20 New York Life Interview Questions and Answers

When you’re interviewing for a job at New York Life, you can expect to be asked some specific questions about your experience, qualifications, and goals.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common New York Life interview questions, with sample answers to help you craft your own responses.

Whether you’re interviewing for an entry-level position or a management role, knowing how to answer these questions will help you stand out from the competition and impress your interviewer.

New York Life Interview Process

The interview process at New York Life is long, difficult, and overall not a great experience. It can take weeks or even months to get hired, and the interviews are very tough. There is a lot of pressure to do well, and the whole process is just very stressful.

However, it is worth it to work at New York Life. The company is a great place to work, and the benefits are amazing. The pay is also very good. So, if you are willing to go through the tough interview process, it is definitely worth it in the end.

1. What is your experience in the financial services industry?

This question is an opportunity to showcase your experience and knowledge of the financial services industry. It’s important to be honest about your background, but you can also use this as a chance to explain any gaps in your resume or how you’ve grown professionally.

Example: “I have been working in the financial services industry for five years now. I started out as a customer service representative at a bank where I answered questions from customers over the phone. After two years there, I moved up to a position as a sales associate at a local investment firm where I helped clients create their portfolios based on their risk tolerance and goals. Now, I’m looking for a new challenge that will allow me to continue growing my career.”

2. Do you have any certifications or designations?

New York Life is looking for candidates who are committed to their professional development. This question allows you to share any certifications or designations that you have earned in your career. If you do not have any, you can talk about the steps you are taking to earn one.

Example: “I am currently working on my Chartered Financial Analyst certification. I plan to finish this by the end of next year and will be able to add it to my resume once I receive my certificate. In addition to this certification, I also hold a bachelor’s degree in finance from State University.”

3. How would you respond to a client that does not want to buy insurance from you?

This question is designed to test your customer service skills. It also allows the interviewer to see how you handle rejection and whether or not you can remain professional in a challenging situation. In your answer, demonstrate that you are willing to help clients find solutions to their insurance needs even if they do not want to buy from you.

Example: “I would first try to understand why they did not want to purchase insurance from me. I would then explain all of the benefits of buying from New York Life and offer them a free consultation so they could learn more about our products. If they still refused to buy, I would refer them to another agent who may be able to better meet their needs.”

4. Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult call, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to make tough decisions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the situation in detail and explain how you came to your decision.

Example: “When I was working as an insurance agent for a small company, we had a client who was looking for life insurance. He was a smoker and had some health issues, but he wanted to get the best coverage possible. After talking with him about his options, I decided that our most affordable plan would be the best option for him. While it wasn’t the most expensive policy, it still cost him quite a bit of money each month.

A few months later, I got a call from him saying that he couldn’t afford his monthly payments anymore. We talked through all of his options, including paying off the rest of the policy early or switching to a different policy. In the end, I told him that if he could not afford the current policy, then we should switch to a cheaper one.”

5. Describe a time where you went above and beyond for a customer.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and willingness to help others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you helped the customer and what their reaction was.

Example: “When I first started working as an insurance agent, I had a client who was looking for life insurance but didn’t know where to start. They were unsure of which policy would best suit them and their family’s needs. After talking with them about their budget and goals, I recommended a few different policies that could work well for them. The client ended up choosing one of my recommendations and was very happy with the results.”

6. New York Life has been around since 1845, what makes you think we will still be here 100 years from now?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and its history. It also allows you to show that you have confidence in the company’s future. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some of New York Life’s recent accomplishments or discuss how you think the company will continue to grow in the future.

Example: “I believe New York Life will still be here 100 years from now because of the innovative ideas they are implementing today. For example, I read about their new app that helps customers find life insurance based on their current health. This is an amazing idea that could help people save money while getting them the coverage they need.”

7. What do you know about our products & services?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and its offerings. It also allows you to show that you’ve done some research on New York Life before coming in for an interview. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you know and how much you don’t know. If there are certain products or services you’re not familiar with, make sure to ask questions during the rest of the interview so you can learn more.

Example: “I’m very familiar with New York Life’s life insurance policies. I have been using them since my college days when I was looking for affordable coverage. I am also aware of your investment options, although I haven’t had the opportunity to use those yet.”

8. Why should I hire you over other candidates with similar qualifications?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your confidence and self-awareness. They want to know that you have the skills, knowledge and experience they’re looking for in a candidate. When answering this question, make sure you highlight your unique strengths and abilities. Try to show how you can use these strengths to benefit New York Life.

Example: “I believe I am the best candidate for this position because of my strong communication skills. Throughout my career, I’ve learned how important it is to be able to communicate effectively with others. In my last role, I was responsible for communicating with clients on a daily basis. This helped me develop my ability to explain complex financial concepts in an easy-to-understand way. I think my communication skills would help me excel as a customer service representative at New York Life.”

9. Tell us why you are interested in working at New York Life.

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your personality and how you feel about working at New York Life. Your answer should include specific details about why you are interested in this company, what attracted you to it and what makes it unique from other companies.

Example: “I am very passionate about helping others achieve their financial goals. I have always been fascinated by insurance companies because of their ability to help people when they need it most. When I was looking for an entry-level position, I found that New York Life offers some of the best training programs in the industry. I would love to work here because I know I can grow both personally and professionally.”

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Employers ask this question to see if you have a plan for your career. They want to know that you are motivated and ambitious, but also realistic about how long it takes to move up the corporate ladder. Your answer should show that you have goals and ambitions while also being realistic about how quickly you can achieve them.

Example: “I would love to be in a management position by then. I think it will take me at least five years to get there, however. I am very committed to my career and I understand that promotions take time. I am willing to put in the work to get where I want to go.”

