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hsbc phone interview questions and answers

You’ll feel more confident in any interview situation, and you’ll get points from the hiring manager for being prepared! To get you started, following are 43 common interview questions and tips to answer them.

HSBC Work Experience Placement Offer & Telephone Interview Tips

They asked me for evidence of one of these, I think it was communication.

They then asked why i wanted to do a gap year (it was for a year internship), but I would expect a similar basic general question like "Why HSBC?", here I would give an example of something dodgy about another firm (I did this in my final interview regarding rival KPMG), and then go but HSBC blah blah blah. Or for example, say their training is far better regarded than Lloyd's or something like that. Part of the reason I ultimately didn't get my Deloitte job however was that I got really quite angry at KPMG (they had previously rejected me and given me feedback saying "not enough evidence of ___competencies: we advise you____;" and all the advised things were things we discussed.

In my feedback therefore they told me to be more positive, don't diss your current job or alternative firms too much, talk more about why this one is better.

They also asked me to define "professional services" and to give examples.

They also asked what I understood as the main activities of Deloitte. Here, give some depth, (for HSBC of course) don't just saying "banking, finance." Which was kind of the type of response I gave in mine.

You won't need a calculator, I had some aptitude tests for my position, but my role was much more mathematically involved than a "customer services officer" would be, and they'll be looking far more at communication and interpersonal skills.

I also ultimately failed because of not enough eye contact, i didn't believe anyone could actually not get a job on such an irrelevant trait, but apparently so.


Overall, focus on the "competencies", prepare little examples of the really cheesy things, large firms love them and are far too obsessed by them IMO.

I work got hsbc business banking in swanc and all i can say is dress tidy act really intrested and ask loads of questions and when you go they will give you a pice of paper that you need to read and the recruter will phone you (in one of the offices) and she will ask you questions about the info on the paper.

I am a VP of another bank and I can assure you that you will have a lot of questions centered around team work, your ability to solve problems and for sure you will have to give examples of how you have diffused problem customer situations. Make sure you are preparred with stories illustrating your teamwork and poblem solving abilities. Of course you should have some stories ready about how you have gone above and beyond in customer service and have povided unexpected acts of kindness for customers.

Not HSBC specifically. If they have sent you the job spec it should say on there what qualities they are looking for. Pick out the key ones and think of situations where you have done this and it is important to think of an example. eg If it says they require the applicant to be a good communicator you could tell them about a time when you did this in your job now/at college. It doesn`t matter what the example is, you are showing that you are able and you have the qualities they are looking for.
Most importantly, just be friendly, be yourself and talk about yourself. Remember, they don`t know you and you have to show that you are what they are looking for. Good luck.


This unpaid placement lasts for one week during July where I'll get:

  • An insight into HSBC's strategy, its history and its values
  • Experience of actual jobs that I'd be doing if I came to work for HSBC full time
  • An opportunity to work on an actual project and share my ideas with management
  • Tips on interview technique and presentation skills
  • Feedback and ideas on how I can develop myself
  • An opportunity to network with other employees in the amazing world of work

I'll also gain:

  • An invaluable insight into what it's like to work in financial services
  • An opportunity to come back for more work experience
  • An opportunity to keep in contact with HSBC

Vacancies opened during January and I applied the day it opened. Candidates had the choice to choose what branch of HSBC they wanted to work in so when applying you applied to the specific branch instead of doing a general application. I chose the Stratford, East London branch simply because it's not too far from home for me. The application was very straight-forward where I had to upload my CV, a cover letter and complete a couple of questions as well as mentioning previous work experience. Once I sent off my application 3 days later I got invited to complete an online assessment.

I usually dislike online assessments as I haven't had a good experience completing online numerical and verbal tests but luckily this test was an online dependability test where they asked questions about how you would react in certain situations and what decisions you would make. When completing a dependability test my advice is always to be truthful. Don't try and choose an answer that you think they expect to be chosen. Dependability tests are there to tell what your personality is like and if you're suitable for the role.

Over a month later I received an email telling me that I have been successful in the previous stage of the recruitment process and that I am invited to take part in a telephone interview which will be conducted by one of their graduates.

Now it's time for my telephone interview tips and how I prepared for it.

