JP Morgan is one of the biggest names in finance. The organization – a portion of financial behemoth JP Morgan Chase – offers a range of financial services, most of which are targeted towards businesses. Jobs at JP Morgan are both highly prestigious and difficult to get – JP Morgan’s investment banking analyst position, for example, is one of the most competitive post-undergrad positions in the world.
If you have an upcoming interview with JP Morgan – for whatever the role – you can expect a substantial “fit” interview. You will do well to spend time preparing! JP Morgan interview questions test for professionalism, personality, attitude, and communication ability.
How to Prepare for a JP Morgan Interview
Like with any prestigious position, competition for offers is high and acceptance rates are low – routinely under 5%. Preparation is key for a successful interview. In this article, we’ll take a look at the JP Morgan interview process – how it works, what to expect, and best practices for your preparation and interviews.
JP Morgan Interview Process
The interview process for positions at JP Morgan varies by role – as you might expect, the interview questions and process for software engineers are different from those for investment banking analysts! Nevertheless, the JP Morgan interview process typically consists of two major portions – an automated, virtual first round interview through the HireVue platform, and a second round of behavioral and technical interviews.
JP Morgan Video Interview
The JP Morgan interview process typically begins with an automated video interview facilitated by the HireVue platform. Candidates are asked a variety of questions – most of which are behavioral – and are given unlimited time to prepare an answer. After preparing, candidates have two attempts to record their video answer. While the questions at this stage are mostly behavioral, candidates should have a good sense of current events and the market. Applicants for software engineering and coding positions can expect technical coding questions at this stage of the process. These questions are videos recorded, so remember to speak professionally and dress formally.
JP Morgan Second Round Interviews
Candidates who successfully pass the initial HireVue assessment move into the live interview portion of the JP Morgan interview process. This behavioral round can occur over one or multiple days and typically includes between 1 and 4 interviews. The format varies by position – investment banking analyst applicants, for example, can expect a phone interview, followed by a “super day” with 3 to 6 interviews a few days later for candidates who successfully pass the phone interview. Applicants for other roles, however, might have only one or two behavioral interviews after their initial HireVue assessment.
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JP Morgan Interview Tips
Now that you have a sense of what the JP Morgan interview process looks like, let’s get into some best practices for interview success.
Prepare!
This should go without saying, but many candidates underestimate the need to prepare for behavioral or non-technical interviews. The reality is, however, that in a mainly behavioral interview process, your answers need to be that much better to stand out! Additionally, don’t neglect the need to prepare for the initial HireVue assessment. If you don’t pass the HireVue, you won’t get the job – and, without the ability to rely on your interpersonal skills and build rapport with your interviewer given the automated environment, the quality and clarity of your answers becomes that much more important.
Understand why you want to work at JP Morgan
Most candidates interested in financial services firms apply to a wide variety of places – as they should! Successful applicants, however, understand why they want to work at JP Morgan (as opposed to other similar firms) and can communicate that clearly during the interview process.
Know the market
Given JP Morgan’s stature as one of the world’s premier financial services institutions, almost all of its positions have some tie to world markets and economic conditions. Whether you’re applying for a trading position or a software position, markets matter! Expect questions about market conditions and prepare accordingly. Know what’s going on in the world and relevant economic events.
Dress the part and remember interview etiquette
JP Morgan is one of the oldest banks in the country – and its employees dress accordingly! Make sure you’re dressed for interview success and wear business formal attire. Be polite. And don’t forget to send your interviewer an email after the interview thanking them for their time and expressing your continued excitement about the firm.
JP Morgan Interview Questions
JP Morgan behavioral interview questions are designed to assess capability in four key areas – teamwork, analytical skills, drive, and presentation skills. On top of these assessments, you can expect questions about your background, your interests, and general knowledge of market events, as well as technical questions. These technical questions will vary based on position – software engineers will be expected to understand and apply coding principles, for example, whereas investment banking applicants will be tested on their knowledge of finance and accounting. Here are some sample behavioral interview questions:
Fit/Culture/Background questions:
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- Tell us about yourself. Walk us through your resume.
- Why are you interested in this industry or role (investment banking, sales and trading, asset management, software engineering, commercial banking, etc.)?
- Why are you interested in JP Morgan specifically? What drew you to us as opposed to our competitors like Goldman, Morgan S
- Why are you a good fit for this position?
The “standard” interview questions – these questions are designed to assess your background as a candidate, your storytelling abilities, and your interest in the role and JP Morgan. Your answers to these questions form the backbone of your interview both at JP Morgan and throughout recruiting, so spend the most time crafting your responses to these.
Market/Financial/General economic knowledge questions:
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- How has [relevant economic event] affected the United States economy?
- What do rising interest rates mean for [portion of the economy]?
- What is one major current event that you found especially interesting? Why?
- How has the financial services landscape changed in the last six months/year/two years?
These questions test both your knowledge of current and financial events and your interest. Most successful employees at financial services firms have a deep interest in current events, the economic climate, and the industry. Interviewers want to see that you have a passion for the economy, finance, and the current climate – so come prepared having done your research! Reading the news or listening to a podcast each morning goes a long way here.
Teamwork questions:
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- Describe a situation when you worked with others on a project and your teammates disagreed with your ideas. How did you respond? How did you resolve the challenge?
- Describe a project you previously worked on with a team. How did the project go? What made the team successful?
- How would you coach someone on building trust?
These questions are designed to assess your ability to work within a team – a key consideration, given that almost all of JP Morgan’s employees work together on teams to tackle problems! Succeed here by highlighting your interpersonal and leadership abilities, successful conflict management, and relationship building within a team environment.
Analytical skills questions:
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- Tell me about a time when you had a positive impact on a project. How did you measure your success?
- Describe a task that really tested your analytical abilities.
- Tell me about a time when you were confused about the details of a request. What steps did you take to clarify things?
These questions are designed to measure both your intellectual horsepower and your abilities to solve problems on your own. Showcase a thoughtful and independent problem solving approach and highlight a difficult problem that you worked through successfully.
Drive questions:
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- How do you prioritize tasks when scheduling your time? Give some examples.
- Have you ever had a project not go according to plan? What happened? How did you get it back on track?
- Describe a time when you received difficult feedback. How did you respond?
These questions measure your abilities as a “self-starter” and your time management and prioritization – key attributes for success in such a high-powered environment. Highlight your abilities to juggle multiple priorities and manage your time. Use stories where you both gave yourself enough time and worked under pressure well – a time when you planned well, were thrown off course by something completely outside your control, course corrected, and finished the project successfully in the time required, is a winner here.
Presentation skills:
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- Describe an experience with creating a presentation. How did you know your presentation was successful?
- What are a few key considerations when creating a presentation?
- How do you prepare yourself for an informal and/or formal presentation?
The ability to present information to clients and internal superiors is a key skill for all corporate employees and especially those in “front office,” or client-facing roles. These questions are designed to test both your presentation abilities and your ability to think critically about those abilities. Use examples of presentations that were complex, took time to prepare, and were well received by the audience. Bonus points if your presentation convinced an employer, board, or leader to change course or implement your recommendation!
Conclusion
Recruiting at JP Morgan? You’re not alone – jobs at JP Morgan are some of the most competitive in the world. Set yourself up for success by thoroughly preparing for the JP Morgan interview process. Prep your story, do your research, and brush up on your knowledge of current economic events to get ready for success. And don’t forget to dress the part!