20 Desjardins Interview Questions and Answers

Desjardins is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada with over $275 billion in assets and more than 7 million members. As a leading provider of financial services, Desjardins offers a wide range of products and services for individuals, businesses, and communities.

When it comes to interviews, Desjardins is known for asking candidates specific questions about the company and its values. Here are some sample Desjardins interview questions that you may be asked:

– What do you know about Desjardins? – Why are you interested in working for Desjardins? – What do you think makes Desjardins unique? – What do you think are our core values? – What do you think is our competitive advantage?

Preparing for these types of questions will help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of getting the job.

Desjardins Interview Process

The interview process at Desjardins can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, such as customer service or claims specialist, the process is relatively short and straightforward. For other positions, such as financial advisor or analyst, the process may be longer and more difficult.

Overall, the interview process at Desjardins is generally positive. The interviewers are typically friendly and easy to talk to. However, it is important to be prepared for your interviews, as they can be quite challenging. Be sure to know your resume inside and out, and bring an object that represents you and your interests.

1. How do you handle stressful situations?

Desjardins is a large financial institution that deals with many customers and transactions every day. The interviewer wants to know how you handle stress in the workplace, especially when it comes to working with clients who may be experiencing financial difficulties or other challenges.

Example: “I have experience working in customer service for several years, so I understand that sometimes people are going through stressful situations. When I encounter these situations at work, I try my best to empathize with them and offer solutions to their problems. For example, if someone calls me about an overdraft fee, I explain our policies on fees and help them find ways to avoid future fees.”

2. What is your experience working with clients?

Desjardins is a financial institution that offers services to individuals, businesses and communities. Your answer should show the interviewer your experience working with clients in different capacities. You can describe how you helped clients make important decisions or assisted them with their finances.

Example: “I have worked as a financial advisor for five years now. In my previous role, I was responsible for helping clients understand their investment options and making recommendations based on their needs. I also provided ongoing support to help clients achieve their goals. For example, I would check in with clients quarterly to see if they had any questions about their investments. This helped me ensure clients were comfortable with their portfolios.”

3. Why do you want to work at Desjardins Group?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in working at Desjardins Group. It’s important to show that you have done some research on the company and understand what makes it unique. You can answer this question by explaining why you are interested in working for a cooperative financial group, how you learned about Desjardins Group or how you found out about the open position.

Example: “I am very passionate about supporting local businesses and I love the idea of working for a cooperative financial group. When I was looking for my last job, I came across an article about Desjardins Group and its history. After reading about the company, I knew that I wanted to work here because of its commitment to helping small businesses succeed.”

4. Describe a time when you worked in a team environment.

Desjardins is a cooperative financial group, so it’s important that you can work well with others. When answering this question, try to highlight your teamwork skills and how they helped you achieve success in the past.

Example: “In my last position as an accountant at a small business, I worked closely with my team to ensure we met our deadlines and maintained accurate records. We had weekly meetings where we discussed any issues or concerns we were having and found solutions together. This allowed us to continue working efficiently and effectively.”

5. If hired, what would be your approach to analyzing financial risk and determining how to minimize it?

Desjardins is a financial institution that needs to be aware of any risks it may face. This question helps the interviewer determine how you would approach this task and if your methods are similar to those used by Desjardins. Your answer should show that you understand what risk management entails and can apply your knowledge to the position.

Example: “I believe in using several different approaches when analyzing financial risk. I would first look at historical data to see if there have been any trends or patterns that could indicate future problems. Next, I would use my own experience as an analyst to consider other factors that could lead to risk. Finally, I would meet with senior members of the company to discuss their concerns and ideas for mitigating risk.”

6. We are looking for employees who can problem solve on the spot. Can you give us an example of a time where you had to think quickly to solve a problem?

Desjardins is looking for employees who can think on their feet and solve problems. This question allows you to show your problem-solving skills by giving an example of a time when you had to do so in the past.

Example: “In my last position, I was working with a client who wanted to invest in stocks but didn’t know where to start. I explained that there are many different types of stocks and how they work. Then, I recommended some companies that would be good investments based on his financial goals.”

7. Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team.

Desjardins is looking for leaders who can make tough decisions and support their team through challenging times. This question helps the interviewer determine how you handle conflict, communicate with your team and make important decisions.

Example: “When I first started working as a loan officer at my previous company, I had to tell a client that we couldn’t approve their loan application because of insufficient funds. The client was very upset and asked me why they were denied when other people in similar situations were approved. I explained our policy on loans and tried to calm them down by offering to help find another lender.”

8. Do you have any experience working as a software developer?

Desjardins is a large financial institution that offers many different services to its members. The company also has an IT department that develops software for internal use and external sale. If you have experience working as a developer, your answer should highlight the skills you developed while in this role.

Example: “I worked as a software developer at my previous job. I was responsible for developing new features and fixing bugs within our existing software. This required me to learn several programming languages including Java, C++ and Python. I also had to work with other developers on my team to ensure we were all using the same coding language.”

9. Tell me about a time when you were under pressure to complete a project by a certain deadline.

Desjardins is a financial institution that requires its employees to work under pressure. This question helps the interviewer determine how you handle stressful situations and whether you can meet deadlines. Use examples from your previous experience where you met or exceeded expectations despite time constraints.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for managing several accounts at once. One day, one of my clients called me in a panic because they had lost their debit card. They were worried about identity theft and wanted to cancel their account immediately. I told them I would call them back as soon as I could find out more information.

I contacted our fraud department and learned that someone had already used the card to make an online purchase. I explained this to the client and assured them we would take care of it. The next morning, I received a call from the bank saying the money had been returned to the account.”

