INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: HSBC, Finance, Internship

Question:

Tell me one thing you came across in the news recently and how it affects HSBC?

Student's Answer: 

I've been following the Eurozone crisis and I believe HSBC would be affected by any collapse in the Eurozone as ut has exposure through its Eurobond trades. However, I think that HSBC has an advantage over other banks because it has a strong capital base which it can use for hedging purposes to buy time and figure out the best strategies to minimize its exposure.

Question:

Tell me about a time you have had to deal with someone difficult at work.

Student's Answer: 

During my first year internship, I was a project assistant. My role was to find experts who could work on projects in Afghanistan and other developing countries.  One day, someone I'd contacted called to express his disappointment that I'd contacted him on his work email address. Even though my manager had given me this address, I was blamed for using it and the expert was told I was new and didn't know what I was doing. Instead of overreacting and sulking, I decided to call the expert, apologise for the error and assure him it wouldn't happen again. I updated the database with the correct email address and the expert went on to thank me and to recommend my good behaviour to the senior partner at the firm.

Question:

What do you know about the ACA qualification?

Student's Answer: 

To be honest, I do not know a great deal about the ACA qualification. I am only in my second year and not had great exposure to it. However, I know it is an accounting qualification that will help my career prospects and build upon what I have learnt at university. I am intrigued to hear what you may have to say about it.

We cannot guarantee the authenticity of these questions nor the accuracy of the answers: they are what one candidate claims to have been asked by HSBC and have not been verified by the bank. To visit our long list of all banks’ graduate interview questions in 2013, click here.