Bank Teller Interview Guide

Step-by-step interview guide for job applicants applying for position of a Bank Teller
From Jacob Gates, former interviewer at Bank of America, Wells Fargo and other companies

Bank teller belongs to the most popular jobs in the United States. Survey conducted in the
United States in September 2011 showed that in average, more than fifty people applied for
every single bank teller job opening in the United States and more than thirty people
applied for job with this title in Canada, in the first half of 2011.

As you can guess, it is not easy for HR professionals to choose a best person for the job
from fifty applicants with similar resume. Typically, they need to conduct a complex
interview consisting of personal, behavioral and technical questions, use a personality test and
one or two role play exercises. It is the best way how to choose the right candidate for this
job. I have personally interviewed more than six hundred applicants for bank teller roles,
therefore I understand:

Why the most qualified applicant does not get a job in 99% of job interviews.

That most people focus on completely wrong things in an interview.

That everyone can get this job, if he knows what to do and HOW to do it in an
interview.

What questions are typically asked in these interviews, what else takes place there
and what is important to do in order to maximize your chances of being chosen for
this job.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

On the pages of this e-book, I am going to guide you step by step towards a coveted bank
teller job contract.
We will start with some things you should do before your interview, such as what should
not be missing on your resume and how to deal with a personality test that is typically used in
big financial institutions and recruitment agencies hiring bank tellers.
We will continue with some tips regarding your interview attire, as well as what to focus
on in your research prior to the job interview.

In the second part of the e-book, we will focus on the interview itself.
I will show you how to act there, how to present yourself as an ideal candidate for this job.
I will teach you what to focus on in your non-verbal communication, as well as in your
answers, so they see you as a perfect applicant for a job of a bank teller.
Subsequently you are going to learn how to deal with behavioral questions in this interview.

Third part of the book is dedicated to 20 most common questions interviewers ask in an
interview for position of Bank Teller. You will understand why they use each question, see
the hidden logic behind it, as well as learn what to answer to every question to impress the
interviewers. Simply, you will learn to tell them what they expect to hear from an ideal
candidate for the job. Brilliant sample answers follow each question.

In the forth part, two examples of role play exercises that are typically used in bank teller
interviews are described, analyzed and solved. You will learn how to deal with it to the
perfect satisfaction of the interviewers.

Final part of the e-book is dedicated to interview follow-up letter.

Once you read through the e-book, you should know what to do before an interview,
during it, and also after it. This should help you not only to impress the interviewers and
get a job you want to have, but also to get rid of stress before an interview.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

One question you can ask me right now:

Doesnt the recruitment process differ from bank to bank, from city to city, from country to
country?

Well, there are some variations, especially if we compare recruitment in the United States
and in Europe. In Europe, things are much more sophisticated and the recruitment is more
scientific. In the US, intuition of the recruiters, as well as your ability to sell yourself plays
the major role in job interviews.
On the other hand, when you are interviewed for a bank teller position, you can hardly expect
to deal with interview questions for nurses or IQ tests for nuclear scientists...

The principles of recruitment and the questions are pretty similar, every time an
institution recruits for the position of a bank teller, doesnt matter if the interview takes
place in New York or London, in a bank, or in a recruitment agency. Once you understand
these principles and questions and learn how to adapt to the specific conditions of your job
interview, you will be able to make a long lasting impression and succeed in any interview
for bank teller job.

Enjoy your reading!

Jacob Gates,
Former interviewer at Bank of America, Wells Fargo,
Independent Career Coach

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents

I.

Before the interview

Bank Teller resume special tips

Personal recommendations in an interview
Personality test
Interview attire
Do not forget to do your homework
II.

In an interview

Act as an ideal bank teller would act in his daily job

Perspective of an employer
How to answer behavioral questions in an interview
III.

Twenty most common bank teller interview questions and answers

IV.

Role-play in an interview

V.

Leaving the right impression and interview follow up

VI.

Final word

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

I.

Before the job interview

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Success in a job interview is not dependent upon your answers to interview questions only.
Your non-verbal communication matters, your demeanor counts. What you wear and
what you bring with you is also important.
In the first part of Bank Teller Interview Guide, we will have a look at it. We will also analyze
the typical test used for personality testing of applicants in many big US banks and
specialized financial recruitment agencies.

Your resume
It does not matter if you are already invited for an interview, or if you are just trying to get the
invitation for one. You should understand some issues regarding crucial parts on your
resume.

First and foremost, you need to understand one thing: Your resume is very similar to resumes
of other applicants for the same job. All of you dont have a college degree; all of you have
none, or close to none working experience; all of you posses similar skills and knowledge. Its
a job nearly everyone can submit an application for.

Summarized and underlined, your resumes are similar. Therefore, you need to focus on parts
that can help you to distinguish yourself from the others, parts on your resume that can
catch the eye of the readers. Lets have a look at it.

Picture on your resume

According to personal statistics I collected from banks where I worked and interviewed
people for various jobs, candidates with picture on their resume were invited for an interview
three times more often than candidates with no picture on their resume.
2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

One can say it was a coincidence, but I highly doubt it. We people are visual beings. One
good picture can tell more about your personality and motivation than a lengthy resume. And
bank teller recruitment is all about finding right personality and motivation.

Therefore, you should definitely choose a good picture and place it on your resume, ideally in
a top right corner. Dressed in business attire, with smile on your face, representing positive
emotions as a human being and showing professionalism and focus. That is right choice of a
picture for your bank teller resume. If you do not have one, ask your friend to take it for you.

This picture can easily catch the eyes of the recruiters. You need to catch the eye of the
recruiters. If you do not include photo on your resume (more than 60% of applicants do this
mistake), your CV can easily get lost in the pile of other documents lying on the table of the
HR manager.

Introduction and/or Resume Objective

Jeremy Miles, a reputable career coach from Canada, wrote that man decides if he invites
you for an interview, or not, in first eight seconds of reading your resume. He may, as
well as not, read your resume through to the end. But the decision has already been taken in
his head, in the first eight seconds of reading it. Therefore, the picture and first lines on
your resume stand for the most important parts and you need to pay special attention to it.

Ideally, your objective, or introduction, (first sentences on your resume) should be short, to
the point and unique. From my experience, most people do not place objective on their
resume. What a mistake! Inspire yourself with the following examples and compose a perfect
objective for your own resume.

My objective is to obtain a position of a bank teller where I can contribute my

skill, knowledge and experience to a bank that will give me an opportunity to
develop my career for many years to come.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

I am trying to obtain a bank teller position, in order to develop full potential of my

customer service skills and to bring added value to the bank I consider to be
number one on the US market.

Being a friendly, responsible, detail oriented woman with practical experience in

corporate finances, I am looking for a bank teller job in a financial institution that
can benefit from my excellent communication skills, as well as my experience,
while I do a job I love to do.

Note: As you can see, candidates did not mention their own goals only, at least not on their
resume. They write something positive for the company also, e.g. added value they can
bring to the company, number one on the market, etc. That is an employer-oriented attitude
all recruiters try to find in good applicants for this job. Please keep it on your mind when
composing, or changing, your own resume.

