35 Questions to Ask at an Interview for Risk Analysts (With Sample Answers)
When applying for a job as a risk analyst and going on an interview, it’s important to show why an employer should hire you. Even though interviewers can look at a candidate’s resume or cover letter to find out what skills and qualifications they have, a good interview can change a hiring manager’s mind. If you’re trying to get a job as a risk analyst, it might help to prepare for interviews by looking at the kinds of questions employers often ask in these kinds of interviews. This article talks about some of the questions you might be asked at a risk analyst job interview. We also give you examples of answers and interview tips to help you get ready for these kinds of interviews. Ask at an Interview for Risk Analysts
General questions
Many employers start interviews with general questions that help them figure out what kind of person the candidate is and how they like to work. Here are 10 general questions that a person interviewing you for a risk analyst job might ask:
- Please tell me a little bit about yourself.
- How do you use your strengths in a risk analysis?
- How do you get past your flaws?
- What do you do when things go wrong at work?
- Why did you want to work here?
- What makes you want to work for our company?
- Do you have any questions about the job description?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What do you want to do with your job in the next few years?
Questions about work and history from the past
By asking you about your past jobs, your interviewer can figure out what skills you have that will help you do well as a risk analyst. Here are 10 questions a hiring manager for a risk analyst job might ask about your background:
- Why did you choose to learn about risks?
- Have you ever done a risk analysis before?
- How do you deal with stress at work?
- Do you think you’re good at figuring out how to analyze portfolios?
- Why do you want to leave your current job?
- How much money do you want for this job?
- How well do you get along with others?
- How do you know how to use financial software?
- How do you decide if your work is good?
- How do you handle risks at work?
In-depth questions
Interviewers may also ask you detailed questions about situations that risk analysts often face to see how you would handle problems. Here are 10 detailed questions that a person applying for a job as a risk analyst might ask during an interview:
- How do you deal with close deadlines?
- When you’re working on more than one project, how do you decide which one to do first?
- Tell me about the best analysis you’ve ever done.
- Which choice did you have to make at work that was the hardest?
- How can you tell what kind of risks a business faces?
- What is the first thing you look for in a company’s financial portfolio?
- How do you and other analysts at your company work together?
- How do you get and keep information up to date?
- As a risk analyst, what is the hardest part of your job?
- What is the best thing about risk analysis, in your opinion?
Sample interview questions and how to answer them
Here are some sample questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview with a risk analyst:
How does a risk analyst get through a typical day at work?
This is a question that an employer might ask to see if your ideas about a typical workday match up with what is needed for the job. Look at the job description and the list of duties to figure out what to say.
Example: “When I was a risk analyst, I would start my day by checking and answering my emails and voicemails. After I check my messages, I put my tasks for the day in order of how important they are and start updating my risk reports. Then, I would usually meet with other analysts to talk about upcoming projects and make sure they fit with the company’s goals of staying profitable and productive.”
What do you think a good risk analyst needs to be good at?
When answering this question, you should think about the skills you already have as well as the skills listed in the job description. Employers might ask you this to see if you know what the job entails.
Example: “A good risk analyst should be able to think critically and solve problems well. My old bosses often praised my analytical skills because I often found mistakes in the data that kept our company from sending and acting on wrong reports.”
Why do you think you’d be good at analyzing risks?
This is a question that interviewers might ask to see how sure you are that you can do the job of a risk analyst. Try putting the focus on your skills and experience, which show how qualified you are and how much you want to work for the company you’re applying to.
Example: “I have been my company’s top risk analyst for three years. I am a person who thinks things through and has learned to work hard over time. I can help your team and company do well because I can think strategically and do research.”
How do you stay up-to-date on what you know about risk analysis?
You might want to talk about how you keep up with changes and trends in the field of risk analysis when you answer this question. Employers might ask you these questions to find out if you are trying to learn more about your field and stay up-to-date.
Example: “As new tools come out that make it easier to analyze risks, it’s my job to fully understand them and use them to their fullest potential. I also read journals and go to conferences where new strategies and rules are talked about so that my company can stay competitive in an industry that is always changing.”
What do you think our company should do to improve its finances?
This is a question an employer might ask to see how you deal with stress and how quickly you can analyze their company. This also shows that you did some research before the interview. If you can’t think of anything the company could do better, you can talk about what it has done well.
Example: “I might suggest investing in more renewable resources based on how the market is going right now. After taking a closer look at the company’s current investments, we could also talk about adding more stable investments in a wider range of areas to the company’s investment portfolio.”
Tips for a job interview as a risk analyst
Every job interview is different, but here are some general things you can do to prepare:
- Check out the business. Your potential employer might ask you why you want to work for them. Knowing the company’s history and mission statement can help you think of a good answer and show that you care about the company’s values.
- Check out your answers. This plan can help you answer questions in an interview with more confidence. When you practice, try to answer questions in different ways so you don’t have to try to remember a script for each question. Instead, you can focus on responding naturally.
- Bring copies of your resume with you. Even though you probably sent your resume to the company before an interview, it might be helpful to bring copies for both you and your interviewer. Having a copy of your resume can remind the person in charge of hiring you about your skills and show how prepared and professional you are.
- Prepare questions. At the end of the interview, your interviewer may ask if you have any questions for them. Preparing questions about the company’s culture or what they look for in a good candidate can show the interviewer how excited you are to work for them.
