1. What significant trends do you see in the future for our industry?

This is your chance to shine. You will be fully familiar with the economic situation as it relates to banking or how recent legislation affects it. How will you be familiar? Because you will have done your research and preparation properly.

You will have talked to people about the employer, you will have been reading trade magazines, journals and newspapers, and you will have poured over company brochures, annual reports or anything else you can get your hands on direct from the employer.

You could talk about tele-banking, the limited range of services now being offered by the supermarket banks, the effects of technology and competition and much more.

The Employment Files in the Careers Service library are an obvious first place to look. The Internet is also an excellent source of information. Be ready to have more than one significant trend to discuss!

2. Who are our major competitors and what differences do you notice in our products?

The company will be expecting that you have done your research on the industry generally. You should be familiar with the bank’s products and services – literature on these can be picked up at any branch. Read the banks brochures and annual reports – these may be in the careers information room.

Be aware of current trends in the market and try to find out what each bank is doing in these areastion

3. Tell us about an experience in which you had to use tact?

Tact and diplomacy are important qualities in retail banking – the customer is (almost!) always right. You may have to tell an account holder diplomatically why they can’t have a loan for example, without provoking them into moving their account elsewhere.

To answer this type of question, think through everything you have done in the last five years – school, university, sports, clubs, societies, travel, vacation jobs etc. and try to think of situations where you had to demonstrate this and other qualities – do this before your interview.

If you have completed a number of employer application forms, then you should already have done this as this type of question is now common on application forms.

4. How do you feel about committing yourself to another three years of exams?

The professional examinations that you will almost certainly be required to take as part of your training are not always difficult in themselves, but do require determination and focus- especially as much of your study will be done in the evenings after a hard days work.

You should also be aware of the range of qualifications open to you – many of the large clearing banks offer the opportunity to gain qualifications in marketing, personnel or accountancy – not just banking.

5. Have you applied to any other areas apart from banking?

re off course your answer will hold some other finance or sales and marketing careers – insurance or accountancy, altogether these careers should have skills related to banking.

6. Who are our major competitors and what differences do you notice in our products?

The company will be expecting that you have done your research on the industry generally. You should be familiar with the bank’s products and services – literature on these can be picked up at any branch. Read the banks brochures and annual reports – these may be in the careers information room.

Be aware of current trends in the market and try to find out what each bank is doing in these areas

7. Have you applied to any other areas apart from banking?

Here off course your answer will hold some other finance or sales and marketing careers – insurance or accountancy, altogether these careers should have skills related to banking.