HSBC is known for its international presence. Having grown up in a culturally diverse environment, I had always wanted to work with people hailing from countries around the globe.
I also admire HSBC’s Faith and Embrace network, which accepts people with different ethnic backgrounds and faiths. As someone with both English and Asian roots with a family that practices different religions, I believe I fit perfectly into HSBC’s values and community."
Other HSBC Sample Questions And Answers
HSBC likes to ask questions about workforce scenarios and who you are as an employee. Although there are no correct responses to the chosen sample questions below, please use the answers as references when you prepare for your upcoming interviews.
Other HSBC Sample Questions And Answers
When answering this question, make sure to be authentic and show your interest in pursuing the career.
Sample answer:
"Since high school, I have always been fascinated by the stock market. Seeing how news, events and market trends affect stock performances, I began investing and participated in our school’s finance club.
Eventually, this passion led me to choose finance as my major in college. Over the past two years, I interned at small investment banks, learned valuation models, and worked with many clients seeking financial guidance. I hope to continue this journey by working as a financial analyst."
You want to show that you are planning to stay in the company for a long time. This question can further demonstrate to the interviewer that you are really committed to working for them.
Sample answer:
“I hope to become a Premier Relationship Manager specializing in working with a portfolio of high-value clients. As someone who has always been vying to work with customers to achieve long-term goals, I believe I would accomplish that objective by working at HSBC.
From contributing to transactional banking activities, conducting frequent check-ins to gauge a client’s goals, and providing holistic suggestions to help others achieve financial benchmarks, the Premier Relationship Manager embodies the responsibilities I hope to attain.”
Although you should be frank with your response, you should find a weakness that does not negatively affect your career or work commitment.
Sample answer:
“I have an unhealthy practice of being overly harsh on myself. As a perfectionist, I always strive to avoid making mistakes. This mindset could be damaging to my self-esteem when I encounter temporary setbacks. It also pushes me very hard, sometimes in an unnecessary direction.
However, acknowledging this weakness, I have improved my mentality and gradually accepted making and embracing mistakes.”
This question aims to test your technical knowledge. Therefore, be straightforward when answering this type of question. In this case, simply list the benefits of initial public offerings and back up your statements with evidence.
Sample answer:
“By going public through IPO, a company can raise capital more conveniently, boosting growth opportunities through marketing and R&D. Furthermore, a company will have more liquid shares since their stocks will be available on public stock exchange platforms.
Some other upsides include funding for potential M&A transactions and reducing corporate debt. These possibilities tie to how an IPO could increase brand recognition and identity, gaining traction from investors and employees.”
The company wants to see your work style and ability to handle stressful situations. For this question, describe the situation, your position, the steps you took to resolve the difficulty, and the outcome. Be concise when answering this question.
Sample answer:
“In my previous financial analyst position, I was finalizing an important presentation due the next day. However, a technical error made me lose the document, wiping the information and data. Unfortunately, I could not reboot my computer, and it was untimely to reach out to tech support.
Using my memory, I immediately began writing down what I could remember on a separate device. I also notified my team members what had happened, apologized for the situation, and compiled all the information we could gather.
The next day, I went to the office early and worked with my teammates to craft the slides. Since we had already allocated responsibilities the night before, we efficiently completed the presentation before the meeting.”
The company is trying to see your character and moral obligations. Answer truthfully, but you should always abide by corporate values. Make sure to be clear with your response and outline your steps.
Sample answer:
“I am a firm believer in corporate values and policy. If I knew that my boss’s instructions contradicted those values, I would not follow their demands. Furthermore, I have my own beliefs, and if their instructions do not align with mine, I would most likely refuse.
However, communication is crucial to understanding why my boss asks me to do so. Thus, I will first listen to the reason behind their instructions before deciding my actions.”
Questions to Ask
Before going to your next interview, prepare questions to ask. Doing so will leave a positive impression as you showcase your attentiveness to understanding your applied role, interest in the company, and commitment to researching your potential future workspace.
Here are some questions you can consider:
- What are some aspects of HSBC that were appealing to you? Why did you choose to work for HSBC?
- What qualities does a standout candidate have in this position?
- Beyond the technicalities of the role, what are some notable difficulties in this position? What soft skills are hard to have but necessary to excel in this role?
- In this position, what is the steepest learning curve? How can I best learn through the process efficiently?
- What parts of the job can I grow and develop my skill sets?
Always ask if you have any questions that pertain to your career interests or goals. Tying your questions to your interests, career goals, or personal stories is best. Also, make sure that you are asking open-ended questions.
NOTE
Do not ask questions where their answers are easily accessible online. It is best to ask insightful questions that are open, reflective, and beneficial questions to you as a candidate.
Why HSBC Interview Questions - Final Tips
Beyond preparing answers and knowing what type of questions HSBC asks, ensure you organize your ideas and be confident in your responses. Before your next interview, here are some final suggestions you should consider.
1. Be polite
Always arrive early to the interview and always arrive on time and on time. Remember, proper dress attire is required. If you have a question during a live interview, wait for the interviewer to finish before asking. Turn off your phone and minimize all possible distractions.
2. Be organized and concise
When asked to review your resume, pinpoint the most important activities or experiences. Then, when asked a question, think before you respond and speak with confidence and clarity. The balance between being straightforward and providing relevant details is key.
3. Show, do not tell
Use examples and the STAR method when formatting your answers. Plan by thinking of stories that could present another side of yourself that may not be related to finance or professional studies. Refrain from memorizing your answers.
4. Demonstrate interest
Before the interview, please research the company and demonstrate why HSBC is the right company for you. However, being authentic and showing who you are is important while demonstrating interest.
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