20 USAA Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And if you’re hoping to land a job at USAA, a financial services company, you’ll want to be prepared to answer some specific questions about the company and the role you’re applying for.

To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of sample USAA interview questions and answers that you can use to develop your own responses. From questions about your experience with financial services to inquiries about your ability to work in a fast-paced environment, we’ve got you covered.

So, whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, brush up on your USAA knowledge and get ready to impress in your next interview.

USAA Interview Process

The interview process at USAA is lengthy, formal, and difficult. Candidates can expect to interviewed by a number of people, including a panel, and the questions asked will be mostly competency-based. The overall experience is average, but some candidates find the culture to be off-putting.

1. What do you know about USAA?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of USAA and how you feel about the company. It’s important to show that you know what USAA does, but it’s also beneficial to mention any personal experiences with the company.

Example: “I have been a customer of USAA since I was in high school. My parents were customers before me, so I’ve always known about USAA. The reason my family chose USAA was because they offered competitive rates on their insurance policies. We had some issues with our car when I was younger, and we filed a claim through USAA. They handled everything quickly and efficiently, which made us loyal customers.”

2. Why do you want to work at USAA?

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 USAA and how you can contribute to its success. When preparing for this question, make sure you read through the job description so that you can reference specific skills or requirements they are looking for.

Example: “I have always admired USAA’s reputation as a military-friendly company. I am passionate about supporting our troops and veterans, which is why I chose to pursue a career in financial services. I would love to work at USAA because it seems like such an amazing place to support those who protect us.”

3. How would you handle an angry customer who was yelling and cursing at you?

USAA is a financial services company that provides insurance and banking products to members of the military community. As such, they often receive calls from customers who are upset about their service or product. Interviewers want to know how you would handle this situation in order to keep your composure and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Example: “I have had many experiences with angry customers throughout my career. I find it’s best to remain calm and listen to what the customer has to say. If they’re yelling at me, I try to calmly ask them to repeat themselves so I can understand exactly what they’re saying. Once I’ve heard everything they have to say, I apologize for any inconvenience and explain how we will fix the problem.”

4. Do you have any experience working with insurance claims?

USAA is a financial services company that offers insurance products. If you’re interviewing for an administrative assistant position, your experience working with insurance claims may not be as important as other skills and abilities. However, if the role requires you to work with insurance claims, it’s important to highlight any relevant experience in your answer.

Example: “I have worked with insurance claims before, but I would say my primary skill set is customer service. In my last job, I was responsible for answering phones and helping customers navigate our website. I also helped resolve issues by looking up information on our internal database or contacting supervisors when needed.”

5. How did you determine which companies to approach for the best financial services plan for your client’s needs?

This question can help the interviewer understand your decision-making process and how you apply critical thinking skills to solve problems. Use examples from past experiences where you helped clients choose a financial services plan that met their needs, such as insurance or investment advice.

Example: “I always start by asking my client what they’re looking for in a financial services company. For example, if they want low fees but also good customer service, I’ll look at companies with those characteristics. If they are more interested in finding an affordable option, I will research companies that offer competitive rates. Once I have a list of potential companies, I compare each one’s offerings to find the best fit.”

6. What is a strength of yours that will help you succeed as a software engineer?

USAA is looking for candidates who have strong technical skills, but they also want to see that you can work well with others. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your soft skills and how they will help you succeed in the role.

Example: “I am a very organized person, which helps me stay on top of my projects. I’m always prepared for meetings or presentations because I like to make sure I know all the details before I begin. This has helped me be successful at previous jobs where I was responsible for managing multiple tasks at once.”

7. Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult client or colleague.

USAA wants to know how you handle conflict and challenging situations. This question can help interviewers understand your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and ability to work with others.

Example: “I once had a colleague who was always late for meetings. It made it difficult to get our work done on time because we were constantly waiting for them. I talked to the person about my concerns and asked if there was anything I could do to make their job easier. They said they didn’t have enough time in their day to complete all of their tasks. We worked out a schedule that allowed us both to get our work done.”

8. Give us an example of when you worked in a team environment.

USAA is a company that values teamwork and collaboration. They want to know how you work with others, communicate and solve problems together. This question can be an opportunity for you to show your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and leadership qualities.

Example: “In my previous role as a customer service representative, I worked in a team of five people. We had weekly meetings where we discussed our goals for the week and any challenges we were facing. We also used Slack to communicate about issues or questions we had during the day. It was important to me to make sure everyone on the team felt comfortable asking questions and communicating their ideas.”

9. Describe a time where you were given feedback from a manager, how did you respond?

USAA is looking for employees who are open to feedback and can use it to improve their performance. When answering this question, you should focus on the steps you took to implement the changes your manager suggested.

Example: “When I first started working at my previous company, my manager gave me some constructive criticism about how I was interacting with customers over the phone. At first, I was a little defensive because I felt like he wasn’t giving me enough credit for all of the work I had already done. However, I realized that his advice could help me become a better employee. I implemented his suggestions and noticed an improvement in my customer service skills.”

10. Do you think you can be successful working independently?

USAA is a company that values teamwork and collaboration. However, it also requires employees to be able to work independently when necessary. Your answer should show the interviewer you can balance both working alone and with others.

