20 Marsh Interview Questions and Answers

When you’re interviewing for a job at Marsh & McLennan Companies, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience in risk management and your ability to provide advice and solutions to clients. In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of sample interview questions and answers that you can use to prepare for your interview and increase your chances of getting hired.

Marsh Interview Process

The interview process at Marsh is generally pretty lengthy, taking anywhere from 4 months to 6 months to complete. However, it seems that most applicants go through a similar process, starting with an initial screening via Hirevue, followed by an assessment center and then finally a series of interviews with different stakeholders. The difficulty level of the interviews varies, but most people seem to find them challenging but manageable. Overall, the experience is generally positive, with most people finding the interviewers to be friendly and professional.

1. Do you have experience working with captive insurance?

Captive insurance is a type of insurance that businesses can purchase to protect themselves from risks. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have experience working with this type of insurance and how well you understand it. If you do not have direct experience, you can explain what you know about captive insurance and how you would approach learning more about it.

Example: “I’ve never worked directly with captive insurance, but I am familiar with its purpose. In my last role as an underwriter, I helped companies find the right types of insurance for their needs. Captive insurance was one of the options we discussed, so I learned about some of the benefits and drawbacks of using it.”

2. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when dealing with captives?

Captives are the people or companies that a risk management company is protecting. They’re often large corporations, but they can also be small businesses and individuals. The interviewer wants to know how you would handle this important responsibility.

Example: “I think it’s most important to remember that captives are human beings with families and lives outside of work. I’ve seen situations where captives were treated poorly by their insurance providers, which made them feel like they weren’t valued as customers. This led to poor customer service for other employees at the same company. It’s important to treat everyone fairly and respectfully.”

3. Tell us about your previous work experience, particularly in a client-facing role.

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new colleagues and how they interact with clients. Interviewers ask this question to see if you have the right personality for their company, so be honest in your answer.

Example: “I’ve worked as an insurance agent for five years now, and I love helping my clients find solutions to their problems. My favorite part of the job is when I can help someone who’s been struggling find peace of mind. For example, I had one client whose dog was constantly getting out of the yard. They were worried that he would get hit by a car or attacked by another animal. We found a solution where they could install a fence that would keep him safe.”

4. Why are you interested in working at Marsh & McLennan Companies?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and how you came to apply for this position. Use your answer to highlight any specific aspects of Marsh & McLennan Companies that attracted you to it, such as its reputation or mission statement.

Example: “I am interested in working at Marsh & McLennan Companies because I have always been impressed by the company’s reputation for providing quality services. When I was looking into different career options, I read up on some of the projects Marsh & McLennan Companies has worked on and found them very interesting. I think my skills would be a good fit for this role.”

5. What was the best decision you made this year and what was the worst?

This question is designed to give the interviewer insight into your decision-making process. It’s important to highlight a positive choice and explain why it was beneficial, but you should also mention a negative choice and how you would avoid making that mistake in the future.

Example: “The best decision I made this year was taking an online course on financial planning. I realized that my current job required me to have more knowledge about investments and other financial topics, so I signed up for the class. The information I learned has helped me make better decisions at work and understand what clients are looking for when they come to us for advice.”

6. Have you ever had a conflict with a co-worker or manager? How did you handle it?

This question can help interviewers learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you resolve conflicts. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you had a conflict with someone and the steps you took to resolve it.

Example: “In my previous role as an analyst, I disagreed with one of my managers on how we should approach a project. Rather than immediately disagreeing with her, I asked for some time to think through the best way to proceed. After thinking through the issue, I presented my manager with several ideas that she could choose from. She chose one of my suggestions, and together we were able to complete the project successfully.”

7. Describe a time where you successfully dealt with an angry customer.

This question is a great way to assess your customer service skills. It also shows the interviewer how you handle conflict and stressful situations.

Example: “I once had a client who was upset with our services because they felt we were not doing enough for them. I listened carefully to their concerns, asked questions to better understand what they needed and explained why we could not provide certain services. After explaining everything thoroughly, the client understood my reasoning and agreed that it made sense. They ended up being one of our best clients.”

8. Do you have any experience using Salesforce?

Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management platform that many businesses use to manage their sales and marketing activities. If you have experience using Salesforce, share your knowledge of the system with the interviewer. If you don’t have any experience with Salesforce but are willing to learn, let the interviewer know that you’re open to training on the software.

Example: “I’ve used Salesforce in my previous job as an account manager for a small business. I found it very useful because it allowed me to track leads and communicate with clients through email and text messages. It also helped me organize client information so I could easily access it when needed.”

9. If hired, how would you use your background to contribute to a team environment?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and how you can work with others. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your ability to collaborate with others and communicate effectively.

Example: “I believe that teamwork is the key to success in any organization. I would use my background as a risk management consultant to help develop strategies for mitigating risks and ensuring the safety of clients. I also have strong communication skills, which I would use to ensure everyone on the team understands their roles and responsibilities.”

10. Can you tell me about a situation where you helped a client overcome a challenge?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. Use examples from previous jobs to highlight your ability to solve problems, think critically and communicate effectively with clients.

