Forums
interview questions for analytical ability
Recruiting & Staffing
interview questions for analytical ability
Exchange ideas about sourcing, screening, interviewing, finding passive candidates, measuring your results, and more.
Soon I will be interiewing applicants for a banking position that requires a high level of analytical ability (analysis of financial statements).I need to screen these applicants carefully. Does anyon
0
Cat:Topic ForumsForum:ForumId56
Cat:Topic ForumsForum:ForumId56Discussion:DiscussionId19825
Forums » Topic Forums » Recruiting & Staffing » interview questions for analytical ability
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 2/26/2000 2:54 PM EST
|
Posts: 31
First: 2/9/2000 Last: 1/5/2001 |
Soon I will be interiewing applicants for a banking position that requires a high level of analytical ability (analysis of financial statements).I need to screen these applicants carefully. Does anyone have some tips/suitable questioning for finding out someone's anaytical ability?
Any advice is appreciated. |
|
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 3/28/2000 12:12 PM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 3/28/2000 Last: 3/28/2000 |
I'm a big believer in behavioral interviewing, and the positions I recruit for (Engineering and Technologists) generally must have high levels of analytical ability. I've found that asking past tense questions about complex situations requiring analysis and evaluating their responses has been very revealing. Here are a few examples: Tell me about a time when you had to analyze or interpret numerical or financial information. Describe the most complex problem you've been asked to solve. What did you do? What alternatives did you consider? What sources of information have you used to gather data for decision making? How did you gather this data? Tell me about a time when you had to screen a large amount of information. How did you do this? What methods did you use? What kinds of information have you been required to analyze? Describe one of your most difficult. Hope this is helpful! |
|
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 2/19/2003 6:13 AM EST
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 2/19/2003 Last: 2/19/2003 |
Great question to test managers skills....
You have six employees and your task is to pain this office blue in six hours. All you supplies, paint, brushes, etc., are located in the supply room in the back. The VP will be here in seven hours to inspect the work. first tell me what you would say to you crew before the work begins and hoe do you manage to complete this task in the required amount of time? 1st the manager should tell the crew about the task, the time line and the fact that the VP will be inspecting the work. The manager should task out each crew member and give them each a task to complete. The manager should NOT be in the back painting the walls himself, the manager should be directing the task to ensure it is done. Questions like this one allow you to see the applicant in action, to see how the manager will react and what questions they ask to gain a better understanding of the task. |
|
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 2/25/2003 1:28 AM EST
|
|
Posts: 5
First: 10/23/2001 Last: 2/25/2003 |
I have to agree with the value of behavior-based interviewing questions, and the ones that were mentioned should be helpful. Another approach to assess analytical ability is to give the candidate a sample report when he or she arrives for the interview, and adequate time to review it before being called in to the interview. Then ask specific questions that will enable you to see if the candidate was able to read, understand and appropriately interpret the information. Or have a part of the interview consist of answering written questions about a financial report.
(Demonstrating a theoretical understanding may be less helpful than having the candidate perform the task.) Don't feel tied to traditional interviewing techniques if they will not give you the information you need. Just ensure the process is fair and legal by focusing on content that is job-related and using the same interviewing process/questions with all candidates. |
|
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 2/25/2003 1:48 AM EST
|
|
Posts: 10
First: 9/11/2002 Last: 9/27/2005 |
Behavioral questions, paired with a behavioral profile that assesses the candidate's analytical characteristics, is the best indicator of analytical ability. Behavioral profiles, such as the Omnia Profile - www.omniagroup.com, take 10-15 minutes to complete and act as a terrific interviewing tool...one that enables you to confirm the characteristics that the candidate claims. Specific open-ended questions like "Summarize this financial statement in layman's terms", "Offer a management advice summary from this data", etc. will confirm the candidates ability to analyze and give you an indication of the level of analysis and their communication skills as well. |
|
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 2/25/2003 1:57 AM EST
|
|
Posts: 6
First: 2/25/2003 Last: 5/24/2011 |
I created a business case modeled on my own company to assess analytic ability, learning ability, and business acumen (among other capabilities) for a high-profile MBA rotation program here. The case consists of background information and data from several key aspects of the business, including financial data, operational data, and people data.
Candidates are given time to prepare their assignment from the case, and then spend 45 minutes discussing their findings and recommendations with two senior managers. The managers are provided with an assessment guide so they can rate the candidate's abilities based on the type of responses the candidate gave. Candidates then go on to a behavioral interview with a different senior manager. Case reviewers and interviewers meet and discuss their assessments to arrive at a decision about whether to send the candidate on to the next stage of the selection process. The case has been used for the first time this year. Intuitively we believe we're doing a better job of screening for analytic and related capabilities, but we won't know for certain until this group of new hires has been with us for a few rotations. |
|
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 2/25/2003 2:24 AM EST
|
|
Posts: 9
First: 8/3/2002 Last: 2/17/2004 |
It is importanat to remember that technical skill is only a part of the equation when it comes to selecting the right person for the job. Equally important are the values and attitudes that "drive" the candidates actions.
Based on the work of Eduard Spranger, there are 6 definitive attitudes that motivate a persons thinking (analytical thinking) and ultimately impel that person's actions (analytical ability). Most likely, someone whose dominant values fall into the "Theoretical" (primary focus is on facts and hard evidence) and the "Utilitarian" (primary focus is on obtaining the highest return on investment) would be the ideal candidate for this position. Of course, the only way to determine how influencial those values and attitudes are in someone is to perform an assessment like the Personal Interests, Attitudes and Values assessment (a sample report from this assessment can be found at http://www.workteamcoaching.com/assessment_programs.htm) With the high cost of employee turnover, it is imperative to ensure a good job fit. Looking at both technical as well as "soft" skills is an essential component of that process. Hope this was helpful. Monty J. Sharp Vision to Venture, LLC www.workteamcoaching.com |
|
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 2/25/2003 3:25 AM EST
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 2/25/2003 Last: 2/25/2003 |
Setting up a problem situation makes the interview more interesting for both candidates and reviewers. Depending on the job, I've asked candidates to review an engineering drawing and suggest where there may be probles; to participate in a simulated performance interview where the 'employee' poses many of the typical challenges supervisors face; and to write a letter or quick report where they have had to analyse an issue. |
|
|
interview questions for analytical ability
posted at 2/25/2003 4:29 AM EST
|
|
Posts: 2
First: 2/25/2003 Last: 5/20/2003 |
Hi, interesting topic!
I think you should be more specific about what position in banking. Evaluating analytical capabilties from a purely numerical perspective would be easy as there are many standardised questionaires available. (certain aspects could be focused on - accuracy, speed, interpretation etc) From a more managerial perspective you could use "action problem solving". Several other respondants have suggested similar approaches. You could identify important financial management concepts and ask the candidate to specify their approach to the problem. For example explain the concepts of ROI and what data would you typically need to evaluate this?. how wold you use this result to make decisions? This path specific questions would require logical discussion and critical thinking. If you want to game this you could provide random financial data and information. Other questions about financial ratios could be formulated more specifically depending on your interest. |
Forums » Topic Forums » Recruiting & Staffing » interview questions for analytical ability
