How to ace video interviews

Structure

• Typically 3 – 6 questions or even more which combine a range of motivational, competency, strength/behavioural, and situational
questions
• Each question typically has a recording time of 60 – 90 seconds, with 30 seconds prep time prior
• Typical length 5 – 50 minutes in total (including prep time)
Tips
1. Set up your camera and any headset or microphone ahead of time (eliminate any technical hitches)
2. Maintain eye contact with the camera and smile as much as you can
3. Make sure your background is tidy, distraction-free, quiet, and well-lit
4. Dress professionally (smart clothes/suits)
5. Project a confident tone and body language
6. Practice talking to yourself in the mirror to get yourself used to feeling of having to speak to your camera
7. Practice, Practice, Practice - practice timing yourself, as it’s important to be able to fit your answer into the allotted time

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator

 Guide to answering motivational questions
Key Questions What firms are looking Framework Examples
for
Why this company? What makes the firm stand out I want to work for (chosen company) for three reasons: ‘ I want to work for X for three
compared to others? 1. Reason 1 – add any additional information such as names/statistics/a news reasons. Firstly, [insert chosen reason]
Have you attended any story/ personal interaction or personal reason why the work they do which led me to attending [insert
events/webinars with the resonates with you (when mentioning specific company values) / interviews experience or society]. Secondly,
company? What did you learn? on YouTube within X I will have the opportunity to
Can you speak positively towards 2. Reason 2 – add any additional information such as names/statistics/a news [insert what the company offers], and
the culture/values of the firm? story/ personal interaction or personal reason why the work they do finally, having attended your
What makes you want to work resonates with you (when mentioning specific company values) / interviews company’s Insight event and
there? on YouTube networking with Person X, I learnt
Are there unique aspects of the 3. Reason 3 – add any additional information such as names/statistics/a news that…’
internship/programme that have story/ personal interaction or personal reason why the work they do
encouraged you to apply? resonates with you (when mentioning specific company values) / interviews
on YouTube

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator

Why did you apply for the Have you got relevant past
division? experience in a similar field (e.g. 4. Reason 1 – add any additional information such as names/statistics/a news
insight day, internship)?
Are there any aspects of the job
that are particularly appealing to
you?
Have they done any interesting
work recently?
What skills are you particularly
looking to develop?
I want to work in this division for three reasons:
story/ personal interaction or personal reason why the work they do
resonates with you (when mentioning the work the division does) /
interviews on YouTube
5. Reason 2 – add any additional information such as names/statistics/a news
story/ personal interaction or personal reason why the work they do
resonates with you (when mentioning the work the division does) /
interviews on YouTube
Reason 3 – add any additional information such as names/statistics/a news
story/ personal interaction or personal reason why the work they do
resonates with you (when mentioning the work the division does) /
interviews on YouTube
‘ I want to work in [insert division] for
three reasons. Firstly, [insert chosen
reason]. Secondly, within this division I
will have the opportunity to [insert
what you will be doing]..which closely
aligns with my [insert skills/what you
value in a role]...’ , and finally, having
attended your company’s Insight
event that was delivered by Person X, I
learnt that…’

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator

 Guide to answering competency questions
Key Competencies What firms are looking for: Framework Examples

Leadership
E.g.: ‘Tell me about a time
you had to take up a
leadership role’
Teamwork
E.g.: ‘Tell me about a time
you had to work in a team
to achieve a goal?’
Analytical/Problem-solver
‘Tell me about a recent
analytical piece of work you
completed’
What examples do you have of
taking responsibility?
Can you delegate effectively and
inspire people to execute your
vision?
When have you taken initiative?
How do you work in teams?
What examples of successful
teamwork do you have (focussing
on your personal impact)?
How do you handle disagreements
within your teams? When have you
needed to convince someone?
Have you completed a difficult
piece of work recently e.g. at an
internship?
Do you have evidence of when you
have needed to be a self-starter?
Are you comfortable working with
different types of data?
S - Briefly set the scene ‘As president of the ACS, I took the
T - Describe what was required initiative to organise our first ever ACS
A - What did you do and why? access conference after noticing some
R - What was the outcome (use quantifiable results if you can)? weaknesses in our outreach strategy’
R - What did you enjoy? What could you have done better? What was it
about the experience that confirmed your interest for this division/type
of work?
S - Briefly set the scene ‘I worked as part of a team of 4 in a non-
T - Describe what was required profit consulting company, advising a
A - What did you do and why? charity on its turnaround strategy,
R - What was the outcome (use quantifiable results if you can)? where I was specifically responsible for
R - What did you enjoy? What could you have done better? What was it sizing new market opportunities’
about the experience that confirmed your interest for this division/type
of work?
S - Briefly set the scene ‘As part of my dissertation, I was
T - Describe what was required required to analyse data using software
A - What did you do and why? that I had never encountered’
R - What was the outcome (use quantifiable results if you can)?
R - What did you enjoy? What could you have done better? What was it
about the experience that confirmed your interest for this division/type
of work?

