Ace your JPMorgan Chase interview — with a little help.

A perennial Fortune 500 company, JPMorgan Chase is one of the leading financial services organizations in the world. Through its many business segments covering investment and commercial banking, retail banking, and asset management, JPMorgan Chase has become the largest bank in the U.S. — and the world's most valuable bank by market capitalization. 

In addition to being a large employer, with over 250,000 employees worldwide, JPMorgan Chase is also one of the oldest. The company's history dates back to its earliest predecessor institution, the Bank of the Manhattan Company, established in 1799. 

Since then, through a series of mergers and acquisitions, JPMorgan Chase has become one of the world's most admired companies, according to Fortune's annual ranking.

As with any successful organization, getting a job with JPMorgan Chase is competitive. If you're interested in working there, it pays to be prepared for the interview questions that will come your way. 

How to answer JPMorgan Chase interview questions

In addition to technical questions related to the day-to-day performance of the job, you also need to be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions, as well as situational interview questions, that highlight your leadership style, communication, and teamwork, among other skills.

Behavioral interview questions prompt you to provide examples of how past challenges and accomplishments could be helpful in a new position, while situational interview questions are more hypothetical and ask how you would handle a possible situation in the future.

The beauty of behavioral and situational interview questions is they can be applied to just about any work situation, from time management to building relationships with others. The STAR interview method is a great way to answer these kinds of questions, and guides you in forming clear, detailed responses. Here are the four steps of the STAR interview method: 

  • Situation: Set the stage by explaining the situation. 

  • Task: Describe your task or objective.

  • Action: Name a few of the actions you took to complete the task.

  • Results: Describe the results you achieved. 

Top 3 JPMorgan Chase interview questions 

One of the best ways to become proficient in answering interview questions is to practice. Here are three of the top interview questions you are likely to encounter during your JPMorgan Chase interview, and how you might answer them using the STAR method. 

1. Describe your most challenging team assignment and how you dealt with it

Interviewers typically ask this question to get a sense of how you handle new challenges, and how well you exhibit flexibility and adaptability in times of uncertainty. Apply the STAR method when answering this question like this: 

Recently, our team was assigned a new client who had just transferred from another bank and who had a reputation for being very demanding. The client wanted to take her investments in a new direction, and she had a high need for analysis comparing several different investment options. 

Our team was asked to provide full onboarding support to the new client, in addition to providing her with some accelerated account analysis that wouldn't typically be provided until later in the year.

Since we had several new members on our team, we initially reached out to the senior banker on the account to make sure we understood the key data the client would be looking for. I worked with my co-workers to develop a set of initial questions and concerns we needed to tackle. We also enlisted help from more experienced associates and asked to see samples of similar work done for other clients. 

My responsibility on the team was to run the initial analysis on the client's current investments and create a draft presentation outlining our recommendations. I was also responsible for getting feedback from the senior banker in time for the next meeting with the client. 

Though the client meeting presented some new follow-up items, the client was pleased with our analysis and how thorough we were. She acknowledged we had provided more information and insights than she had received from her previous bank.

2. Tell me about a time you took a risk at work

Most positions have some degree of risk, but interviewers want to see your appetite for it and what kind of decision-making process you use when taking risks. 

On a couple of occasions, I have taken a risk by asking a member of my time to run a client presentation instead of doing it myself. I believe it is important for the people on my team to get experience being in the “hot seat” when presenting to clients. It helps develop them into better bankers and builds confidence. 

I don't just pull Associates at the last minute when I volunteer them for this task, however. I tell them what I'm thinking, give them time to prepare, and provide coaching along the way. Once they get in the room, they are practiced and ready. It also shows our clients what great talent we have.

3. How do you manage your schedule when you have multiple projects competing for your time?

Time management is an essential skill for any position, and interviewers often want to see how you manage your time when things get busy. 

I prefer to plan my day before starting work each morning. Since I have competing projects and shifting deadlines, I often need to recalibrate and rearrange my priorities to meet business needs. I also like to leave myself wiggle room. If a report is due by the end of the day, I aim to complete it by 3 p.m., so I have time to review and double-check everything before I hand it in. 

During the times when I'm dealing with the “perfect storm” of due dates, I make sure to communicate with project owners, so they know I'm working hard to meet deadlines. By having those conversations, I also have an opportunity to ask for help where I need it most.

20 more interview questions from JPMorgan Chase 

Here are more possible JPMorgan Chase interview questions you might be asked, by category: 

Behavioral

  1. Describe a time you had to work with a difficult person in your team.

  2. Tell me about a time when you had a positive impact on a project. How did you measure your success?

  3. Tell me about a time when you were confused about how to approach a project or task. What steps did you take to get clarity?

  4. Tell me about a time a project didn't go according to plan, and what you did to get it back on track.

  5. Describe a time when you received constructive feedback, and how you responded.

Leadership

  1. How would you describe your management style?

  2. Tell me about a time you had to deliver feedback to a member of your team?

  3. How do you build relationships with team members outside of your immediate department?

  4. What classes, books, or other guidance have you used in your career to develop as a leader?

  5. Tell me about a time you had an unpopular view on a team and you had to influence others to get their support.

Technical/Skills Questions 

  1. Rank the top three skills you believe are important to perform this job well.

  2. Describe the latest new technology you used to become more productive at work.

  3. How do you handle stressful situations?

  4. If hired, what do you predict will be the most important hurdle to overcome in your first 90 days on the job?

  5. What unique skill or trait would you bring to this position?

Company-specific 

  1. How would you describe the business of JPMorgan Chase?

  2. Explain how you believe JPMorgan Chase embodies its business principle of operational excellence. 

  3. Can you describe any of the company's other business principles?

  4. If hired, how would you support JPMorgan Chase's cultural value of diversity and inclusion?

  5. Describe the behaviors you believe we expect of employees to meet our code of conduct and ethics.

Questions to ask the interviewers

Have a list of questions ready to ask during your JPMorgan Chase interview. Your questions should be company-specific. For example: 

  • What do you feel is the biggest challenge JPMorgan Chase is currently facing, and how might the challenge impact this position?

  • How would you describe the team I would be working with?

  • What is a typical day like in this role?

  • What qualities are required to succeed at JPMorgan Chase?

  • What can you tell me about the position that isn't listed in the job posting?

Conclusion 

As you might expect from an industry leader, JPMorgan Chase interviews can be particularly challenging. Now that you've set yourself apart from other candidates and made it to the interview stage, your chances of success are already growing. 

By taking some time to prepare and practice for your interview, you can demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and capability to be a great fit for the job.

Want some professional help brushing up on your interviewing skills before the big day? Connect with an interview coach today.

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