Job Interview Help: Risk Analyst (Case Study)

FareEvader on 28/10/2019 - 10:02
Last edited 28/10/2019 - 13:54

G'day!

I'm applying for an Operational Risk Analyst position at a big company (banking industry), currently I'm at stage 2 of 3.

Stage 2 is a case study, BYO laptop. I was told it's not something you can prepare for.

I'm assuming I'll be given some data and tested on my data analytics skills… probably excel?

Any corporate warriors here? Any ideas what I can expect? What skills should I sharpen?

Cheers!

P.S If I get the job and your input was relevant and helpful, I will be making a $25 donation to you or a charity of your choice.

Education & Work

Comments

  • John Kimble on 28/10/2019 - 10:11
    +1

    How do you come to an amount of $25?

    • whooah1979 on 28/10/2019 - 10:20
      +3

      Op is assuming that we’re making minimum wage and is paying for 1 hour.

      • H E B on 28/10/2019 - 11:00

        Isn't minimum wage closer to $30 nowadays?

        • AdamFury on 28/10/2019 - 11:44

          The new national minimum wage is $719.20 per week, for a 38-hour week, or $18.93 per hour.

          Source

          • salmon123 on 28/10/2019 - 17:12

            @AdamFury:

            The new national minimum wage is $719.20 per week, for a 38-hour week, or $18.93 per hour.

            • 25% casual loading + 9.5% super brings is to $25.91 …
  • salmon123 on 28/10/2019 - 10:18
    +6

    BYO laptop … probably excel

    What kind of big company does BYO laptop for an interview exercise? What if you don't have excel? I'd expect a web-based exercise.

    *BYO laptop is fine for a take-home test, i guess

    • FareEvader on 28/10/2019 - 16:26

      Yeah I found this a bit odd too but it's at NAB so yeah… Excel it is.

  • Caped Baldy on 28/10/2019 - 10:19

    Sounds like it. You should probably ask if you require specific software. Whilst pretty standard, lots of people have moved away from MS office suite.

    • Fysh on 28/10/2019 - 14:34

      Maybe going in there without asking that question would be a big risk and thus you fail section one.

  • Pootie Tang on 28/10/2019 - 10:47
    +7

    Get your pivot tables on point

    • salmon123 on 28/10/2019 - 17:18
      +1

      Seems like a very specific skill, if that's what they're testing the interview. Nothing wrong with that, but it'd be easier to cull people by putting it in the job description.

      Getting people in for a technical exercise, only to realize they can't use pivot tables would be a grand waste of everyones time.

      Further, pivot tables aren't exactly rocket science to learn, so using them in an interview exercised would automatically be biased against good candidates who aren't familiar with them already.

      • Pootie Tang on 29/10/2019 - 13:05

        I analyse a lot of data and to sort what I want from what I don't, Pivot tables are the best. Might be different for others.

  • Sko19 on 28/10/2019 - 12:07
    +5

    Hi OP,

    If it's data analytics skill

    Would recommend:

    • Creating and interpreting dashboard and/or visualizations or providing insights from data given. This can include different kind of charts, graphs and etc.
    • As mentioned above in other comments knowledge of pivots are must if its excel.
    • Maybe lookup how to do Macros and formulaes for excel.

    For case studies

    Would recommend rehearsing STAR method on few case studies available online. Try to pick in your organizarion's domain. Practice, Practice and Practice your responses.

    STAR format:

    SITUATION/TASK: Explain the context or circumstances
ACTION: Describe what you did
RESULT: Describe the outcome of your action

    For general risk analyst:

    Look and study for iso standards related to risk internationally and in Australia and New Zealand.

    Wish you the best for the interview OP!

    • FareEvader on 22/01/2020 - 12:19

      Hi, I got the job. DM me with your details or details of your favourite charity :)

  • tsunamisurfer on 28/10/2019 - 12:10

    Operational Risk Analyst is a little broad.

    Can you tell us what industry and discipline?

    Is this a data analytics role where you are using business intelligence tools / building queries / cubes?

    • FareEvader on 28/10/2019 - 13:56

      Banking Industry, Risk & Compliance discipline. Not sure what cubes are… maybe I'll look into it.

      • Caped Baldy on 28/10/2019 - 15:15
        -1

        In regards to cubes….wombat poo

      • tsunamisurfer on 28/10/2019 - 16:24

        Within Banking there are many risk and compliance roles.

        Some require knowledge of SQL or business intelligence (data analytics side).

        Some require knowledge of risk identification / mitigation strategies.

  • GUYANDSON on 28/10/2019 - 12:23

    Sounds to me they mainly want to see how you handle/interpret the data and your general computer skills.

    At the least I'd be brushing up on python/r (if scripting was part of the pd) and excel. Manipulation and visualisation mainly.

  • conan2000 on 28/10/2019 - 12:48
    +1

    Hmm, it's also quite possibly a case study to check your risk assessment and written/reporting skills. Depends on the type of company/role really. Often an operational risk role is more qualitative than quantative. Word/Excel/PowerPoint are all potentials. Make sure you have a bit of knowledge of some of the international standards/risk frameworks as well, although you may have already covered that sort of thing if you are at Stage 2.

    • mskeggs on 28/10/2019 - 15:31

      This was my thought. Here are some scenarios, what steps can be taken to mitgate or control risks. But presumably if OP read the job advert and it was all about statistical analytics, they will know it is quantatative.

  • djones145 on 28/10/2019 - 22:50

    the risk system that they use (and the other big 4) extract into excel
    so most likely u will get data to play around and analyze

    I'm from a.company with the same risk system
    and was previuosly a op risk advisor

    did alot of data analysis
    like others say pivot tables, a couple of formulas to determine days say, vlookups

  • b0rnwithabeard on 29/10/2019 - 08:46
    +1

    ex-recruiter here: for those wondering why they’re being asked to bring their own laptop, it’s usually for comfort for the applicant. Interviews are nerve-wracking enough without having to use a machine you’re not familiar with. Having your laptop means we get a more accurate indication of skills and abilities without having to write off too much as nerves

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