Other sections on bank teller resume

Writing about your education and experience is pretty straightforward. There is nothing you
can change about it and to make up something would not help you in this case, as every
new employee gets through detailed background check, due to the nature of the job. So
keep it clear, simple and real.
Choose good picture, start with a great objective and follow with list of your education and
experience (if you have any). Your resume should not be more than two pages long.

Please, do not underestimate the importance of your resume, even if you were invited for
an interview already. Many people can see the copy of your resume again and again, in the
process of decision making, after interviews. These people would not meet you in person.
They may see your resume only and the report from an interview with you. For example, a
financial director, or the branch manager, belongs to these gentlemen. These decision makers
do typically not participate in interviews with candidates for bank teller jobs. They just
confirm or reject the final decisions of other HR people. They may see your resume after the
interview and take a final decision without ever talking to you for a second. Therefore, it is

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

very important to improve your resume, doesnt matter if you were already invited for an
interview. Improve your resume right now and bring few copies to the interview with
you.

Issue of correspondence
Your resume has its own non-verbal communication. I remember a bank teller applicant
who claimed to be a responsible and detail oriented person. But on his resume, he did not
include exact dates of his employments. He mentioned years only (from 2004- 2006,...).
Another applicant for the same job wrote on his resume that he had excellent computer skills.
But at the same time, his resume was terribly formatted and apparently he did not even know
how to align the picture to the right side in MS Word.
In these cases, things written on resume did not correspond with the layout and format,
with the non-verbal communication of their documents. Trustworthiness of these
applicants was immediately doubted and they were not chosen.

You should have a look at your resume and think about the issue of correspondence. You can
bet that every good recruiter observes this. Sometimes, it is better to write less and make
some positive surprises in an interview, than to present yourself like a perfect applicant on a
resume, but disappoint the recruiters later in an interview

Personal recommendations
If you can get a written recommendation from your former boss (or teacher), bring it to
the interview with you.
Just very few applicants for bank teller job have any recommendations. Therefore, a good
recommendation can really make a difference in this interview. In fact, a recommendation
from someone important (for example school principal, university professor, financial
manager) can strongly boost your chances of getting this job.

Even if the interviewers do not ask for it or, do not take it, or do not look at it at all, the fact
that you brought it with you still shows that this job is important for you. It shows that you

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

really care and therefore you brought every little thing with you. Most applicants bring only
their resume. Try to be better, try to do more, in every sense of the word. Interviewers will
appreciate it at the end, trust me. Doing more attitude is exactly what they try to find in
ideal applicants, not only for bank teller jobs.

Personality Tests
Different forms of test are applied in a process of interviewing applicants for various financial
positions. However, for entry level jobs, such as bank teller, personality test is typically the
only one used. Interviewers can sometimes use IQ tests also, but one can not prepare for it in
advance, so it would make no sense to discuss it on the pages of Bank Teller Interview Guide.
Lets turn our focus to the personality test, the exam you can prepare for in advance.

One needs to have suitable personality to do this job, similarly to any other customer service
or sales job. That is the reason why personality tests are typically used in nearly every single
bank and recruitment agency. After all, the right personality is the most important
predisposition for this job, not the education or working experience.
I am going to show you how to deal with these tests right now. Once you understand the
logic behind it and how to choose right answers to the questions in a test, it will become your
favorite part of job interview.

Form of a test
Typical personality test consists of fifty statements you should give your opinion to. You
should tick that you either strongly agree with a statement, agree with it, disagree with it or
strongly disagree with it.

Let me pick five random statements that were used in personality tests at Bank of America,
when I worked there.

You ignore small mistakes

It is easy for you to feel what others are feeling

When someone treats you badly, you ignore it

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

You do not like to take orders

You like to take frequent breaks when working

These are five statements from a fifty statements-long personality test that was typically used
at BofA for interviewing entry level job applicants. Candidates should choose if they strongly
agreed, agreed, disagreed, or strongly disagreed with each statement.

While completing the test, you should ask yourself the following question: What would an
ideal teller do when deciding about the statement?
Would an ideal bank teller agree, or disagree with it? This question should be on your mind
all the time while completing the personality test.

Lets have a look at it one by one.

1. You ignore small mistakes

While some decision makers, or HR workers, can, and even should ignore small mistakes,
bank teller should not tolerate any mistake. One forgotten nil in a transaction can prove
costly for the bank, or for the client. Thats why an ideal teller (or ideal applicant for this job)
would always tick Strongly Disagree next to this statement.

2. It is easy for you to feel what others are feeling

Job of a teller is from a major part a sales job. An ideal teller has an ability to recognize the
feelings of different customers and pitch accordingly. Representing such an ideal candidate
for a job, you should stick to strongly agree in a test.

3. When someone treats you badly, you ignore it

Many people idealize job of a bank teller. However, angry or irate or stupid people also
come to a bank on a daily basis. These people often treat tellers badly and say words you
would prefer not to ever hear in your job. However, this is a reality of a job. You should be
ready for it, you should count with it, and it should not influence you at all. Ideal teller
knows that client is always right and has smile on her face, even if the client is angry.
Therefore, you should strongly agree with this statement in a personality test. You should
do so, because an ideal bank teller would agree with the statement also. He would not be
distracted by clients, he would ignore their bad behavior and continue with his job.
2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

10

4. You do not like to take orders

Lucky people do not have to take any orders. They are their own bosses, or directors, simply
people who give orders, not take. However, it is definitely not a case for bank teller. She is
one of the most important employees of every bank, but her position lies on the bottom of
the banks hierarchy.
You will hardly give orders to anyone, but you will take a lot of orders. Speaking about a
right answer for this statement in a personality test, you should choose strongly disagree as
your answer. You should present as someone who likes to take orders.

5. You like to take frequent breaks when working

There is no time to take FREQUENT breaks in work, especially for a busy bank teller.
Therefore your answer should be strongly disagree, since employers expect from an ideal
candidate for this job to have an ability to work on repetitive tasks for a long time, without
taking frequent breaks.

As you can see, it is quite easy to complete this test to the satisfaction of the employer. All
you have to do is to ask yourself the following question, when deciding about your answers in
personality test:
-

What would a good (or an ideal) bank teller answer?

And then you should choose the same answer

Note: Maybe you noticed that I chose strongly agree or strongly disagree as an answer all
the time. To only agree or only disagree with something shows hesitation. You should not
hesitate. You should have clear vision, firm opinions and know what you want. That is why
you should choose strongly agree or strongly disagree in the vast majority of cases.
However, if you are not 100% sure about some answers in a personality test, you can choose
the mild option, ticking that you just agree or disagree with a statement.

Find below ten other statements from the test. Would you agree or disagree with it, in your
job interview for position of bank teller?