Example: “In my last position as a risk management consultant, I worked with a client who was experiencing some financial losses due to cyberattacks. The company had no cybersecurity measures in place, so we needed to develop a plan that would protect them from future attacks while also ensuring they were meeting regulatory requirements. We developed a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy for the company that included training employees on best practices and implementing new software and hardware.”

11. Who is our biggest competitor? Which companies do you believe we should be partnering with?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the industry and how you can apply it to Marsh, Marsh & McLennan Companies. When answering this question, make sure to provide specific details about why these companies are competitors or partners.

Example: “I believe our biggest competitor is Aon Corporation because they offer many of the same services as us. I think we should partner with them in order to expand our reach into new markets and increase our client base.”

12. How would you go about selling insurance to a company that already has coverage?

This question is a great way to test your sales skills and how you would approach a client who may not need additional coverage. Your answer should show the interviewer that you can be persuasive, but also respectful of their current relationship with another company.

Example: “I would first do some research on the company I was selling to and find out what type of insurance they already have in place. Then, I would call them up and introduce myself as an expert in my field. I would ask them about their current policy and if there were any areas where it could use improvement. If they said no, I would explain why our services are better than theirs and offer to send over a proposal.”

13. Are you comfortable traveling for work?

If you’re interviewing for a position that requires travel, the interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with it. If you have limited experience traveling for work, explain what you would do if you were required to travel frequently.

Example: “I am comfortable traveling for work because I’ve done so in previous positions. However, I prefer to limit my travel as much as possible and instead use technology to connect with colleagues around the world. In my last role, I was able to meet with clients remotely using video conferencing software. This allowed me to save time by not having to commute to meetings and also saved the company money on travel expenses.”

14. In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of providing risk consulting services?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to think critically and solve problems. Your answer should include a specific example of how you overcame this challenge in the past.

Example: “The most challenging aspect of providing risk consulting services is that there are so many variables involved. It’s important to be able to understand all aspects of a situation, including financial, environmental, political and social factors. In my last position, I was working with a client who had recently acquired another company. The integration process was going well until we discovered some discrepancies in their accounting practices. We worked together to find solutions for each issue.”

15. What skills do you possess that make you well suited for this position?

This question is an opportunity to highlight your relevant skills and experience. When answering this question, it can be helpful to include a brief description of the skill or ability you’re discussing along with an example that shows how you used it in a professional setting.

Example: “I have excellent communication skills, which I’ve developed through my previous work as a public relations specialist. In my role at my last company, I was responsible for writing press releases and managing media inquiries. One time, we had a client who made some controversial statements in the media. My team and I worked together to develop a plan to respond to these statements while also promoting our other clients.”

16. What kind of clients do you prefer working with?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you would be a good fit for their company. When answering this question, it’s important to emphasize your ability to work with all kinds of clients and provide examples of how you’ve helped different types of clients in the past.

Example: “I prefer working with clients who are open to feedback and want to learn more about how they can improve their business. I find that by helping my clients understand what they’re doing well and where they can make improvements, we can create a better plan together. In my last role, I worked with several large companies that were looking to expand into new markets. By listening to each client’s goals and providing advice on how to achieve them, I was able to help these companies grow.”

17. What makes managing risks different than managing other things?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can apply it. When answering, try to focus on what makes risk management unique from other areas of business.

Example: “Risk management is different than other things because it’s not just about avoiding negative outcomes. It’s also about identifying opportunities that may be missed if we don’t take calculated risks. For example, I worked with a client who was looking for ways to expand their business into new markets. We helped them develop strategies to mitigate some of the risks involved in entering new territory while still taking advantage of the opportunity.”

18. What would you say to someone who asked why they should choose Marsh over another company?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how it compares to others in its industry. When answering, you can highlight specific aspects that make Marsh unique or explain why you think Marsh is better than other companies.

Example: “Marsh has been around for over 100 years, which shows just how reliable they are as a company. They have also grown significantly since their founding, with offices all over the world. I would tell them that Marsh offers more services than many other firms, including insurance, risk management and investment banking. This means that if they ever need any advice on these topics, Marsh is the best place to go.”

19. Give me an example of a time when you failed to meet a goal. How did you remedy the situation?

This question is a great way to show your ability to learn from mistakes and grow as an employee. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you learned from the mistake and what steps you took to ensure that you don’t repeat it in the future.

Example: “In my last position, I was tasked with increasing sales by 10% within six months. While we did meet our goal of 10%, we didn’t reach the full amount due to some unforeseen circumstances. After speaking with my manager about the situation, they were understanding and gave me another chance to increase sales by the end of the year. We ended up meeting the goal for the second time.”

20. What does exemplary customer service mean to you?

This question can help the interviewer determine if your definition of customer service aligns with that of MMC. Your answer should demonstrate a commitment to providing excellent customer service and highlight any relevant experience you have in this area.

Example: “Exemplary customer service means going above and beyond for clients, which includes being available when they need us and ensuring we’re always solving their problems. I believe it’s important to listen carefully to what our clients are saying so we can understand their needs and provide solutions that work best for them. In my last role as an account manager, I helped develop a new client onboarding process that reduced the time it took to onboard new customers by 50%.”