Answers to a Bank Teller Interview

by Rick Suttle

Because bank customers primarily interact with tellers, employers look for teller candidates with strong interpersonal and customer service skills. Tellers must also be detailed-oriented and have math skills to perform their jobs effectively. When interviewing for teller positions, learn to answer common questions bank companies typically ask. Show how your experience and skills fit the job when responding to questions.

What You Know About Bank?

If you are asked what you know about the bank during your interview, you can impress the hiring manager by rattling off some key facts about the bank. Doing so demonstrates that you have taken the time to learn about the company and the position. Review the bank's website before an interview search for news stories about it on the Internet. Write down and memorize when the bank was established, what kinds of products and customers it specializes in, its number of employees, recent marketing strategies and financial information. Use your knowledge of the bank company to tailor your responses during the interview. For example, you could describe how your experience in new product introductions can help the bank launch a new online banking application.

Why You Want Job?

Banks, like most other corporations, are interested in why candidates want to work for them. Some appropriate responses are that you want to work for an industry leader, if the bank is one of the largest is your area or nationally; or you're looking for greater challenges that aren't available in your present job. Avoid mentioning salary as your main impetus for interviewing with the bank, even if the salary is listed in the ad or job description. If an interviewer asks about your salary requirements along with this question, deflect the question back to her. Tell her you are interested in the job and know you can contribute to the bank's success, but you would prefer discussing salary only when you are the chosen candidate.

Ever Deal With an Angry Customer?

Banks entrust employees with their most important assets -- customers. And many of these customers deposit lots of money with banks. Therefore, bank employers want to know you will treat their customers professionally. When asked if you have ever dealt with an angry customer, use SAR stories to answer the question. SAR stands for "situation, action and result." For example, the situation might be that you worked with an irate customer who received broken merchandise on a previous job. Your action was to calm the customer down, get the details of the problem and send the customer a new product. The result is that the customer thanked you for your timely response and the company didn't lose her business.

Why You Left Last Job?

Whether you were a teller or restaurant manager, bank employers might want to know why you left your last job. To answer this question, avoid negative responses about former bosses or companies. Negativity only reflects badly on you, and the bank manager might even deem you a troublemaker. Instead, tell the interviewer you reached your peak in your previous job and are ready to take the next step in your career. Mention how excited you are about the bank job, but don't overdo it. Keep your response short and concise.

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