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

11

1. You are somewhat of a thrill-seeker

2. Your stuff is often kind of messy
3. When you go someplace, you are never late
4. You hate to give up if you can't solve a hard problem
5. You don't act polite when you don't want to
6. You like to be alone
7. You have confidence in yourself
8. You have no big worries
9. You are not interested in your friends' problems
10. You would rather work on a team than by yourself

(Right answers: 1. SD, 2. SD, 3. SA, 4. SA, 5. SD, 6. SD, 7. SA, 8. SA, 9. SD, 10. SA)

Do not be afraid of a personality test. All you have to do is to think about it from a point of
view of an ideal teller. You should have enough time for this way of thinking in your
interview. In general, ideal bank teller is positive about himself and the others, patient, well
organized, 100% responsible, focused, mathematical, upbeat, and enthusiastic and a team
player. And hes an employee, ready to do what is expected of him.

Note: This technique can be applied on every other normal form of personality test.
However, if you need to deal with some strange form of a test, e.g. a test consisting of
questions like which of this circles is angry or which of these colors is the most blue,
there is not too much you can do to prepare for the test in advance.

Good news is that companies are stopping use weird forms of personality tests, because the
benefit of using it has always been questionable. If there is a test in your interview, it will be
most likely the one with agree-disagree options I described in previous paragraphs. And now
you should be ready to deal with it with smile on your face.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

12

Interview Attire
In an ideal world, personal preferences, physical appearance and attire of job applicants would
have no effect on the final decision of the interviewers.
But we do not live in an ideal world. Personal preferences, as well as your physical
appearance, can make a difference in an interview.

While it is foolish to believe that good attire can win you a job contract, it is also foolish to
believe that wrongly chosen attire can not ruin your chances of getting a job.
After all, attire can help you with good first impression, and that is made just once. So, what
to wear?

When applying for a job of a teller, you should dress like the tellers dress in their daily job
in the bank where you apply for a job (same style and similar colors of dress).
It is easy to find out what the tellers dress code in the bank is.

All you have to do is to go to a bank and have a look, or ask a friend to check it out for you.

Please, do not underestimate the importance of your interview attire. A scientific test proved that
once job seekers stick to the dress code of the institution where they apply for a job, the
interviewers have better feeling about them. A subconscious process is happening in the heads
of interviewers. They see someone as a good adept to join the company, just because the
colors and style of his dress are matching the dress code of the company, the colors and
style that belong to their corporate identity. Clever job seekers use this simple trick to their
advantage.
All you have to do is to find out what the tellers wear in a bank and adjust the style and colors
of your attire to it.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

13

Research prior to your interview

You will be given a full training before starting your job of a teller at any banking institution.
However, it is still a good idea to learn something about services and products of this bank
before an interview.

You should at least browse a website of the institution for an hour or two, to get a good
grasp of their portfolio, as well as to investigate the latest trends and news in the industry.
Once you have this knowledge, you can use it very effectively in role play exercises.

For example, in a typical role play exercise, you are supposed to sell a credit card. If you
know something about its benefits and specifications, you can use it to your advantage. Any
interviewer at bank would give you positive points for such an application of practical
knowledge in a role play.

On the top of that, you should learn something about the working culture, environment,
visions and goals of the bank where you apply for a job. You should be able to name things
that make it different to competing banking institutions. It will help you to explain why
you prefer to work for them and not for some other bank.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

14

II. In an interview
If you did everything I suggested till now, you are on the right track to ace your bank teller
interview. There is no reason to be stress out.
However, there are few more things you need to understand before you enter the room for
your interview. Lets have a look at it right now.

Act, as an ideal bank teller would act in his daily job.

This is a magical sentence. If you follow this single advice, it will win you many job
interviews in your life, not only the one for a position of a bank teller.
In fact, most job seekers believe that their answers to interview questions decide about
success or failure in an interview. But this is just partially true If you know any
interviewers or HR managers personally, ask them about the real decisive factors in an
interview. They would tell you exactly the same thing I am going to tell you right now:
Your presence, non-verbal communication, as well as your overall demeanor is even more
important than your answers to interview questions.

Who is an ideal teller?

An ideal teller has an outgoing personality. She is passionate about her job, likes to talk to
people. She is a good listener. Good teller definitely keeps an eye contact with the client, is
friendly, but acts professionally at the same time. She should have good knowledge of the
products and services the bank offers. She should be happy when doing her job. And she
should definitely have responsible and detail oriented personality.

And you should act in the same way in your interview for this position. What does it
mean?

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

15

You definitely should:

Keep an eye contact with your interviewers all the time.

Be friendly and humble, show respect in an interview. Do not try to be Mr.

Important. That would be a terrible mistake.

Be full of energy. The interviewer must see that you are passionate about this
opportunity to work as a bank teller for them.

Listen very carefully to all the questions and be fully focused on the job interview
only. You should speak to the point all the time.

Be positive about people, about yourself, about the job you want to get.

Have some knowledge of the products and services the bank offers (we discussed
this in the previous chapter) and demonstrate it in the role play exercises.

Smile!

If you follow this advice in an interview, interviewers will get the feeling that you have
perfect personality bank teller. And that is priceless for every employer...
HR people realize that you can always be trained to work in specific software environment or
introduced to some advanced tasks of the teller. However, once you do not have the right
personality for this job, you will never be an excellent teller, either at their institution, or
anywhere else.
Please, keep it on your mind and try to present yourself as an ideal employee in every
moment of the interviewing process.

Job description should help you to understand what abilities and behavior characterize good
bank teller, if my list was not satisfactory for you.
Once you understand it, all you have to do is to present yourself in a same way in an
interview.
Act, as an ideal bank teller would act in his daily job. This is the safest way towards a
coveted job contract.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

16

Perspective of an employer
Most job seekers think about themselves only. Let me show you an example:
When inquired about a reason for their application for a teller job, they talk about clean and
professional working environment, potential for career growth, good reputation, etc.
However, this is a perspective of an employee.
Think about it for a while The employer is not interested in your career growth, if you feel
respected and in all of these things. Companies care for their own gains, not for yours.

Just a small group of job seekers have an ability to look at things from a perspective of an
employer. They use different answers to the same question:
-

They apply for the job as they believe to be good tellers and have an ability to sell
products and services to customers.

They believe to bring some added value to the bank, to the team of the tellers.

They apply because they really like the bank, the vision and goals, the working
environment and believe to fit perfectly to all of this.

Simply, they do not speak about what they want to gain as tellers, but what the employer can
gain from the employment relationship with them.

In the next chapter, called Twenty Most Common Bank Teller Interview Questions, I will
show you brilliant answers that correspond with the perspective of an employer. It is
important to understand it before you mock the questions and answers from this e-book. To
think about an employer in every moment should become your mindset. Employer first,
your benefits second.
If you think like this, you will succeed in nearly every job interview, not only the one for bank
teller position.
Look at things from the perspective of an employer. Leave your ego at home, at least
when you are going to be interviewed for a job. It is the only way to succeed in a tough
competition of dozens job seekers who try to get every available bank teller position.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

17

How to answer behavioral questions in an interview

Answers to behavioral questions can sometimes decide a winner in an interview.
Interviewers ask you about your behavior in various work-related situations from the past, to
forecast what you would do in similar situations that happen in banks on daily basis. Lets
have a look at one question:
Give an example of you dealing with an irate customer and what you did to fix the
problem?

