20 Fidelity Investments Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, every company is different. They all have their own unique set of questions that they like to ask in order to get to know their candidates better.

If you’re interviewing with Fidelity Investments, you can expect to be asked questions about your investment experience, your knowledge of the financial markets, and your ability to handle customer service inquiries.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample Fidelity Investments interview questions and answers.

Fidelity Investments Interview Process

The interview process at Fidelity Investments can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two rounds of interviews, often including a phone screen with a recruiter followed by an in-person or Zoom interview with the hiring manager. For some positions, there may also be a panel interview. Overall, the interview process is generally professional and efficient, although some candidates have reported waiting a long time to hear back about their status.

1. What is your experience with software engineering?

Fidelity Investments uses a variety of software to manage their clients’ investments. They want to know if you have experience with the specific tools they use, such as:

Fidelity Advisor Workstation (FAW)
Client Relationship Management (CRM)
Financial Planning and Analysis System (FPAS)
Investment Performance Measurement System (IPMS)
KnowledgeBase
Portfolio Manager
Systems for Enterprise Resource Planning (SERS)
Example: “I’ve worked in financial services for five years now, and I’m very familiar with Fidelity’s systems. In my last role, I was responsible for updating KnowledgeBase articles on a regular basis. I also used FPAS to analyze client portfolios and CRM to communicate with clients.”

2. How do you think technology will change the way Fidelity does business in the future?

Fidelity is a company that’s always looking for ways to improve its services and products. They want employees who are willing to embrace change and new technology, so they can help the company grow in the future. Your answer should show your interest in learning about new technologies and how you think they could benefit Fidelity.

Example: “I believe that technology will continue to make it easier for customers to access their accounts and financial information. I also think that artificial intelligence will be used more often by investment companies like Fidelity to provide better customer service and advice.”

3. Do you have any experience working at a large financial institution?

Fidelity Investments is a large financial institution, so they may ask this question to see if you have experience working at one. If you do, use your answer to highlight the skills and knowledge you gained from that position. If you don’t, you can explain why you haven’t worked for a larger company yet and what you plan to do in the future.

Example: “I’ve never worked at a large financial institution before, but I am excited about the opportunity to work here. I think my previous experience as an investment advisor will help me transition into this role well. I’m confident that my communication and problem-solving skills are strong enough to succeed in any environment.”

4. Why are you interested in working for Fidelity Investments?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and why you are interested in working for their company. When preparing for this interview, make sure to research Fidelity Investments thoroughly so that you can discuss what makes them unique as an investment firm.

Example: “I am very excited to work for Fidelity because of its reputation as one of the most trusted financial institutions in the world. I have always been passionate about investing and want to be part of a team that helps people reach their financial goals. I also love how Fidelity has such a diverse set of products and services, which allows me to help customers with all types of needs.”

5. Have you ever had to deal with an irate customer before, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to assess your customer service skills. It’s important that you show the interviewer how you can handle difficult situations with customers and still maintain professionalism.

Example: “I once had an irate customer who called me because they were upset about their investment returns. I listened to them carefully, asked questions to understand what was going on and then explained our company policy regarding investment returns. The customer calmed down after hearing my explanation and thanked me for my help.”

6. Describe a time when you provided excellent customer service.

Fidelity is a company that values its customers, so it’s important to show you can provide excellent customer service. When answering this question, try to think of an example where you helped a client with their financial needs and made them feel valued.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, I had a client who was looking for a way to invest his money in a way that would allow him to retire early. He wanted to know if there were any specific funds he should be investing in. Instead of just telling him what funds to buy, I took the time to explain how each fund works and why they may or may not be right for him. In the end, he decided to purchase two different funds based on my recommendations.”

7. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s career goals and how they plan to achieve them. It also helps employers determine if you’re likely to stay with their company for an extended period of time. When answering this question, it can be helpful to include your short-term goals as well.

Example: “I see myself in five years as a senior financial advisor at Fidelity Investments. I hope to have achieved my CFP certification by then and am currently working toward that goal. In the next two years, I would like to become a certified investment specialist. I’m excited to continue learning from my colleagues and gaining valuable experience here.”

8. Are you comfortable handling large amounts of money?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your ability to handle responsibility and manage large sums of money. Your answer should show that you are capable of handling such tasks, but also highlight your commitment to customer service and ethical behavior.

Example: “I have worked with large amounts of money before, so I am comfortable doing it again. However, my primary focus will always be on providing excellent customer service and ensuring our clients’ investments are safe and secure. I understand that this is an important part of my job as a financial advisor.”

9. Tell me about a time that you made a mistake and what you learned from it.

Employers ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you’ve grown from past experiences. When answering, try to focus on a time when you learned something new or improved upon an existing skill.

Example: “When I first started working in the financial industry, I was very confident in my ability to help customers make smart investment decisions. However, one day I had a customer who asked me for advice on what stocks they should buy. I told them that I didn’t know which stocks were good investments, but I could tell them which ones weren’t. The customer ended up buying all of those stocks, and lost money because of it. After that experience, I realized that I needed to do more research before giving out any stock advice.”