11. In your own words, describe what life insurance is and its purpose.

This question is a basic knowledge test that many employers ask to ensure you have the necessary background information about their company. They want to know if you’ve done your research and understand what New York Life does as an organization.

Example: “Life insurance is a contract between two parties, where one party agrees to pay out a sum of money upon the death of the other party. The purpose of life insurance is to protect against financial loss in the event of someone’s death. For example, if I were to die suddenly, my family would be left without any income or resources to care for themselves. My spouse could use life insurance to replace my lost income and provide for our children.”

12. Have you ever worked on a large team project before?

New York Life is a large company that works on many projects at once. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working in teams and collaborating with others. Showcase your teamwork skills by describing a time when you worked on a project with a group of people. Explain how you helped the team work together to achieve its goals.

Example: “In my last position, I was part of a marketing team that created social media content for our clients. We had weekly meetings where we discussed what types of content were performing well and which ones weren’t. After analyzing this data, we decided to create more videos and fewer blog posts. This strategy increased our client’s engagement rate by 20%. My teammates and I all contributed ideas to help improve our client’s performance.”

13. Would you feel comfortable cold-calling potential clients?

Cold-calling is a common practice in the insurance industry. It’s an effective way to reach out to potential clients and introduce them to your company. If you’re interviewing for a sales position, it’s likely that you’ll need to cold-call at some point. When answering this question, be honest about your comfort level with cold-calling. Explain why you feel this way or provide examples of how you’ve done it in the past.

Example: “I’m not opposed to cold-calling, but I prefer to focus on building relationships with current customers. In my previous role, I would call up existing clients every few months to see if they had any questions or concerns. This helped me build rapport with these individuals and learn more about their needs. I find that when I take the time to get to know people, they are more likely to trust me and buy from New York Life.”

14. Which of our values resonate most with you and why?

This question is an opportunity to show your understanding of the company’s values and how they align with your own. When answering, it can be helpful to refer back to a specific example from your experience that demonstrates how you embody this value.

Example: “I believe in being honest and transparent at all times because I know it leads to better relationships and more successful outcomes. In my last role as a financial advisor, I had a client who was looking for life insurance but didn’t want to disclose his medical history. He asked me not to tell his doctor about his condition, which made me uncomfortable. However, I knew that if he wanted to purchase life insurance, we would need to share this information. So, I told him that while I understood why he didn’t want to talk about it, I couldn’t sell him a policy without disclosing his condition.

He got upset and said he would find another advisor. But after thinking about it, he decided to tell us about his condition so we could help him find the right coverage. It ended up being a positive outcome for both of us.”

15. Give an example of something you accomplished that was particularly challenging. How did you achieve it?

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you are capable of overcoming challenges and achieving success. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a time when you overcame a challenge in the workplace or in school.

Example: “In my last position as an insurance agent, I was tasked with selling life insurance policies to clients who were older than 60 years old. This was challenging because many people over 60 don’t want to think about their own mortality. However, I used my experience working with senior citizens to develop a plan for how I would approach each client. I found that by being honest and open about what they needed, most people were receptive to buying life insurance.”

16. How do you plan on building relationships with new customers?

New York Life is a company that focuses on customer service. They want to know how you plan on building relationships with new customers and helping them understand the products they offer. Use examples from your past experience of how you helped clients learn about their policies or insurance plans.

Example: “I have had many experiences where I was able to help people understand their policies, which made me feel good about my job. In one situation, I met with a client who wanted to cancel his policy because he felt it wasn’t worth the money. After explaining all the benefits of having life insurance, he decided to keep his policy. He even referred a friend to me.”

17. Discuss a situation where you were able to help someone improve their personal finances.

This question is a great way to show your interpersonal skills and how you can help others. When answering this question, it’s important to focus on the positive outcome of helping someone improve their finances.

Example: “When I was working as an insurance agent in my hometown, I met with a client who had recently lost her job. She was worried about paying for her mortgage payments because she didn’t have any other income. I helped her find ways to lower her monthly expenses so that she could afford her mortgage payment while looking for another job. After two months of searching, she found a new job that paid more than her previous one. She was able to pay off all of her debt and save money.”

18. When you don’t meet a goal, how do you react?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you respond to challenges and setbacks. It’s important to show that you’re willing to learn from your mistakes and develop strategies for improvement.

Example: “When I don’t meet a goal, I first look at what factors contributed to my failure. Then, I create an action plan for how I’ll achieve the goal in the future. For example, if I didn’t reach a sales quota one month, I would analyze why it was difficult to sell certain products. Next, I would make changes to my strategy or approach to selling those products. By taking these steps, I’ve been able to consistently exceed quotas.”

19. What motivates you to sell more insurance policies?

This question is an opportunity to show your sales skills and how you can motivate others. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the importance of selling more policies and how you would do so.

Example: “I want to sell more insurance policies because I know that when people have life insurance, they feel safer knowing their loved ones will be taken care of if something happens to them. I also understand that having a policy means New York Life makes money, which helps keep our company running. If someone has no life insurance, I try to convince them to get some by explaining how much peace of mind it can bring.”

20. If you were hiring a financial advisor, what qualities would you look for?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the industry and how you would hire someone for this role. You can use examples from past experiences or talk about what qualities you think are important in a financial advisor.

Example: “I would look for someone who has experience working with clients, as well as someone who is trustworthy and honest. I also want someone who is willing to learn new things and take on challenges. In my last position, we hired a financial advisor who had no experience but was eager to learn. She took initiative by asking questions and researching topics she didn’t understand. After six months, she became one of our top advisors.”