Many times, I heard applicants reply to this question:

-

I do not have such an experience.

This is my first job application for any customer service job .

I have never been in that situation.

All of these answers were really bad. Candidates could hardly get any positive points for their
answers, because they did not answer my question at all.
We will analyze and answer specific behavioral questions for bank teller interview in the
following chapter. However, there is one rule you should remember: Never say that you can
not answer a question.
If you really havent experienced certain situation yet, I suggest you to use the following
formulation:
-

I have not been in such a situation before. However, if it happened, I would do the
following:

This should be your third option. Before deciding to use it, you should think about real
situations from the past, or think up one before the start of your interview. You should at least
prepare an answer to all behavioral questions from this e-book. To summarize it, anytime
answering behavioral question in an interview, you should do the following:

1. Talk about situations that really happened to you and explain your behavior in it.
2. If there wasnt any real situation, but you thought up one, you should use it.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

18

3. If there was not any situation from the past and you did not prepare your answer
before an interview, you should use the following formulation: I have not been in
such a situation before. However, if it happened, I would do the following:

Lets have a look at particular questions and answers, the principal section of the e-book.

III. 20 Most Common Bank Teller Interview Questions

Based on my experience with interviewing candidates for bank teller positions, I chose and
analyzed twenty most common interview questions.
We will have a look at some personal, behavioral and technical interview questions. Role
play exercises, typically used in interviews for this job are outlined, explained and practiced
in the forth chapter.

There is a short hint for every question. The hint describes why the interviewers ask you the
question and what to focus on when answering it. Several excellent sample answers
follow the hint. Feel free to use it as an inspiration for your own answer in an interview.
The following questions are analyzed on the subsequent pages:

1. Tell me something about yourself.

2. Why do you want to become a bank teller?
3. Why did you choose our bank?
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
5. This job can be repetitive. What would motivate you to do it well every day?
6. Why should we hire you?
7. How would you convince the customer to become a client of our bank?
8. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
9. What do you know about our bank?
10. Have you ever worked at a bank before?
11. Talk about a successful sales experience.
12. What characterize a good teller from your point of view?

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

19

13. Give an example of you dealing with an irate customer and what you did to fix
the problem?
14. Give an example of a time you made a point to go above and beyond with
customer service.
15. What would you do if you saw a fellow employee take $100 that belonged to the
bank?
16. Do you know the proper techniques for detecting counterfeit cash?
17. Describe a situation when you had problems to communicate something to your
boss, or to your colleagues.
18. What banking products do you personally use and why?
19. What are your salary expectations?
20. Do you have any questions?

1. Tell me something about yourself

Hint: Interviewers are not interested in your family, or in your free time activities (many job
seekers talk about these things). You should focus more on your personality, experience,
education and professional interests. On the other hand, it is fine to present your outgoing
and honest personality, mentioning some of your hobbies or personal interest.
This is only a warm-up question, so I suggest you to use short answer.

Sample answers:

I am twenty years old, like to spend time with all kind of people and socialize. I am
keen to learn more about banking industry and finance in general. I graduated from
the high school in this city, with good marks. In my free time, I like to play sports,
learn something new and spend time with my friends.

Hi, my name is Jenni, I am from Toronto. I graduated from City University.

Currently I am looking for a job where I can apply my communication skills and

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

20

knowledge from my studies. I believe that teller position can be a great start for my
career, as I like to work with the computer, and love to meet new people. In my free
time, I like to read books and go out to the nature.

2. Why do you want to become a bank teller?

Hint: To ask why you chose this career or why teller or why you want to become a teller is
one of the typical starting questions in many interviews in banks.

You should not refer to the past while answering it. To say that you want to be a teller
because you studied something related to finances would be like saying you have to do it,
instead of wishing to. Therefore, you should speak about the future, your career goals,
your motivation and personal preferences, when explaining the reasons of your job
preferences.

Sample answers:

I like to work with people and money. These things are uniquely combined in a daily
job of a bank teller. On a top of that, I would be proud of working in such a reputable
institution like your Bank is. Those are the main reasons of my job choice.

My goal is to become a personal banker in few years time. But I need to understand
all the processes and nuances of the job of a teller to be able to get this PB position.
This is my dream career path and I hope to start it in your bank.

Every one of us has some skills and is good in doing something. I am good in pitching
people, in uncovering their needs and desires and matching it with banking products.
On the top of that, financial products have always represented a field of my interest.
People want to do what they do well. That is why I want to get the job of a teller and
did not apply for another role. I have always dreamed of having this job and did
everything I could to be ready for getting it.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

21

3. Why did you choose our bank?

Hint: You should focus on personal preferences to the institution where you apply for the
job, or the vision and culture of a bank of your choice. You should simply focus on
something that distinguishes it from other competitors, something what hiring managers are
proud of.

Interviewers are not stupid. They understand that a job seeker would be happy to get a teller
job in any bank. However, you should do your best to convince them that their banking
institution is a first choice for you.

Sample Answers (Bank of America is used as a bank of your choice in the answers)

I fulfill all the requirements and believe that I fit the company culture pretty well, from
what I have observed as a client of this bank. Thats why I prefer to work at Bank of
America, and not anywhere else. I submitted applications to two other banks also, but
I would accept a job here immediately.

I really like Bank of America. I, as well as other members of my family, are satisfied
clients of the bank. I believe this bank offers the widest portfolio of products, services
and solutions for huge variety of clients. Thats why I would love to work here and
would be proud on it.

4. Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Hint: Interviewers ask this question primarily to find out if your career plan matches the
possibilities they can offer.
In most of the banking institutions, exact career growth plan for each entry level job is

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

22

outlined. Your answer should correspond with the possibilities. In most of the banks, private
banker and service manager, or assistant manager, are the next career steps for tellers.

Hiring is becoming expensive and job hoping is a problem many banks face nowadays.
Therefore, try to convince them that you are a loyal employee and want to grow with
their institution for many years to come.

Sample answers:

In five years time, I would like to have a managerial position in a bank. My plan is to start
here as a teller, improve my customer service skills over time, work on my management
degree, do a good job and be promoted to a position of assistant manager in three or four
years time.

My goal is to have a senior role in financial management of this branch in five, or in

ten years time. I believe that I can learn a lot in this company and if I do a good job
here as a teller and progress with my education externally, there will be an option to
progress step by step and achieve my final goal one day. But before it happens, I need
to start as an entry level teller and practice the basics of the job.

