20 BCU Interview Questions and Answers

BCU is a credit union that serves the financial needs of members in the Chicago area. BCU offers a full range of banking services, from checking and savings accounts to loans and mortgages.

If you’re applying for a job at BCU, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, work history, and availability. In this guide, we’ve assembled a list of BCU interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

BCU Interview Process

The interview process at BCU can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two interviews, one with a recruiter and one with a manager. For some positions, you may also be required to complete a digital interview. The questions asked in the interviews will be based on your experience and abilities related to the role you are applying for.

1. Why do you want to work at BCU?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your intentions for applying. They want to know that you are genuinely interested in the position and the school itself. Before your interview, research the university’s mission statement and values. Use these as a guide when answering this question.

Example: “I am passionate about working with students who have learning disabilities. I believe BCU is an excellent institution for providing quality education to those with special needs. When I read through the university’s mission statement, it was clear that we share many of the same beliefs. I would love to be part of a team that supports each other while helping students reach their goals.”

2. What are your expectations of working here?

Employers ask this question to make sure you are a good fit for their organization. They want employees who will be happy and productive in their roles. Before your interview, read through the job description to see what they’re looking for in an employee. In your answer, explain how your skills and experience match up with what they’re looking for. Show that you understand what the role entails and that you have the necessary qualifications.

Example: “I am excited to work here because I think my skills and experiences would be a great fit for this position. I know that you’re looking for someone who is organized and detail-oriented. I also understand that you want someone who can communicate effectively with students and parents. I feel like I could provide excellent customer service as well as support to other staff members.”

3. How would you handle an irate member?

This question is a great way to test your customer service skills. It also allows the interviewer to see how you handle conflict and stress. Your answer should include an example of how you handled this situation in the past, as well as what steps you took to resolve it.

Example: “In my last role, I had a member who was upset because they couldn’t find their favorite workout class on our schedule. They were very adamant that we needed to add this class back into our lineup, but I remained calm and explained that we already offered several other classes with similar exercises. After explaining why we made these changes, the member understood and thanked me for my time.”

4. Do you have a bachelor’s degree, or will you be receiving one soon?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your educational background. If you have a bachelor’s degree, they may ask you what major you studied and if you enjoyed it. If you are still in school, they may ask you when you plan on graduating or if you already graduated.

Example: “I do have a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. I chose this major because I enjoy working with numbers and analyzing data. My favorite part of my studies was learning how to use Excel to create graphs and charts.”

5. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an upset customer, how did you handle it?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle conflict. They want to know that you can remain calm and professional when faced with a challenging situation. In your answer, try to show the interviewer that you are able to empathize with customers and resolve their issues in a timely manner.

Example: “In my previous role as a customer service representative, I had an upset customer who was calling me multiple times about a billing issue. At first, I tried to explain to her why she was receiving the bill, but she kept insisting that it wasn’t right. Eventually, I realized that she didn’t understand how our billing system worked. I spent some time explaining the process to her until she felt comfortable. She thanked me for being so patient and understanding.”

6. Have you ever worked in the financial industry before?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and how it relates to the position you’re applying for. If you have worked in the financial industry, be sure to highlight any transferable skills that can help you succeed at this job.

Example: “I’ve never worked in the financial industry before, but I do have experience working with numbers and data. In my last role as an accountant, I was responsible for creating reports and analyzing data to ensure our company’s finances were accurate. This helped me develop strong analytical skills that I think will benefit me in this role.”

7. Can you tell me about a time where you were able to improve upon a process?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you were able to improve upon a process or system that was already in place.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that the company’s sales team wasn’t using our CRM software as much as they could have been. The sales team would often forget to enter important information into the CRM, which made it difficult for managers to track their progress. So, I created a reminder system within the CRM so that every morning, the sales team would receive an email reminding them to update the CRM with any new leads or information.”

8. Describe a time when you made a mistake, what happened and how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you respond to challenges and learn from your mistakes. It’s important to show that you can take responsibility for your actions, learn from them and move forward with confidence.

Example: “When I was working as an admissions counselor at my previous job, I accidentally sent the wrong email to one of our applicants. In my rush to get everything done on time, I didn’t proofread the email before sending it out. The applicant emailed me back asking why they hadn’t received their acceptance letter yet. I apologized profusely and explained what happened. They were understanding and we ended up mailing them their acceptance letter right away.”

9. Are you comfortable handling large amounts of money?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your ability to handle cash and credit card transactions. This can be an important skill if you’re applying for a position that involves handling money, such as working at a bank or in retail. In your answer, explain how you feel about this responsibility and provide examples of how you’ve handled large sums of money in the past.

Example: “I have worked in retail for several years now, so I am very comfortable with handling large amounts of money. When I was working at my previous job, we had a customer who accidentally left $1,000 on their receipt. I immediately called my manager over to help me figure out what to do. We decided to call the customer and let them know they forgot some money. They were so appreciative when we returned it to them.”

10. Tell us about a time that you dealt with a difficult team member.

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and challenges. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation and the steps you took to resolve it.

