Absa interview questions

Very professional and non threatening. There is a standard form to be submitted to HR. Depending on level will be multiple interviews. Very fair process. However, stringent BEE policy.

The process was as follows: 1) Application online (leap.ly) 2) Online Psychometric 3) Telephonic Culture Fit Interview 4) Telephonic Interview (with members of the Global Markets team) 5) Assessment Centre Stage 2: Online Psychometric - It was the SHL assessments. These are standard for most organisations. Nothing tricky. Stage 3: Telephonic Culture Fit Interview - Was with a member of HR. Basic competency based questions. The normal "Tell me about a time..." type questions. Just an opportunity to learn about your personality, work style and what motivates you. Took about 30 minutes. Stage 4: Telephonic Interview (with members of the Global Markets team) - Was an unscheduled interview. We were told the next step was the assessment centre. I received a call from two members of the ABSA Global Markets team. They were both traders. Did not ask if I had a moment to talk, just fired away with questions. Took about 10 minutes. Questions were along the same lines as the culture fit interview. Stage 5: Assessment Centre - This was a whole day event that took place at the ABSA offices in Sandton. It was three parts. Part 1 - Trading simulation, where you had to trade a specific stock with other candidates and traders from ABSA. It was pretty stressful. You had to calculate a couple of things afterwards to see whether a profit or loss was made. Part 2 - Panel interview, there were three panel interviews with different teams. The interviews were extremely technical. You not only need to have a good knowledge of current affairs but also how these current affairs are expected to influence other markets, financial instruments and rates/indices etc.. Part 3 - Presentation, you are given a topic and then allowed 20 minutes to prepare. You cannot converse with anyone, use the internet or given any information. You must then present to one of the panels who interviewed you in part 2 for 10 minutes and be questioned for a further 10 minutes. Basically if you didn't know about the topic you were in trouble. I am an engineer who has interviewed for CIB and Asset Management at Standard Bank, Nedbank, Rand Merchant Bank and Investec Asset Management but none of these institutions required me to have the technical financial knowledge that ABSA required and questioned me on during the assessment center. I suggest you really know your stuff going in, a basic investment banking course (which I did) and knowledge of current affairs will not cut it. Also, prepare to meet some of the most arrogant and narcissistic individuals in your life. These individuals are extremely smart and successful, as such a lot of them believe they are allowed to be rude and demeaning, but don't take it personally. It is just how they are.