5. This job can be repetitive. What would motivate you to do it well every day?
Hint: Daily job of a bank teller really can be repetitive, especially in big banks, where each
teller typically carries out the same limited number of tasks day after day, client after client.
Therefore in your answer to this question you should focus on your preference to routine
jobs. Not everyone needs new challenges every day. As an ideal applicant for bank teller job,
you should simply like routine jobs. A good feeling from a well-done job and satisfied clients
can resonate in your answer.
Or, you can say that from your point of view none job is repetitive, if one has the right
mindset and attitude to it.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

23

Sample answers:

- To be honest with you, I prefer routine jobs to creative jobs. Once I learn to do things, I do
my job well and have good feeling about it. Jobs where you have to learn new things every
day are not really a good choice for me. I simply prefer routine jobs, as I am not the most
creative person. However, once I learn to do my tasks well, I enjoy doing it and can do it on a
very high level day after day.

- I focus on relationships on the workplace. If I enjoy time spent with my colleagues, if I feel
like a member of a hard-working team, it makes me happy and motivated to work hard all the
time. It does not matter if the job is repetitive.

- From my point of view, this job is not repetitive. I know that tellers carry out the same
transactions for the clients every day. But, you get new data all the time, there are problems
you need to solve and new clients you talk to. Many different things happen in an office on a
daily basis. From my point of view, this job is fun to do, not a repetitive one. Some tasks may
be routine and repetitive, but it doesnt make the time in a job repetitive, or boring.

6. Why should we hire you?

Hint: Most job applicants answer that they have the best qualifications, experience, or
predispositions for the job. In fact, that is really a silly answer.
First of all, all interviewed applicants have satisfactory experience and qualification to get a
job. They would not be invited for an interview otherwise...
And secondly, you do not know all the other applicants personally. So how can you tell that
you have better qualification or predispositions to be a good teller than other applicants? It is
impossible to say it.

Other group of job seekers have a tendency to use one of the following answers:

Because I am the best candidate for this job. Well, this is too general.

Because I want this job so badly. Interviewers are not concerned about your wants
and personal problems. They do not care about what you want.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

24

I fulfill all the requirements for the job. All applicants fulfill the requirements, at
least most of it. Meeting the requirements is not a reason why we should prioritize you
to someone else.

I have no idea. If you have no idea, how can an employer have one?

As you can see, there are many bad ways how to answer this question. So, what is the right
way?
The right way is to talk about something unique, some added value you can bring to the
institution, you and only you, something that differentiates you from the other applicants for
the job of a teller.
While it is tough to give sample answers suitable for you (each of us is different and can bring
different form of added value to the team), I will list couple of good answers from other
applicants, as an inspiration for your own thoughts.

Sample answers

I believe that tellers are really important for every bank. They are the one clients meet
on a daily basis, the one who decide about their satisfaction, or disappointment. The
quality of their job strongly influences the overall results of the bank. Teller is not only
someone who should talk to clients and do what they ask him for. He should strive to
uncover their needs, offer them best possible products and services and make them
happy in the moment of leaving the bank, doesnt matter if they bought something or
not. From my personal experience, not many people have this attitude towards the job.
I have it, so I believe to be a really good choice for this position.

I have an ability to uncover needs of the others and to sell them what they really need
or want. This is my hobby, this is my passion. I study human psychology in my free
time, to understand different types of clients and how to pitch them. I can honestly say
that in the last years, I did my best to get ready for being a good bank teller.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

25

7. How would you convince the prospect to become a client of our bank?

Hint: At the end of the day, business is about turning prospects to clients. A really good
bank teller is able to pitch a client in every moment and convince him into buying something.

If you want to be chosen in an interview, you simply need to convince the interviewers that
you have the ability of turning prospects to customers. And its not only about your answer to
this question. It is about all things you do in an interview. For example, as a good salesman
you should definitely keep an eye contact with the client and be a good listener. Its
necessary to present all these things in an interview, as explained in the Act as an ideal
teller would act in his daily job chapter. Lets have a look at sample answers now:

Sample answers:

I would try to uncover the needs of the client and match it with the products or
services we offer. After that, I would look for the options to upsell him something,
according to the situation and his needs.

First of all, I would try to create a good friendly relationship with him. Sales are all
about relationships. Once I gain his trust, it will be easier to sell him our products or
service, even on a regular basis.

8. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Hint: This is one of the most typical interview questions. Sometimes I have the feeling that
interviewers use it just because everybody else does so.
However, it is not as difficult as many job seekers perceive. In a good answer you should
talk about strengths that are related to the job of a bank teller and weaknesses that are not
related (or at least not so much) to this job. In fact, one can even talk about a weakness that

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

26

might be considered as strength by some employers, for example being overfriendly to

customers.
Anyway, you should not try to fool anyone, claiming to have no weaknesses. We are human.
We have weaknesses. Pick one that is not so important for this job and follow with your
efforts to improve on it. That is what the interviewers want to hear from you in an interview.

Sample answers:

I have a tendency to be overfriendly to people. Sometimes, clients may understand my

behavior in a wrong way. I know about this weakness and try to be careful in the job,
to avoid stupid situations in job. From my strengths, I can mention good computing
skills and an ability to understand the needs of different people. I believe it is very
useful in a job of a teller.

My computer skills are not as good as it should be nowadays. However, I attend

evening courses and practice a lot at home in order to improve on it. From the
strengths, people say that I am very responsible. It has never happened to me that I
did not finish my work in time or that I forgot to do something in job.

9. What do you know about our bank?

Hint: You should definitely focus on positive things. If you can compliment them, do it.
Knowing something about the bank, their corporate identity and portfolio, you present
yourself as someone strongly motivated for the job and someone who did his homework
before an interview.

After all, interviewers should get a feeling that you really like the bank, want to work there
and consider it to be one of the best banking institutions out there.

Sample answers (Bank of America as an example)

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

27

Bank of America is the most popular and biggest bank in the US. It is widely
recognized for its leading online banking services, top notch customer service and
friendly tellers. I hope to become one of these tellers.

Bank of America is well known with its friendly working environment, good
possibilities for career growth and fair system of benefits. Its also my dream place of
work. That is what I know about the bank, speaking in general. I have good knowledge
about your portfolio, but probably thats not what we should discuss right now in
detail.

10. Have you ever worked in a bank before?

Hint: This question is easy for someone who worked in a bank. If it is your case, all you
should say is where you worked and on which position. However, what to do if it is your
first experience with job in a bank?

You should definitely be honest. But to get some points for your answer, you can mention
other related roles you had (customer assistance, or sales). You should stress that despite
you have not worked at a bank before; you know what is expected from you. If this is your
very first job application, you can mention the experience from the other side of the
table, experience you gained as a client of bank.

Sample Answers

I have worked on the teller position at Wells Fargo for two years. I really liked my job
there, but our branch was closed. Thats the main reason why I apply for a job here,
as I would like to continue my career in the same field.

I have never worked in a bank before. However, I have related working experience. I
worked as a customer assistant in a shop for two years. I believe I gained the required

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

28

customer assistance and cash handling experience there. This job has also helped me
to improve my communication skills.

I have never worked in a bank. In fact, this is my first job application. However, I visit
Bank of America quite often in a position of a client. I can understand what tellers do
and how they behave, so I know what is expected from a good teller at Bank of
America. I am also a quick learner. I am sure I can be very good at my job, although I
have no previous experience with jobs in a bank.

