Ace your big bank interview with the help of these top JPMorgan interview questions and answers

JPMorgan Chase continues to be the largest financial institution in the United States and a global powerhouse in the financial sector. As you might expect, there's a great deal of competition for job candidates seeking positions with this company. To increase your odds of job search success, it's important to be prepared to answer the top JPMorgan interview questions.

In this article, we'll provide some tips to help you answer JPMorgan Chase interview questions. We'll also offer a preview of some of the most common questions you'll encounter – as well as example answers that you can refer to as you create your own responses for your job interview.

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, teamwork, and 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 manage 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 can guide 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 interview questions 

One of the best ways to become proficient in answering interview questions is to create responses to common questions and practice them prior to your interview. 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 respond to 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 wanted a strong analysis to compare 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 offered 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 brainstormed 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 of 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 meeting presented some new follow-up items, the client was pleased with our analysis and how thorough we were. She commended us for providing 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. Good interviewers want to assess your appetite for risk and learn more about the type of decision-making process you use to manage it. 

“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 in 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 so that they're practiced and ready before they get into the room. This delegation of presentation tasks helps show our clients what great talent we have on staff.”

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 always try to complete it by 3 p.m. so that 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 twenty additional JPMorgan interview questions you may be asked, grouped by category: 

Behavioral

  1. Describe a time when you had to collaborate 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 needed to figure out how to influence others to earn their support.

Technical/Skills Questions 

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

  2. Describe a new technology you've used to become more productive at work.

  3. How do you manage 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?

Related reading: How to Answer, “What Can You Bring to the Company?”

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 values of diversity and inclusion?

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

Related reading: Crafting a Compelling Response to Why This Position Appeals to You

Questions to ask the interviewers

Have a list of questions ready to ask during your JPMorgan Chase interview. The questions should be company-specific and designed to demonstrate your interest in the company and role. For example: 

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

Related reading: Insightful Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

Familiarity breeds success

As you might expect, with this type of industry-leading company, JPMorgan Chase interviews can be quite challenging. However, by taking some time to prepare and practice for these common JPMorgan interview questions, you can meet that challenge with the confidence you'll need to make the right impression on your interviewer.

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

This article was originally written by Melanie Haniph. It has been updated by Ken Chase.

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