Key things to remember

1. Emphasising personal impact – Highlight the results that you have delivered in the experiences you have had. When describing teamwork examples, be
sure to use ‘I’ instead of ‘we’.
4

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator

2. Delivery of answers – Keep your answers succinct whilst maintaining structure (less than 90 seconds). Project confidence in your delivery and talk with
clarity.
3. Story selection – think about your key achievements/experiences in your CV before the interview and what the most relevant points were. If
possible, using stories that highlight skills that would also be relevant to the job (e.g. degree, projects)

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator

 Guide to answering strength based questions
Key Strengths What firms are looking for: Example questions Framework/Tips Examples

• Leadership Have you completed a difficult piece of 1. What skills could you bring Tips ‘My three strengths are leadership,
• Teamwork and work recently e.g. at an internship? to the role above anyone analytical thinking , and my key
collaboration How do you work in teams? else. 1. NEVER choose a weakness that attention to detail...’During my time as
• Analytical/Problem- Are you comfortable working with 2. What would you do if you is integral to the role. E.g., if a Shift manager at Tesco I led a team
solver different types of data? saw your friend cheating in your role requires you to work of 30 employees for over 5 months…’ [
• Initiative Are you driven? an exam in a team, do not say your provide examples for all of the
• Attention to detail Do your strengths, values, and 3. What brings the best out in weakness is team work strengths you mention]
• Effective behaviours align to the organisation you.
communication 4. How do you stay motivated 2. Investigate the role by looking ‘ My weakness is my attention to detail
• Adaptable 5. What are your at the job description on the which can make me inefficient at
• Integrity/Accountability strengths/weaknesses. company website! Find out times, which is why in my role as a
more about the job you are research analyst in the finance society I
applying for – the skills and use the pomodoro technique to
values sought or the qualities increase my focus and as a result…’
required. The job description on
the vacancy will often help to
uncover desired strengths.

3. Choose a weakness that you can

put a positive spin on, for
example overthinking → ‘despite
this also furthering my attention
to detail, it can make me
inefficient at times, so I have
been doing X to work on this’

Try to emulate the answers to the

type of role or environment subtly:

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator

 e.g., If you want to be a trader, have
a competitive activity as something
that energises/excites/you are good
at or something that requires you to
work under strict deadline/ is high
pressure

e.g., if you want to go into

AM/WM/A client facing role have
some sort of socialising element to
what energises/excites/you are
good at or something that requires
you to establish a rapport with
others

e.g., if you are interested in HR &

infrastructure, provide examples
that involve
planning/organising/communication

Framework:

‘My three strengths are[insert

strength].., [insert strength], and
[insert strength]…’ During my time
as a …’

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator

 Guide to answering commercial awareness questions
Example Questions What firms are looking for: Framework/Tips Examples

Tell me about a news Commercial acumen Framework ‘ Last week in the Financial Times I read
story you have been Do you keep up with financial news that [insert story]. As a result, I believe
following and how relevant to your chosen division? 1. Brief summary of news story – what it was, when you heard it/read this could have political and social
would this impact your it implications [flesh out the political or
chosen line of business 2. Impact of news story – select a few Impacts from PESTLE(M) social issues this may cause], [relate
story to how this could impact the
OR Political division now and in the future]…’
Economical
What is a major theme Social
going on in the Tech
markets, how will it Legal
affect it, and how will it Environmental
affect this role Moral/Ethical

3. If you are going into markets/WM/AM/Wholesale

Payments/Corporate Banking try to also mention how you would be
responding as an investor/analyst e.g., would you invest in
defensive stocks or reallocate your portfolio to reflect the
uncertainty by investing in bonds OR mention how this could
potentially impact discussions with clients

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator

 Guide to answering situational questions (less common)
Example Question What firms are looking for: Tips Examples

You manage an extremely busy Do you possess the In advance: ‘Establish formal target setting and
team of six people who operate characteristics/traits/values of review arrangements for each member
as an office-based customer an employee at the 1. Investigate the role by looking at the job description on the of the team..’
service department. The peak organisation company website! Find out more about the job you are applying for
business period for the year is – the skills and values sought or the qualities required. The job
approaching and your description and person specification on the vacancy will often help
department is undoubtedly to uncover desired approaches.
beginning to feel the strain.
Matters are reaching the 2. What does the employer value? Take a look at the employer’s
breaking point, with staff morale website and explore their culture and values – this could give you
dropping and errors increasing. vital clues as to what behaviours are important. Do they want
Your staff are openly questioning people who are proactive, do they want team players?
what is expected of them and are
confused about their
department's overall objectives.
However, the situation is not
irretrievable if you act now: your
major customers remain happy.
Urgent action is required.

How would you respond?

Compiled by Zakia Eyiowuawi, Finance and Consulting Candidate Coordinator