11. Talk about a successful sales experience

Hint: Interviewers used this question in teller interviews at all banks where I worked. It
belongs to the most important questions in an interview, so you should have a good
answer ready.
If you do not have any previous experience with professional selling, you can still give a very
good answer to this question, with an example from personal life.
We are selling something all the time, arent we? We are selling our ideas and thoughts to our
colleagues, partners and kids. You can focus on this form of selling in your answer. It is good
to stress the lesson you learned from a successful sales experience.

Sample answers

In my previous job of customer assistant at Boots, I was the most successful sales
person. I always talked to customers, tried to give my honest opinion, advice what
additional items they should consider purchasing. It worked pretty well for us and my
sales kept growing each month. I realized that proactive approach is the best one in
sales and plan to stick to it in a job of a teller.

I have never worked in the department of sales before. However, I had to use my sales
skills when my children were choosing a college. They both wanted to study teaching,
what wasnt really the most perspective field. I tried to sell them my idea of studying

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

29

business and management which is a field I wanted to study myself, but never did. I
explained them all the benefits this degree could bring them later in life. Finally, I was
able to sell them my idea and they both applied for the Business and Management
College. (*You should choose similar experience from your own life, when you
succeeded to sell an idea to someone.)

12. What characterize a good teller from your point of view?

Hint: Interviewers try to find out if you understand what the real role of a teller in a bank is, if
you know what would be expected from you in this job.
You should focus on sales. Then you can mention something about good level of customer
satisfaction.
Anyway, your characteristic of a good teller should not consist of his features, but of the
benefits he brings to his employer.

Sample answers

Good teller creates profits for his employer. He is able to sell products to various
clients and retain best possible level of customer satisfaction in bank. He should be
happy in his daily job and responsible. He should avoid making mistakes in work.

Good teller should fulfill the expectations of the employer, in terms of monthly sales
volume, levels of customer satisfaction, as well as other tangible and intangible
indicators. She should also enjoy her job, be loyal to the bank, and talk nicely and
wisely to all the customers. She should also have good relationships with other
employees.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

30

13. Give an example of you dealing with an irate customer and what you did to
fix the problem?

Hint: Tellers meet variety of clients. Some people are nice and clever. Some others are irate,
stupid, or too clever However, as a good teller you need to stay calm and smile all the
time. You should be able to look at the problem from the point of view of a client and get
over any bad words quickly. Thats what you should focus on when explaining a situation
from the past. If you have no experience with irate customers, say what you would do if it
happened to you.

Sample answers:

In my previous job at AT&T, I was always confronted with irate customers. People
were not satisfied with their invoices. I always calmly explained them, in as simple
language as possible, why the numbers were different as they expected. I was always
friendly in these situations, and also empathic sometimes, if I felt it was needed. It
worked well in most of the cases.

I have never had such an experience, as this is my first job application. However, if it
happened in bank, I would most likely try to understand point of view of the irate
customer, listen carefully to his words and then, using all the information I have, I
would try to calm him down. I would definitely not argue with him, argument would
hardly solve anything. I count with this behavior in a bank and irate customers would
not make me feeling uncomfortable in my job.

14. Give an example of a time you made a point to go above and beyond with
customer service?
Hint: As an ideal applicant for teller job in a bank, you should always go above and beyond
for your customers. If you have no previous experience, say what you would do to go above
and beyond with your service as a teller.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

31

Your tone of voice is also important when answering questions like this one. You should
speak with love, calmly, about every situation when someone made you feeling
uncomfortable, or when you had to do something extraordinary to please the customer.
Interviewers should get the feeling that you love to do something extra for customers.

Sample answers

I consider it to be my duty to always do my best for a customer. For example in my

last job in retail, I called a friend, expert in the area of electronics, to give me an
advice when a customer asked me a very specific question about a computer we were
selling. The customer really appreciated it and I was happy to help her. These
moments make me proud on my job.

I always try to exceed the expectations of the customers. It is the best way to make the
customers satisfied and come back again. It also helps me to feel the personal
satisfaction from doing my job. For example, once I visited a customer at home
outside of my working hours, just to explain him and his wife the advantages of our
mortgage plan, comparing it to the plans of other financial institutions.

I have never went above and beyond with customer service, as this is my first job
application. However, I understand the importance of customer satisfaction in a bank
and will always look for opportunities to deliver exceptional customer service.

15. What would you do if you saw a fellow employee take $100 that belonged to
the bank?
Hint: Due to background checks of every new bank employee, these situations do not occur
too often.
With questions like this one, interviewers do not really try to find out what you would do.
They simply examine your attitudes and mindset.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

32

The right attitude is this one: Employer on a first place. Therefore, you should simply say you
would report it to the manager immediately, doesnt matter if the colleague is unknown, or a
close friend.

Sample answer

I would report it immediately to the manager, doesnt matter who the colleague were.
Even if he were my superior, or my close friend, I would still report it. I am sure your
bank has some internal policies for such a behavior, so if I get this job, I will be
trained whom to report stealing on the workplace.

16. Do you know the proper techniques for detecting counterfeit cash?

Hint: This is a technical question. Anytime they ask you a technical question in bank
teller interview, you should simply give an exact answer.
There are some well known techniques for detecting counterfeit cash. You should list it and
thats it.
Note: In most of the developed countries, banks use testers where tellers simply insert the bill
to detect counterfeit. If it is a case of your country also, you can say you would simply use the
tester to detect counterfeit.

Sample answers:

There are many ways how to detect it. For example, the genuine portrait appears
lifelike and stands out distinctly from the background of the genuine bill. On a
genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear,
distinct, and sharp. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt, or broken saw-tooth
points. Genuine currency paper has tiny red and blue fibers embedded throughout.
Often counterfeiters try to simulate these fibers by printing tiny red and blue lines on

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

33

their paper. Close inspection reveals, however, that on the counterfeit note the lines
are printed on the surface, not embedded in the paper.

From my experience as a client of this bank, I know there are testers to detect
counterfeit cash on a table of every employee who handles cash. I would use it to
check each bill, as it does not take too much time to do it and it is the safest and most
accurate method to detect counterfeit money.

17. Describe a situation when you had problems to communicate something to

your boss or to your colleagues.

Hint: Bank tellers communicate with each other all the time. This job can be sometimes
stressful and demanding and to have good colleagues you can talk to is very important for
healthy working environment. Therefore, a good applicant for this job should like to
communicate with the colleagues and create good relationships on the workplace.
After all, good communications skills are one of the requirements on every teller.

Every time you talk about problematic communication you had with one of your colleagues,
talk positively. Nobody wants to hire a teller who would talk bad about colleagues and create
conflicts on the workplace.
Therefore, your attitude and way of thinking is important, not the particular situation you
choose to talk about. Interviewers simply want to see that you are a person who strives to
maintain best possible relationships with all people in a bank.

