What is a HireVue interview?
HireVue is a one-way interview platform used by a number of investment banks and asset managers including J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock and Evercore. You will be presented with 3-5 different questions to which you must record your answers within the allotted time. These interviews are normally the first step of a recruitment process and will lead to a first-round interview if successful. For certain spring weeks, you may even receive an offer directly after the HireVue.
Employers use HireVue to screen a large number of applicants in less time than it would take to conduct one-on-one live interviews. While they may not feel as important as a telephone interview, a strong performance in the HireVue interview is often the difference between being rejected and being progressed to eventually receive an offer.
How to prepare for HireVue interview questions?
Most of the questions asked in a HireVue interview are the same as in face-to-face interviews. These can vary from motivational to technical questions, and you should always be prepared for anything to come up. Below are some common questions we recommend roughly preparing answers for before completing a HireVue interview for investment banking or other divisions in finance:
Common Motivational Questions
- Why have you applied for this company?
- Why have you chosen this division?
- Walk me through your resume
- (BlackRock HireVue Questions) Tell me something that isn’t shown on your resume
- (For Global Markets) Would you rather work in sales or trading, and why?
Common Competency Questions
- Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills
- Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult team member
- Tell me about a time you used data to solve a problem
- Tell me about a time you worked in a team against a tight deadline
Common Behavioural Questions
- How would you respond if two VP’s ask you to complete different tasks, but you only have enough time to complete one?
- What would you do if a colleague revealed that they cheated in the online assessment for the graduate programme?
- (Goldman Sachs HireVue Question) What would you do if a client made a request that violates firm policy?
Common Commercial Questions
- Tell me about a recent deal that our bank advised on
- Tell me about a recent news story you found interesting
- What are the biggest trends affecting the investment banking industry?
- What are the different methods of valuing a company?
We recommend practising your answers in front of a camera. Not only does this get you used to being recorded, but also allows you to watch your answer back and judge your answer. Often people speak much faster than intended and only discover once watching back their answers. Speak slowly and intentionally, and ensure your answers do not sound rehearsed.
If you want personalised HireVue feedback from trained professionals, JobTestPrep have newly released their Video Interview Preparation Package which provides a realistic simulation of the HireVue experience and step-by-step guidance to improve your answers.
We discuss in a later chapter how to find out which HireVue interview questions you will receive before taking the interview.
What to wear in a HireVue interview
As HireVue interviews should be treated as if they were face-to-face, we recommend dressing in business smart attire – this generally includes a suit and tie for men, and a blazer paired with a blouse or a professional dress for women.
While smart trousers would not be visible in the HireVue interview, you may find that wearing them will help you feel ‘in the zone’ – it’s up to personal preference.
Always use a laptop and ensure your webcam is at eye level. You may need to lower your chair or use a laptop stand. If you don’t own a laptop stand, consider stacking up some books to raise your laptop height.
How to answer questions in a HireVue interview
Contrary to common belief, most HireVue interviews are watched by humans rather than AI. Your interview will usually be watched by HR or a junior from the division you are applying for and you should conduct your interviews with this in mind. For example, consider thanking the interviewer for their time at the start of the recording like you might in a traditional face-to-face interview.
Although your video interview will be watched by a human, a HireVue interview should be approached differently to a traditional face-to-face interview. We have spoken to many analysts and HR professionals and when reviewing a HireVue interview, they already know whether they will progress a candidate in the first 15-30 seconds of a HireVue interview. Picture yourself as an investment banking analyst working 80-hour weeks who has been roped into watching hundreds of pre-recorded video interviews – it’s easy to see why they might zone out after the first minute.
For this reason, we highly recommend mentioning any impressive content at the beginning of your answer. This could include speaking about technical concepts/relevant jargon, senior employees you have networked with, or key internship experiences you have. If you only plan to demonstrate your technical knowledge 60 seconds into your answer, the interviewer will likely have already drawn a conclusion about your candidacy by the time you get there.
Another technique that follows this is to use the first 15 seconds as the equivalent of a ‘contents page’. Highlight what plan to say throughout your answer, again focusing on the important information that conveys your strength as a candidate.
Example Question for UBS Summer Analyst HireVue Interview:
First Question: Why do you want to work in Infrastructure Private Equity, specifically at UBS?
First Answer: “Firstly, thank you for taking the time to watch this video interview. I will begin by speaking about my previous internship in infrastructure advisory covering Core+ greenfield wind, PV and BESS and what I enjoyed about real assets, and then I’ll discuss my conversations with [NAME OF MD] and [NAME OF ASSOCIATE] and why I like the opportunistic fund strategy at UBS.”
In only 15 seconds, the person reviewing this HireVue interview can already tell a lot about our qualities as a candidate. Let’s break down this answer:
- “Firstly, thank you for taking the time to watch this video interview.”
This will come as a pleasant surprise to the interviewer who likely has never been spoken to directly in a HireVue interview. In any case, this is a matter of etiquette rather than candidacy.
- “…my previous internship in infrastructure advisory covering Core+ greenfield wind, PV and BESS…”
We immediately highlight any relevant experience and use infrastructure-specific language to demonstrate basic knowledge about the sector. While this content is not particularly technical, it’s enough to indicate that we have a specific interest in the role we’ve applied for.
- “…my conversations with [NAME OF MD] and [NAME OF ASSOCIATE]”
Another excellent way to demonstrate your interest in the firm.
- “…the opportunistic fund strategy at UBS.”
Demonstrates basic knowledge of the fund, making it clear that you haven’t wildly sent random applications.
How to find HireVue questions
Knowing which questions you will be asked before entering a HireVue interview can provide a substantial advantage, allowing you to prepare specific answers in advance. However, employers are increasingly aware that applicants share HireVue interview answers, and take precautions to prevent this. For example, most HireVue interviews for Investment Banking Summer Analyst positions will select 5 questions from a larger pool of over 50 potential questions, meaning you can’t know what they will ask.
While you might not know the exact questions, observing previous HireVue interview questions can provide a rough idea of what category of questions a certain company might ask (e.g. behavioural, commercial, motivational).
Group chat communities are an excellent platform to ask for past HireVue interview questions. If a group chat has over 1,000 members, there is a high likelihood that someone else has already completed the HireVue interview that you are preparing for.
Here is an example of a student sharing his J.P. Morgan Spring Week HireVue interview questions:
You can join our WhatsApp and Discord communities with over 20,000 peers here.
Conclusion
HireVue interviews for investment banking and asset management can be daunting and awkward experiences. You should prepare for a wide array of possible questions and practise your answers by filming yourself or having a professional review your answers.
Remember to speak as though you are in a face-to-face interview, someone will most likely be watching your HireVue interview!
