20 SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Interview Questions and Answers

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the United States, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 1.4 million members. SchoolsFirst FCU offers a full range of financial services, from checking and savings accounts to loans and investment products.

If you’re applying for a job at SchoolsFirst FCU, 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 SchoolsFirst FCU interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Interview Process

The interview process at SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone interview and one in-person interview. For some positions, like the Member Service Representative II, you may also have to do a video interview. The interviews are generally pretty good, but some applicants have found the process to be very long and drawn out.

1. Why do you want to work at SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. They want to know what attracted you to this role and how it fits into your career goals. When preparing for this question, think about why you are passionate about working at SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union. Consider mentioning any research you have done on the company or its values.

Example: “I am very excited to apply for this position because I love working with people. I believe that SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union has an amazing team of employees who care deeply about each other and their customers. I also did some research on the company’s mission statement and found that our values align quite well. I would love to be part of a team that works hard to provide excellent customer service.”

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

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle conflict. This is an important skill for customer service professionals, and it can also be useful in a school setting. When answering this question, try to focus on your ability to remain calm and solve problems.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job as a receptionist, I had a parent call me very upset because their child was sick and they wanted to leave work early. I listened to the parent’s concerns and explained that we couldn’t let them leave without a doctor’s note. The parent understood and left work after getting the note.”

3. What are your long term career goals?

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s career goals and how they plan to achieve them. It also gives you an idea of what their priorities are, which can be helpful when deciding who to hire. When asking this question, it can be beneficial to provide some information about your own career path so that applicants know you’re invested in helping them succeed.

Example: “My long term goal is to become a branch manager at a large financial institution. I’ve been working toward this for several years now, and I’m excited to continue my education and professional development with First Federal Credit Union.”

4. How would you describe yourself as a communicator?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you can communicate effectively and professionally. Use examples from past experiences where you had to write, speak or present information in a professional manner.

Example: “I am very comfortable speaking in front of groups, which I have done many times throughout my career. In my last role as a teller at First Federal Credit Union, I presented financial advice to customers who came into the branch with questions about their accounts. I also used public speaking skills when presenting ideas for new policies and procedures to my team.”

5. Do you have experience working in the financial industry?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and how it relates to the position you’re interviewing for. If you don’t have experience in the financial industry, consider talking about another relevant job that requires similar skills.

Example: “I worked as an accountant at my previous employer for five years. I was responsible for balancing accounts, filing taxes and helping clients with their finances. This role taught me valuable math and computer skills that I use every day when working on projects or answering questions from coworkers.”

6. What is your availability for this position?

Employers ask this question to make sure you are available for the job. They want someone who can work full-time and be committed to the position. Before your interview, check out their website or call them to find out what hours they expect employees to work. In your answer, let them know that you are able to work those hours.

Example: “I am available to work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. I understand that is when you expect your employees to work. I have no problem working these hours as long as it’s not every day of the week. I would like one day off per week so I can spend time with my family.”

7. If hired, what would be your approach to helping improve our member service?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company and how you can help improve its operations. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight any research you’ve done on the company and what you think would be best for improving member service.

Example: “I have read about First Federal Credit Union’s commitment to providing excellent customer service, so I believe my first step would be to learn more about the current processes in place for handling member inquiries and complaints. From there, I would implement new strategies that could streamline the process and make it easier for members to get their questions answered or resolve issues they’re having.”

8. How do you feel about working on Saturdays?

First Federal Credit Union is open on Saturdays, and the interviewer wants to know if you’re comfortable working that day. If you are, explain why. If not, explain what your feelings are about working on weekends.

Example: “I’m happy to work on Saturdays because I enjoy interacting with customers in person. It’s a great way for me to learn more about their needs and how I can help them. In my last job, I volunteered to work on Saturdays when other employees needed time off. I enjoyed it so much that I started asking for Saturday shifts regularly.”

9. Are you comfortable working with members and potentially sensitive information?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your ability to work with members and their financial information. It’s important that you show the interviewer that you’re comfortable working in this type of environment, as it can be an essential part of the job.

Example: “I have worked in customer service before, so I am familiar with sensitive information. However, I take my role seriously when handling confidential information. In my previous position, I was responsible for helping customers with their accounts and resolving any issues they had. I always made sure to handle all sensitive information with care.”

10. Describe a time where you were able to find a creative solution to a problem that was not straightforward.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can use them in the workplace. When answering this question, it’s important to provide an example that shows your ability to think critically and creatively.

Example: “When I was working as a server at a restaurant, we had a large group of customers who were celebrating their anniversary. They wanted to have a private dinner but didn’t want to be separated from each other. We decided to put all of the tables together so they could sit with each other while still having privacy. This allowed us to accommodate the larger party without making them wait for a long time.”