Sample answer

In my previous job at STARBUCKS, I had problems with shift manager. I had the
feeling that the work is badly organized and therefore the customers are not as
satisfied as they should be. My manager had different opinion and believed the low
level of satisfaction was caused by lack of motivation of the baristas. But that was not
true. I tried my best to explain to him the problem and gave concrete ideas on

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

34

improvement. He was a clever guy, a good guy, and I thought he would understand.
But he did not. I decided to leave the store, as I thought it would be better for
everyone. Anyway, our relationship continues, we are friends, just we do not work
together anymore. I wish him just the best in his career at SB.

As it goes about my first job application, I have never been in this situation. However,
I know that communication problems belong to the workplace. What I plan to do is to
be totally open and honest about everything with everyone in a bank, so people know
what to expect from me. I am also very patient in communication; try to never argue
with anyone. I hope it will help me to avoid communication problems with my
colleagues.

18 .What banking products you personally use and why?

Hint: You are offered a unique chance with this question. You can show your preferences
for a bank, describing their own products you, or your family members, use.
And, you can also demonstrate your knowledge of banking products, with a wise
explanation of it, the explanation you would not be ashamed of as a teller.
Most importantly, you should speak clearly, to the point and stress the benefits the products
bring to you as a client, so the interviewers can picture you doing the same as a teller
working for them.
You can find all the information about different banking products on the website of the
institution where you apply for job.

Sample answer

I have a checking account and a platinum debit card from your bank, Wells Fargo.
You have so many ATMs in this area, and the card works perfectly for all my online
shopping needs, therefore I chose this product. My parents have a mortgage loan from
your bank and are very happy with the flexibility of monthly installments, as well as

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

35

the option to make extra payments at their convenience. I believe it is one of the best
mortgage plans out there.

19. What are your salary expectations?

Hint: Salary for bank tellers does not belong to the highest. Fro example, in the States, it is
about $25,000 - $30,000 per year.
Many people who never had this job think bank tellers earn much better, but it is not
true. You should know the average salary for tellers in your country before your interview, to
avoid showing unrealistic expectations in an interview.

What more, it is always good to say that the salary is not the deciding factor for you, as
well as to stress what matters for you more feeling from a well done job, good collective,
working in nice environment, etc.

Sample answers

Salary is not the deciding factor for me. I like the job description, I like your bank and
I would be pretty proud to have this job. But as far as my knowledge goes, average
salary for a bank teller in your institution is about $25,000. I would accept that.

According to salary.com, average salary for a bank teller in this location is about
$30,000. However, I do not think about the salary when deciding about my job. I want
to work as a teller and I am sure that once I prove myself as a good teller, there will
be room for both salary raise and possible promotion to lead teller or personal banker
position.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

36

20. Do you have any questions?

Hint: You should ask one or two questions, if they give you an opportunity in an interview.
Asking a question shows that you care about the job opportunity, want to know more, are
motivated to get the job.

However, you should not ask about something that was clearly expressed on the job
description or already said in an interview. Good things to inquire about are the next steps of
recruitment process, company culture, working environment and similar points.

Sample answers:
-

Can you tell me something more about the collective of tellers in this branch?

What are monthly goals of bank tellers in your bank?

What are the next steps of recruitment process?

What are the newest security innovations in your bank?

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

37

IV. Role play exercises in a teller interview

Role play is a part of nearly every single teller interview process.

This exercise represents the most difficult part of the job interview for the candidates,
because it is quite difficult to prepare for it in advance.

I remember on many perfect tellers and perfect customer assistants from my

interviewing experience at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. These people were well
prepared for an interview and I had a very good feeling about them and their
predispositions for the job.

However, once we did a role play and they were supposed to make a sales pitch or to offer me
a credit card, they completely failed. It is not easy to baffle the interviewers in role play
exercise. Your ability to deal with the role play reflects the true level of your readiness for the
job.

On the other hand, you can learn how to flourish in these exercises. There are three key
principles you need to learn in order to be able to ace a role-play at any bank. But before we
look at these principles, I want to show you an example of two commonly used role plays at
Bank of America, so you know what we are going to talk about:

Role-play nr.1: Imagine that I am a customer of the bank. I came to deposit some money into
my checking account. You are processing the transaction. On a screen of your computer you
can see I do not have a credit card yet. Try to use this opportunity to sell me the credit card.

Role-play nr.2: Here is the notepad with a logo of Bank of America. Try to sell me this
notepad (role play done in a group interview)

Interviewer always plays a client of a bank. You play an employee of the bank, a teller.
2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

38

In most of the cases, your goal is to make a sale, or at least to offer a product in a best
possible way, because after all, if the deal is going to be closed or not does not depend on you
only.

Four important things to remember before you start to stress out:

1. Interviewers do not expect to hear a perfect sales pitch from you First of all,
you are not prepared for it and youll be trained to pitch perfectly, if they hire you.
2. The worst thing you can do is to refuse the role-play, as you were not prepared
for it. If you did so, they would not choose you for the job. They want to hire people
with courage. Therefore, even if your sales pitch is a bad one, its still better to try
than to refuse.
3. You should take the role play very seriously. I know it may sound like BS, to sell a
notepad with a logo of Bank of America to someone However, it doesnt matter
how stupid the exercise seems to be or is you should to do it with energy, smile and
effort.
4. Banks want to hire self motivated people who can work independently. You
should be able to start this role play without any additional questions or help from the
interviewer.

Principles you need to learn and remember, before doing the role play
Lets have a look at three important principles you need to understand and use to ace your
role-play at any bank.
1st principle: In a good pitch in a bank, you should ask your client some questions,
instead of just talking about the product or service.
2nd principle: You should always look at things from the point of view of the client. What
would he gain if he had this product? How could he benefit from having it?
3rd principle: You should talk about the benefits of the product, not about the features.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

39

Note: I do not know if you understand the difference between features and benefits of
something. Let me show you an example, on a Mercedes Benz car.
Amongst the features of one model of Mercedes Benz are eight airbags and a new spacious
design.
Then, the benefits of having it are high level of safety for you and your family and high level
of comfort on your trips.

I hope you can see the difference between features and benefits now. Customers do not buy
Mercedes because of its new spacious design. They buy it, because they want to experience
new level of comfort and safety. People buy things they do not really need to enjoy the
benefits these things bring to their life.

To show you how to use the described principles in the role play, I prepared for you two
practical examples. Please, find explanations in brackets. (JA stands for job applicant, I
stands for interviewer.)

Role play example nr.1: Offering a credit card

I: Task: Imagine that I am a customer of this bank. I came to deposit some money to my
checking account. You are processing the transaction. I do not have a credit card yet. Try to
use this opportunity to sell me the newest credit card we offer.

JA: Sir, while we process your transaction, can I ask you couple of questions? (Good
question. Client can hardly say no, as he has to wait for the transaction to be processed
anyway.)

I: Yes, you can.

JA: I see that you do not have a credit card yet. Have you heard about our new credit card
program? (Again, this is a good question. The teller does not ask the client any form of direct
selling question that could make him feeling uncomfortable, such as Would you not mind
2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

40

having a new credit card?. Oppositely, he just offers the client free information, while he is
waiting for the transaction to be processed.)