I was told that I will be asked about how I related to HSBC's values which are:

  • Leading with courageous integrity
  • Standing for what is right
  • Being dependable and doing the right thing
  • Being open to different ideas and cultures
  • Building connection with people

With this knowledge I decided to research competency questions that are likely to be asked and based on skills such as communication, team work, resilience, integrity, responsibility and more. It's best that you plan ahead and identify what skills you have gained from work experience, college/uni and any extra- curricular activities. The interviewer is more interested in what you did which displays the competency rather than what the situation is.

It's really important that you look at examples of competency questions so you have an idea of what an interviewer can ask as it's much easier when you're prepared with an answer. Telephone interviews are different to face to face interviews because the interviewer can't see you so you can't judge their reactions during the interview. You must make sure you're prepared and ready to answer the questions.

  • Make sure your phone is fully charged
  • Make sure you're in a quiet place and be sure that you will not be interrupted at any time
  • If it helps, keep some notes with you. Make sure everything you need is ready and in front of you to avoid movement during the interview
  • Try and sound enthusiastic whilst speaking
  • Ask questions at the end of the interview as you would in a face to face interview
  • Don't talk to fast. The interviewer will be writing notes so talk at a decent pace. This should also help to calm you down.
  • Most importantly, BE YOURSELF :)

When I had the phone interview I was quite nervous because I knew it was really important to make a good impression. I had my notes in front of me, a piece of paper and a pen just in case I had to write down any notes. I had examples ready for the question I thought I would be asked. I was asked two questions but the questions asked were not what I expected. It came to a shock to me because I had to think quickly on the spot. Thankfully, I tried not to panic too much and I managed to think of an answer. If this ever happens to you don't panic. Just make sure you tell the interviewer that you need a moment to think and they will be ok with it. The interview was very short but I knew I tried my best.

The HSBC work experience placement is run in the UK and offers young people aged 14-19 to gain an insight into financial services. I will do a post about my week at HSBC in July and I hope this motivates some of you out there to apply next year. The opportunities are out there. Make sure you seize the opportunity :)

I'm really grateful for this placement and I know this is the beginning of a great career in banking. I know that

my interests lie within investment banking but it's important to gain work experience even if it's not completely  related because the skills you obtain is what makes you stand out when applying for a job in the future.


List of 43 hsbc phone interview questions and answers

  • Why do you want to work for HSBC?
  • How would your past experience translate into success in this job?
  • How do you interact with bank customers on a daily basis.
  • Explain how you would be an asset to HSBC?
  • Please tell me some products/services of HSBC Bank.
  • Why did you decide to pursue your career at HSBC Bank?
  • Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback.
  • Tell me about your work experience? How has it prepared you for a career at HSBC Bank?
  • Tell me one thing you came across in the news recently and how it affects HSBC?
  • Why should HSBC hire you?
  • Can you up sell financial products to customers.
  • Test your arithmetic skills.
  • Customer service, how to handle awkward customers.
  • Do you know anyone who works for HSBC?
  • What can you do for HSBC that other candidates can’t?
  • Please tell me some products/services of HSBC in the market? What are likes/dislikes of them?
  • If you worked for HSBC, what are you doing?
  • Please tell me some products/services that are competitors of HSBC’s in the market? And what are differences?
  • Who are our major competitors and what differences do you notice in our banking products?
  • Have you applied to any other areas apart from banking?
  • Who are our major competitors and what differences do you notice in our products?
  • What experience do you have in Bank field?
  • What have you done to improve your Bank knowledge in the last year?
  • What have you learned from mistakes on the Bank job?
  • If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change?
  • What appeals to you most about banking & joining bank?
  • What do know about private and public sector banks?
  • What does the bank gain by hiring you?
  • How many divisions does ABC bank have?
  • What you will do if I give a bank job?
  • Why capital is shown on liability side in the balance sheet?
  • Why do you want to work in a bank?
  • Why you choose the career in retail banking?
  • Why do you want to work for ABC Bank?
  • How has your education prepared you for your career?
  • What is more important to you: the money or the work?
  • What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
  • What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
  • Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor?
  • Tell me about your ability to work under pressure?
  • Explain what has disappointed you most about a previous job?
  • What motivates you to do your best on the job?
  • Do you have any questions