10. Are you comfortable making cold calls?

Desjardins is a financial institution that requires its employees to make cold calls. This question helps the interviewer determine if you’re comfortable with this type of work and how you feel about it. If you aren’t comfortable making cold calls, explain why and what other methods you would use to generate leads for new clients.

Example: “I’m not opposed to making cold calls as long as I have a script or some sort of plan in place. In my previous position, we had a quota system where we were required to make at least 20 cold calls per day. I found that having a script helped me get through the task more quickly and efficiently. I also used a CRM software to track who I called and when so I could follow up with them later.”

11. Do you have any experience working with investment portfolios?

Desjardins is a financial institution that offers investment services to its members. The company wants to know if you have any experience working with investment portfolios and how it can help them achieve their goals. If you do, share your knowledge of the process and what strategies you used to help clients reach their goals.

Example: “I worked as an investment advisor for five years at my previous job. I helped clients create a portfolio based on their risk tolerance and long-term goals. We also discussed their short-term needs so we could find a balance between investing for the future and meeting current expenses. This strategy allowed us to build a diversified portfolio that met our client’s needs.”

12. When selling insurance, some of our agents encounter aggressive customers. How would you respond to a customer who was being rude or aggressive?

Desjardins is looking for employees who can handle difficult situations with grace and professionalism. When answering this question, it’s important to show that you have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

Example: “I would try my best to diffuse the situation by remaining calm myself. I would explain to them why they need the insurance policy we’re selling and how it will benefit them. If they continue to be aggressive or rude, I would politely end the conversation and ask if they’d like to speak to someone else.”

13. How long have you been interested in finance/accounting?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand your motivations for pursuing a career in finance. It’s important to be honest about how long you’ve been interested in this field, but it’s also helpful to include any relevant experiences that helped develop your interest.

Example: “I’ve always had an interest in numbers and problem-solving, so I started taking accounting classes in high school. After completing my degree, I worked as an accountant at a small firm where I learned more advanced techniques and gained valuable experience working with clients of all sizes. This experience inspired me to pursue a career at Desjardins.”

14. Give me an example of a task you completed that required attention to detail.

Attention to detail is an important skill for Desjardins employees. It’s a financial institution, so the ability to notice small details can help you avoid costly mistakes. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give examples of how your attention to detail helped you complete tasks more efficiently or prevented errors from occurring.

Example: “In my previous role as a loan processor, I was responsible for reviewing all documents before they were submitted to underwriters. One time, I noticed that one of the documents had missing information. I contacted the borrower and asked them about the missing information. They told me that they didn’t know what I was talking about, but after looking at their file again, they realized that they had forgotten to include some information on their application. I notified them immediately, and we were able to get everything sorted out before submitting the document.”

15. At Desjardins we value innovation. What steps would you take to encourage creativity within a team?

Desjardins is looking for candidates who can help the company innovate and grow. This question helps them understand your approach to innovation and creativity, which are important values of Desjardins. In your answer, explain how you would encourage creativity in a team setting. Show that you have experience with innovative thinking and problem-solving.

Example: “I believe that innovation starts with collaboration. I would make sure my team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. I also think it’s important to give employees the resources they need to be successful. For example, if someone wanted to learn more about coding, I would find ways to provide training opportunities.”

16. What are some of your career goals?

Desjardins is a large company that offers many career opportunities. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have any goals for your future with Desjardins and how those goals align with their organization’s goals. When answering this question, be sure to mention some of the things you hope to achieve in your current role as well as what you would like to do in the future.

Example: “I am hoping to continue my education by pursuing an MBA. I know that Desjardins has a partnership with McGill University where employees can get a discount on tuition. I also want to work toward becoming a manager within five years. I think I have the skills necessary to succeed in this position.”

17. What is your experience with writing code? Which languages are you familiar with?

Desjardins is a financial institution that offers many services to its members, including banking and insurance. As such, it requires employees who can write code in various languages. Your answer should show the interviewer your experience with coding and which languages you are familiar with.

Example: “I have some experience writing code but I am not an expert programmer. However, I do know how to use several programming languages, including Java, C++, Python and Ruby. In my previous job, I was responsible for maintaining the company’s website by fixing bugs and adding new features. I also created a database management system for the company.”

18. How would you describe your communication style?

Desjardins is a cooperative financial group that values teamwork and collaboration. Your communication style can help determine how you’ll fit into the company culture, so it’s important to answer this question honestly.

Example: “I consider myself an empathetic communicator who prioritizes active listening. I believe in being honest with my coworkers and providing constructive feedback when needed. In my last role, I had a coworker who was struggling to meet deadlines. Instead of just telling them they were doing poorly, I asked them about their work habits and offered tips on how to improve. They appreciated the advice and ended up meeting all of their deadlines.”

19. Tell me about a mistake you made at work, how did you fix it?

Desjardins wants to know that you’re human and have made mistakes in the past. They want to see how you learned from your mistake, what you did to fix it and if you’ve grown as a result of this experience.

Example: “I once accidentally sent an email to all employees at my previous job instead of just one person. I immediately realized my mistake and apologized for the error. I then followed up with everyone who received the email to let them know it was a mistake and apologize again. I also had to send out another email apologizing for sending two emails. It was embarrassing, but I handled it well and learned from the situation.”

20. What makes you different from other applicants?

Desjardins is looking for candidates who can bring something unique to the organization. This question helps them determine if you have any special skills or experiences that would make you a valuable asset to their team. When preparing your answer, think about what makes you stand out from other applicants and how those qualities could benefit Desjardins.

Example: “I am an experienced financial advisor with over five years of experience in this field. I also hold my Certified Financial Planner designation, which shows that I am committed to providing quality advice to clients. In addition, I have extensive knowledge of investment strategies and retirement planning. These skills make me a great fit for Desjardins because they are looking for advisors who can help members achieve their financial goals.”