I: No, I have not heard about it.

JA: Okay then, let me tell you few sentences about it. It is a special program and we can offer
this card only to our best clients, who have been with our bank for several years (compliment
is always a good thing in a sales pitch, doesnt matter if it is true or not). It is called a loyalty
card program, and it allows you to pay for your purchases in up to $13,000 dollars without a
need of having any money on your checking account. Later on, you can enjoy the lowest
interest rates on the market, when we speak about credit cards. Moreover, there are no
limitations to the payoffs schedule. Without paying any additional fees, you can payoff the
whole debt with a one time payoff, or in monthly installments. Its up to you to choose.

The best thing is that you can have this card for FREE. If you decide to not use it, you do not
pay anything for having it. You simply have this option to use a credit card, just for the case
you needed it, but at the same time there is no obligation for you at all. What do you think?
(Teller shows the client the benefits of the credit card, such as a financial freedom, no
obligation, having something for free, ability to pay the debt back in the installments of his
choice, etc. Its the best way how to sell something. On the top of that, its not a long sales
pitch (try to repeat it, it wont take more than one minute of time)).

I: Thank you, it looks promising. Can you please give me a brochure, so I can have a look at it
at home and think about it with my wife?

JA: For sure Sir. I hope you would not mind if I call you in one week time to see how you
decided and to answer additional questions you may have. Anyway, your transaction has been
processed successfully. Here is your receipt. (A good teller uses every opportunity to close a
deal. The client decided to not get the card, but he said he would think about it. Thats why a
teller suggested contacting him later. It is something a client can hardly refuse )

I: Yeah, for sure. Thank you. Speak to you later.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

41

JA: Thank you Sir, here is the brochure. Have a nice day!

Role-play example nr. 2: Selling a notepad in front of a group

I: Imagine that we are in a shop and I am looking at some notepads. Try to sell me this simple
notepad we have here on the table.

JA: Hello Sir, I see that you are looking at these notepads. Let me help you a bit with your
choice. Can I ask you what you are looking for in a perfect notepad? (This is a brilliant
question to uncover the needs of the client. You will score good points for asking it in any
bank teller interview).

I: I am not sure. I am just looking at it

JA: I see. Well, let me recommend this notepad of the Bank. I also use it for couple of
reasons. First of all, it has a perfect size and is very light. You can carry it in your pocket,
please try it (hand the notepad to the interviewer).

I: Yes, you are right, the size is really good.

JA: Yes, it is. On the top of that, if we compare it to similar notepads, it is the winner in terms
of best price. I believe it is important, because people typically buy many notepads in time.
So, it is important to choose the one with a good price. What do you think? (The interviewer
can hardly argue with you about the importance of cost effective purchases, so he will agree
with you.)

I: You are right. It seems like a wise purchase. I take one.

JA: Perfect sir, would you want anything else, for example a nice ball pen of the Bank, that
fits into a series with a notepad? (Why not try to sell something else, once you are
successfully pitching the customer? Interviewers will love you for this approach.)

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

42

I: Thanks, I want just a notepad.

JA: Okay Sir, here it is. If you do not want anything else, please proceed to the cash-desk.
Thank you!

..

These were two examples of a very well done role-play in a bank teller interview. If you stick
to it, you should get a job in nine out of ten teller interviews.

The given layout can be different. They may tell you to sell a credit card, a pencil, a loan, or
anything else. But the principles are always the same:

1. Ask questions like our applicant did it in the examples. Elaborate on the
conversation with right questions.

2. Look at things from a point of view of a customer- present the benefits of the
product from his point of view, exactly like our applicant did in the examples.

To learn to use these principles correctly, I recommend you to practice such a role-play with
your friend. Tell him or her to represent the client of a bank. Describe him the situation.
Pitch him using the principles defined on the pages of this e-book. Once you practice it three
or four times, the principles should become a part of your mindset and you should use it
automatically in an interview, without a need to think about it. Needless to say, it will
help you a lot to get a job of a teller. Practice makes perfect, please do not forget on it.

While doing these role-plays in an interview (or practicing it), it is also important to control
your non-verbal communication. For example, you should keep the eye contact with an
interviewer all the time. You should also stay calm, do not gesticulate too much (its not
appropriate in a position of a teller). To smile is a must of course !

Following these tips, you should easily flourish in the role play and get a job of a teller at the
end of the interview!
2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

43

V. Leaving the right impression and interview follow up

Most of the job applicants do not use their chance to leave a good last impression in an
interview. It is a pity.
Once your teller interview is finished, you should thank the interviewer for his time, praise
him for his efforts and simply leave a room in a positive and friendly manner. That is
called leaving a good last impression.
Even if you do not have a good feeling from the interview, you should still do it. You should
take control of your emotions and leave a room with smile on your face.
Last look into the eyes, firm hand shake and good impression can do a lot, especially if the
interview is narrow and interviewers may be influenced by personal preferences when
taking final decision.

What more, I suggest you to send a follow up letter one day after your interview, if there is
no response from an employer.
You can inspire yourself with a following letter:

Dear Mr. Abc,

I want to thank you for giving me a chance to present myself in the interview for bank teller
position at XYZ Bank.

After the interview with you, I am really motivated to work on this position. I like the vision,
goals and ideas of the bank, as well as the working environment.
I hope you will make a right decision and wish you all the best in your job.

Best Regards
Your name
Your phone number
Your email

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

44

It is always good to send at least a short thank you note (you can find countless examples
online), in order to demonstrate your interest for the job which lasts after the interview.

Follow up letter can not win you a job contract. But it can help you to get one, or to open
some doors that lead to other job openings. It is easy to send a letter and you should do so
after every job interview. Please, do not be like the majority of job seekers The majority is
screened out. You do not want to be. It is better to build relationships with the
interviewers than to cut it.

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

45

Final Word
Interview for bank teller position belongs to difficult job interviews.
One competes against dozens of other applicants, all having similar qualifications and
experience, all having similar resume. What more, interviewers use different forms of
questions, such as personal questions, behavioral questions and technical questions, and often
use also a personality test and a role play. They do it to get a complete picture of your abilities
and uncover some important and some minor differences between you and other job
applicants.

However, interviewers are only people, like I and youThey have their desires, like to
be praised for their work and can not resist hiring an applicant who presents himself as
an ideal applicant for a teller job. Thats how it really is in every interview.

If you use the knowledge from this e-book, present yourself in a right way, bring everything
with you, provide right answers to the interview questions and flourish in the role play, they
will have no other option to employing you.
I recommend you to read the whole e-book once again, mock the answers to interview
questions, practice the role play and follow the suggestions, step by step. Doing so, you
should be perfectly ready to ace your interview and get a job of a bank teller.

Thank you for reading this e-book and see you in an interview!

Jacob Gates,
Your Personal Job Interview Coach

2013 http://banktellerinterviewquestions.com , All Rights Reserved

46