Example: “I think I am capable of being successful working independently because I have done so in previous roles. In my last role as an accountant, I was often tasked with completing projects on my own. This allowed me to develop skills like time management and organization. I believe these skills are important for any employee who may need to work independently.”

11. Have you ever been involved in a group project where someone didn’t pull their weight, what did you do?

USAA wants to know how you handle conflict and work with others. This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your interpersonal skills, so be sure to answer honestly.

Example: “In my last job as an accountant, I was working on a project with two other accountants who were both new to the company. One of them didn’t do much work at all, while the other did her best to complete it by herself. I spoke with the one doing most of the work, and we decided that she would take over the entire project and I would help her where needed. She ended up getting a promotion because of her hard work.”

12. Explain to me a time when you had to troubleshoot a problem you weren’t familiar with.

USAA is a financial services company, so they want to know that you can solve problems with customers. This question allows the interviewer to see how you approach unfamiliar situations and what your thought process is when solving them.

Example: “When I was working at my previous job, we had a customer who called in because their credit card wasn’t working. They were trying to make an online purchase, but it wouldn’t go through. We tried troubleshooting the problem over the phone, but couldn’t find anything wrong. So, we decided to send someone out to help them. The issue turned out to be that the customer’s computer didn’t have enough memory to run the program.”

13. What kind of personality do you think would fit into this department well?

USAA is a company that values teamwork and collaboration. They want to know if you can fit into their culture of working together as a team. When answering this question, it’s important to show your understanding of USAA’s corporate culture. You should also mention the personality traits you have that match up with what they value in their employees.

Example: “I think my personality would fit well into this department because I’m very collaborative. I enjoy working with others and helping them succeed. I feel like I bring positivity to every situation, which helps me build strong relationships with my coworkers. I am always willing to help out when needed, so I think I could be an asset to this department.”

14. What type of phone system have you used?

USAA uses a phone system that allows employees to make calls, transfer calls and record calls. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience using a similar phone system in the past. If you do not have experience with a phone system like USAA’s, explain what type of phone system you’ve used in the past and how it compares to USAA’s.

Example: “In my last role as an account manager for a financial services company, I had to use a phone system that allowed me to transfer calls, record calls and make calls. It was very different from USAA’s phone system because it didn’t allow us to transfer calls or record calls. However, it did allow us to make calls, which is something USAA’s phone system also does.”

15. Are you comfortable using multiple computer applications at once?

USAA is a fast-paced environment, and employees need to be able to multitask. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have experience working in this type of environment. Use examples from your previous job that show how well you can manage multiple tasks at once.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist, I was responsible for managing several projects at once. For example, I would work on one project while monitoring other projects to ensure they were running smoothly. If there was a problem with any of the projects, I could quickly switch gears to address it. In addition, I also had to monitor all incoming calls and emails so I could respond to them immediately.”

16. Who are our competitors?

USAA is a financial services company that offers banking, insurance and investment products. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have done your research on the company and its competitors. To answer this question, list USAA’s major competitors in each of their business lines.

Example: “USAA’s main competitor in the banking sector is Wells Fargo. Both companies offer checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages and other types of loans. In the insurance industry, USAA competes with State Farm, Nationwide and Allstate. Finally, in the investment management space, USAA has several competitors including Vanguard, Fidelity Investments and T Rowe Price.”

17. Can you communicate effectively on paper?

USAA is a company that requires its employees to write reports and other documents. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your writing skills. Use examples from past experiences where you had to write detailed information or instructions.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for creating monthly reports on the financial status of our department. I would include details like how much money we spent on supplies, what projects we were working on and any issues with clients. I also wrote emails to my team members when there were changes in deadlines or new policies.”

18. Do you have experience handling complaints over the phone?

USAA is a financial services company that offers insurance, banking and investment products to members of the military community. As such, they receive many customer service calls each day from customers who have questions about their policies or want to file a complaint. Your interviewer may ask this question to make sure you are prepared for handling challenging conversations with USAA’s customers. In your answer, try to show that you can remain calm under pressure and handle complaints effectively.

Example: “I’ve worked in customer service for over five years now, so I am very familiar with how to handle difficult situations. When someone calls me with a complaint, I first listen to them to understand what they’re upset about. Then, I apologize for any inconvenience and explain our policy clearly. If there is anything we can do to help resolve the issue, I offer it right away. By remaining calm and professional during these types of conversations, I find that I can usually diffuse the situation.”

19. We like to hire people who will stay with us long term, why should we hire you?

This question is a great way to show your commitment to the company and how you plan on being an asset. You can talk about why you chose this career path, what attracted you to USAA or any other relevant information that shows you’re serious about working for them.

Example: “I’ve always been interested in finance, but I didn’t know where to start until I found out about USAA. I was drawn to the company because of its reputation as a military-friendly organization. I want to work here because I feel like it’s the right fit for me. I’m committed to my education and am looking forward to learning more from you.”

20. Tell us about your experience developing web based systems.

USAA is a financial services company that offers banking, insurance and investment products to its customers. As such, it’s important for USAA employees to have experience with web-based systems. When answering this question, you should describe your previous experience developing websites or applications.

Example: “In my last role as a software engineer, I worked on the development team of an ecommerce website. We were responsible for creating new features and maintaining existing ones. In addition, we had to ensure our code was secure and optimized for search engines. This required us to use several programming languages, including Python, Ruby and JavaScript.”