10. How would you describe your leadership style?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of how you would interact with your team members and other employees at Fidelity. Your answer should include examples of how you’ve led others in the past, including any specific skills or traits that helped you be an effective leader.

Example: “I believe my leadership style is collaborative. I like to involve my team members in decision-making processes so they feel invested in the company’s overall success. In my last role as a financial advisor, I had a team of five advisors who worked under me. When we were deciding on our commission structure for the year, I asked each of them what their thoughts were about different options. We eventually decided on a tiered system based on sales volume.”

11. Do you prefer working in teams or independently?

Fidelity Investments is a large company with many departments, so it’s likely you’ll work in teams. Your answer should show that you’re comfortable working with others and can collaborate effectively.

Example: “I prefer to work independently because I find it more efficient for me to focus on one task at a time. However, I’m also very good at collaborating with my colleagues and am always willing to help out when needed. In fact, I’ve found that the best way to get things done quickly is by working together as a team.”

12. What was a major challenge that you faced while working on a project?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you respond to challenges and overcome them. Use examples from your previous work experience that show how you overcame a challenge, what steps you took to solve it and the results of your actions.

Example: “In my last role as an investment advisor, I had a client who was looking for a specific type of stock. However, I didn’t have any in my portfolio at the time. I researched other companies with similar characteristics and found one that met their needs. I then purchased shares of this company and sold them to my client. They were happy with the new stock and appreciated my efforts to find something comparable.”

13. Can you provide us with examples of times where you had to use problem solving skills?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have the ability to solve problems and make decisions on your own. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of how you used problem solving skills in previous roles.

Example: “In my last role as an investment advisor, I had a client who was looking for ways to diversify their portfolio. They were interested in investing in stocks but didn’t want to invest too much money at once. I suggested they use dollar cost averaging, which allowed them to invest small amounts of money over time. This helped them build up their portfolio without having to invest large sums of money all at once.”

14. Are you able to work under pressure?

Fidelity Investments is a company that requires its employees to work under pressure. The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you can handle working in an environment where there are tight deadlines and high expectations. In your answer, try to show the interviewer that you have what it takes to succeed in such a fast-paced environment.

Example: “I am able to work under pressure because I thrive on meeting deadlines and achieving goals. Throughout my career, I’ve had many managers who expected me to meet certain goals by specific dates. This has helped me develop time management skills and learn how to prioritize tasks so I can get them all done before the deadline.”

15. What is your most significant accomplishment to date?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential future colleague and how they view their own success. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on an accomplishment that relates to the position you’re interviewing for.

Example: “My most significant accomplishment was when I helped my previous employer increase client retention by 10%. This was a challenging goal, but we were able to achieve it through our customer service training program. We also saw a 5% increase in sales from existing customers as a result of the program.”

16. Give an example of a time when you were not satisfied with the outcome of a project.

This question can help the interviewer understand your problem-solving skills and how you react to challenges. Use examples from previous work experiences that show you’re willing to learn from mistakes and develop strategies for improvement.

Example: “In my last role, I was tasked with creating a new marketing campaign for our company’s website. After several weeks of research and development, we launched the campaign but soon realized it wasn’t meeting our goals. We decided to scrap the campaign and start over. This process took another two months, but in the end, we were able to create an effective campaign that helped increase sales by 10%.”

17. Teamwork is very important at Fidelity Investments. Tell us about a time you helped build relationships through teamwork.

Fidelity Investments values teamwork and collaboration. They want to know that you can work well with others, especially when it comes to solving problems or overcoming challenges.

Example: “At my previous job, I was working on a project with two other people. We were all in different locations, so we had to communicate through email and phone calls. One of the team members kept missing deadlines and not responding to emails. It became clear that he needed help managing his workload. So, I offered to take over some of his tasks while he focused on getting back on track. He appreciated the help, and we were able to finish our project ahead of schedule.”

18. What interests you about this role and why should we hire you over another candidate?

This question is a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the role and highlight your relevant skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to refer back to the job description to make sure you’re highlighting the most important aspects of the position.

Example: “I’m very excited about this role because I’ve always been passionate about investing and helping others achieve their financial goals. In my last role as an investment advisor, I helped clients create long-term plans that were tailored to their unique needs. This experience has given me valuable insight into what makes a good investor and how I can help others reach their goals.”

19. Fidelity Investments has been around since How do you think we have maintained our status as a leader in the financial industry?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company and how you can contribute to its success. Your answer should include a brief overview of Fidelity’s history, along with examples of how you would continue to help the company grow.

Example: “Fidelity has been around since 1946, which makes it one of the oldest investment firms in the country. I think that longevity speaks for itself when it comes to quality service and products. In my last role as a financial advisor, I worked with clients who had accounts at Fidelity, and they all spoke highly of their experiences. I believe this is because of the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction.”

20. We pride ourselves on having satisfied customers. How would you help ensure that our customers are happy?

This question is an opportunity to show your customer service skills and how you can help improve the company’s reputation. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of how you helped a customer in the past.

Example: “I would make sure that I am always available for customers who need assistance or have questions about their accounts. In my previous role as a financial advisor, I had a client call me at all hours of the day with questions about their account. I made myself available to answer any questions they had and even scheduled weekly phone calls so we could go over their portfolio together.”