11. What has been your biggest accomplishment so far in your career?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential colleague and their career history. It can also help you determine if they are a good fit for the position you’re interviewing them for. When answering this question, it’s important to choose an answer that highlights your skills and abilities while also being honest.

Example: “My biggest accomplishment so far in my career was when I helped my previous employer increase sales by 20% over the course of one year. This was a challenging goal, but we were able to meet it through hard work and dedication. The entire team worked together to achieve this goal, which made it even more rewarding.”

12. In your opinion, what makes a good leader?

This question can help an interviewer determine your leadership skills and how you would apply them to a school setting. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss what qualities you think make a good leader and how those relate to the role you’re applying for.

Example: “A good leader is someone who is able to motivate others while also being empathetic to their needs. I believe that leaders should always put the best interests of their team first, even if that means making unpopular decisions. In my last position as a manager at a restaurant, I had to let one of my employees go because they weren’t meeting our standards. While it was difficult, I knew it was in everyone’s best interest to make the decision.”

13. Do you have any experience managing a team of people?

This question can help the interviewer determine your leadership skills. If you have experience managing a team, describe what responsibilities you had and how you helped your team succeed. If you don’t have direct management experience, you can talk about any other leadership roles you’ve held in the past.

Example: “In my previous role as an assistant manager at a local restaurant, I was responsible for hiring new employees and training them on our company’s policies and procedures. I also oversaw the daily operations of the restaurant to ensure that all staff members were performing their duties efficiently. This included making sure servers were taking orders correctly and that kitchen staff were preparing food according to health standards.”

14. Have you ever worked with a team that had conflict, how did you handle it?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you handle conflict and whether you have experience working with a team. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of when you helped resolve conflict or worked through challenging situations with a team.

Example: “In my previous role as a loan officer, I had a team that was made up of myself and two other loan officers. We all had different styles of working and communicating with clients, which sometimes led to misunderstandings. One day, one of the loan officers got upset because she felt like we weren’t giving her enough work. She expressed this frustration to me, and I explained that our company was trying to give everyone equal opportunities. After talking about it, we were able to come up with a solution where we could rotate who works on what loans.”

15. What do you think are the most important qualities for someone who works in financial services?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the qualities they look for in their employees. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of these qualities and explain why they are important.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities is honesty. I know that when working with clients, we need to give them honest answers about their finances. If someone asks me how much money they should save each month, I would tell them what I believe to be true based on my research. Another quality I think is important is patience. Working with people who may not understand financial terms or processes can sometimes take longer than expected. Having patience can help ensure everyone feels comfortable asking questions.”

16. What do you know about SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your research skills and determine whether you are familiar with their company. Before your interview, make sure you read through the job description and any other information about the credit union that you can find online. You should also try to learn more about the specific school district where you will be working if possible.

Example: “I know that SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union has been in business since 1955 and offers financial services to over 100 school districts throughout California. I am excited to join such an established organization and look forward to learning more about how you provide excellent customer service.”

17. We strive to provide excellent customer service here at SchoolsFirst FCU. How can we improve our current customer service model?

Interviewers may ask this question to gauge your customer service skills and how you can improve the quality of their company’s services. To answer, think about what makes a good customer service experience and how SchoolsFirst FCU could implement these elements into their current model.

Example: “I believe that excellent customer service starts with having an empathetic attitude toward customers. I would encourage all employees to listen carefully to customers’ concerns and respond in a way that shows we care about their needs. Another important element is providing accurate information. If someone asks me a question, I would make sure to give them a thorough response so they feel confident in our company’s products or services.”

18. What is your experience with handling cash and operating a cash register?

This question is a great way to learn about your applicant’s experience with handling cash and operating a cash register. This can be an important part of the job, so it’s important that you understand their level of experience in this area. If they have no experience, you may want to consider training them on how to operate a cash register.

Example: “I’ve worked as a barista at my local coffee shop for two years now. During that time, I’ve learned how to handle cash and operate a cash register. I’m very comfortable with these tasks, and I feel confident that I could perform them well if hired.”

19. When was the last time you went above and beyond for a customer?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your customer service skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you helped a customer in need or went above and beyond for them.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, we had a customer who came into our branch with a lot of questions about their account. They were new to banking, so they didn’t know much about how things worked. After helping them with their questions, I offered to show them how to use the online banking system. This way, they could access their information from home and not have to come back into the bank as often.”

20. Can you tell us about a time when you had to make a decision without consulting your direct manager?

This question can help an interviewer understand your decision-making skills and how you collaborate with others. Use examples from your past to show that you’re capable of making independent decisions while also being able to work well in a team environment.

Example: “In my previous role, I was responsible for managing the budget for our department. My manager would give me guidelines on what we could spend money on, but ultimately it was up to me to decide how to allocate funds. One time, I had to make a decision about whether or not to purchase new computers for our staff. I decided to use some of our budget to buy new computers because they were becoming outdated and weren’t compatible with the software we used at work.”