Example: “In my last role as an assistant manager, one of my team members was consistently late for work. I spoke with them about this issue multiple times, but they continued to come in late. Eventually, I decided to have a meeting with them where we discussed their tardiness and what the consequences would be if they didn’t change their behavior. They agreed to start coming in on time, and after that, there were no more issues.”

11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s often asked to see if you have career goals. It can also be used to determine whether or not the position aligns with your future plans. When answering this question, make sure that you are honest about what you want for yourself. You should also try to show that you’re interested in growth and development.

Example: “I hope to still be working at BCU in five years. I’m very passionate about my work here, and I would love to continue developing my skills as an educator. In five years, I’d like to have earned my master’s degree in education. I’d also like to have been promoted to department head.”

12. If hired, what type of management style would you implement?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of leadership and management styles. It’s important to be honest about the type of style you would use, but it’s also beneficial to explain why that style works for you.

Example: “I believe in a democratic management style where everyone has a voice. I think this style allows employees to feel more invested in their work because they have a say in how things are done. In my last role, we had weekly meetings where anyone could speak up if they had ideas or concerns. This led to some great discussions and helped us find solutions to problems before they became bigger issues.”

13. We are looking for someone who can take initiative. Can you give an example of a time when you took initiative?

Taking initiative is a skill that employers look for in candidates. They want to know you can take charge and get things done without needing constant supervision. When answering this question, think of an example where you took the lead on a project or task and it resulted in positive outcomes.

Example: “When I was working as a server at a restaurant, my manager asked me to help with organizing the staff’s weekly schedule. At first, I thought she just wanted me to enter the information into the computer system, but she told me to organize the entire schedule by myself. I accepted the challenge and organized the whole week by taking each employee’s availability into account. It ended up being more work than I expected, but I got the job done and helped my coworkers have better schedules.”

14. What is your experience with collections?

This question is a great way to see how you handle collections. It can be an important part of the job, so it’s good for employers to know if you have experience with this process and what your approach was.

Example: “I’ve worked in two different positions where I had to collect on delinquent accounts. In my first position, we used phone calls and letters to try to get people to pay their bills. We also offered payment plans to those who needed them. For those who didn’t respond or couldn’t afford to pay us, we sent out collection agencies. This resulted in about 20% of our customers paying up right away, another 30% paying after being contacted by the agency and the rest not paying at all.”

15. Do you have any supervisory experience?

This question is a great way for employers to learn about your leadership skills. If you have supervisory experience, share what you did as a supervisor and how it helped the team. If you don’t have any supervisory experience, you can talk about other leadership roles you’ve had in the past.

Example: “I currently work as an assistant manager at my local grocery store. I started out as a cashier, but after six months of working there, I was promoted to an assistant manager. My responsibilities include managing employees, handling customer complaints and overseeing inventory. It’s definitely challenging, but I enjoy helping others succeed.”

16. Give an example of a time when you used good judgment and logic to solve a problem.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you use critical thinking skills to solve problems and make decisions. Use examples from your previous experience that show your ability to analyze a situation, gather information and come up with solutions.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist, I was working on a project when our company’s network went down. The outage affected all of our computers and servers, so we couldn’t access any data or programs. I immediately started troubleshooting the problem by checking the power source and making sure everything was plugged in properly. After determining there were no issues with the equipment, I began looking at the router and modem for any signs of damage or malfunction. When I didn’t find anything wrong with those either, I decided to reboot the system to see if it would fix the issue.”

17. What motivates you?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand what drives your success. Your answer should include a few things that motivate you, such as personal goals or professional ambitions.

Example: “I am motivated by my desire to learn new things every day. I love being challenged in my work and strive to be the best at everything I do. Another thing that motivates me is helping others succeed. I have always been someone who wants to make sure everyone around them is happy and doing well. This has helped me become an excellent team player.”

18. What type of work environment do you prefer?

This question can help the interviewer determine if your personality and work style would fit in with the culture of the school. You should answer honestly, but also try to highlight any skills you have that could benefit a team or department.

Example: “I prefer working in an environment where I am constantly learning new things. In my last position, I was able to take on more responsibilities as I gained experience. I enjoy being part of a team, so I would love to be a part of BCU’s community of students, faculty and staff.”

19. What position do you think you would like to start out as?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your goals and ambitions. It’s important that you are honest with yourself when answering this question, as it can help the employer determine whether or not you would be happy in their organization. If you have experience in multiple positions, you should talk about why you think you’d excel at each one.

Example: “I believe I would make an excellent recruiter because of my outgoing personality and passion for helping others find fulfilling careers. I also feel like I could excel as a salesperson because of my ability to connect with people and build relationships. I’m confident that I could use these skills to help the company grow.”

20. Would you consider yourself to be organized?

This question is a great way to determine how well you can manage your time and prioritize tasks. Being organized shows the interviewer that you are able to plan ahead, which is an important skill for this role. Use examples from your past experience to show that you have organizational skills.

Example: “I would definitely say I’m organized. In my last position as a receptionist, I had to keep track of many different appointments at once. I used a scheduling software to organize all of our client information so I could easily find it when needed. This helped me stay on top of things and ensured that clients were always taken care of.”