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IBM Financial Analyst Interview Questions & Reviews

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Updated May 3, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 14 ratings

2.8

“Average” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 14 ratings

Positive	71%
Neutral	21%
Negative	7%

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1–10 of 14 IBM Interviews

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3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Apr 2012 (took 1+ week)

Two rounds of interviews. Interviewer was very straightforward and kind but competition was rough. Overall a great experience. Made it past first round and second round was in New York.

Interview Questions

What would you do with a million dollars?

Answer Question

How do you measure success?

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jun 2010 (took a day)

I connected with an IBM executive at my grad school and then got a call for an interview.
I had two rounds of phone interview. No technical questions. Just personality type and about my previous experience and grad school experience.

Interview Questions

Why are you changing careers from technology to finance

Answer Question

Why do you want to work here

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

Negotiate your salary as much as possible because IBM doesn't give raises.

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jul 2010 in Rochester, MN (took 1 week)

Applied via my school's career center. I was selected and completed a phone interview. They called me back almost immediately, the next day and invited me to interview onsite in Rochester and take a tour. Upon my arrival I first took the tour then was interviewed by 2 managers. Each interview was 30mins and the tour was about 30mins as well. I heard back in 1 or 2days that they'd like to offer me a position and asked that I complete an online application as part of the HR process. This also included a background test. From there I indicated a desired start date and it took about a week for my official offer letter to arrive. I came on as a supplemental and after a year became regular full time, which is typical.

The culture and atmosphere at the Rochester location is very laid back. Everyone is super nice (at least in my department). People often bounce ideas off each other. There are often site wide planned outings such as: trip to Mall of America, Canoeing, golfing etc. also departments often host their own events too. The dress code is casual and almost everyone comes to work in jeans and Ts. Employees often work independently as each financial analyst is wholly responsible for specific areas, contracts, etc financials and advising. It's a great atmosphere, truly the best I've ever worked in.

Interview Questions

Focus on skills really. leadership, self motivated, works well in teams and individually, focused on contributing and growing. Noteworthy, my resume was pretty packed with educational and professional experience so we pretty much just talked about me as a person: my interests, challenging work experiences, strengths & weaknesses.

Answer Question

They ask about your familiarity with excel. Ideally they want you to be very familiar with it. It's an added bonus if you have some macro or VBA knowledge but this is not required.

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

There wasn't a negotiation process. Most financial analysts come in as supplemental hires and the salaries are set. After a year you have the opportunity to move to regular full time but there was no negotiation there either. The adjusted salary was predetermined.

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Mar 2012 in Rochester, MN (took 2 months)

Everyone was very informative. No stupid "greatest strenghts/weaknesses" or " tell me your most secret secret that you wouldn't even tell your bff".

Interview Questions

Describe a situation where you were a leader.

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

No negotiation.

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Drug Test and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Aug 2010 (took 4 days)

IQ/logic test first, then two rounds of interview, the first one is 2 mgr to me and 2nd round is the senior mgr to me.

Interview Questions

Tell me sth about your self

Answer Question

what did you do for your last job?

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

1.0

Very Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Declined Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 (took 4 weeks)

Started with an application on the career website, and applied. Got a phone call a couple weeks later offering a 1:1 interview on campus. Questions were mostly conversational with a few behavioral. Walked through the resume and talked about my transcript. Got a call a week later with an invitation to their superday. 3 interviews were even more casual then the first one. Mostly managers. Got a call the next day with an offer, but declined due to a really low salary and location.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a time where you showed leadership

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Apr 2011 in Rochester, MN (took 2 weeks)

The interview process began with a phone interview. I spoke with two individuals, both in the Finance department. The first interview was extremely casual, with the interviewer telling me about IBM and allowing me to ask any questions I had personally about the company and the position. The next phone interview was with an HR representative in the Finance department, who asked a variety of behavioral questions. Both interviewers were extremely nice, responsive, and in general made me feel comfortable during the interview process. Also I felt many of the questions that were asked were vary open-ended, and not the same few questions that are asked at every other interview. Overall I felt the interview process was excellent, and I felt the questions asked of me allowed me to demonstrate who I truly am.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a time when you were challenged?

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed May 2011 in Rochester, MN (took a day)

Interview took place just after college graduation season at the beginning of the summer. There were two phone interviews back-to-back, about half an hour each. The first one went closer to 45 minutes which is usually a good thing, but apparently not this time. Had a good idea of the likely salary offer and qualifications of other candidates/employees for the same position; my credentials were quite a bit higher at least in terms of educational background. 1st interview was with a finance manager, which was a brief exchange of who I am and what IBM Rochester does, followed by an in-depth conversation about my background, current activities, and short-term plans. The finance manager was very arrogant and decided it was in the best interest of IBM to focus on miniscule details of my background that reflect no tangible aspect of my qualifications, rather than focusing on the bigger picture; ie goals in working for IBM, my interests, what I would contribute, etc. It was more of an assault on various minor aspects of my resume that I have never been asked about than an actual interview or reciprocal interaction that typical human beings normally have. The 2nd interview was with someone from HR asking the normal cliche behavioral interview questions about past experiences and how I responded. Quite worthless, but hard to complain since that is pretty ubiquitous in terms of interviewing with corporations. At the end of each interview I asked a couple finance-based questions regarding the company, its performance in recent years, growth opportunities, etc. Each interviewer's answer was beyond disappointing; the manager snickered and gave some snide condescending retort, probably because a quality answer would have required him to acknowledge the existence of other people. HR person acted like I just asked her a question coming from a PhD thesis paper on quantum physics. Needless to say, the finance manager wasn't able to surmount the few imperfections on my resume to realize how qualified I was, so my relationship with IBM Rochester ended there.

Interview Questions

Why are you STILL in school getting a graduate degree in business right after getting your undergraduate degree?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Received and Declined Offer

Interviewed Jul 2011 (took 4+ weeks)

Background check first, and twice telephone interview.

Interview Questions

what is the most difficulties by far you met with

Answer Question

Reason for Declining

Not satisfied with salary

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a Skills Test and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Oct 2009 in New York, NY (took 2 weeks)

Contacted by colllege career services. Met with hiring manager and finance manager. Very laid back atmosphere. Unfortunately the hiring manager was running behind schedule and rushed through the second half of my interview.