Commerce Interview Experiences

Round 1 with a consultant was fine, got through the case and the fit felt natural. Round 2 with a partner was harder. Case was a retail chain deciding whether to close underperforming stores and the math got messy. Partner also was asking about a time I had to influence someone without authority, very common Bain culture question so prep that.

Pymetrics first then Hirevue then two interviews, behavioral first and then a case focused on a telecom company dealing with customer churn. Less math intensive than you'd get at MBB style firms. Cultural fit is very heavily weighted, the interviewers kept coming back to how you collaborate across functions and whether you thrive in ambiguity.

Went through the assessment at home first. Cases were interviewer led and I prefer candidate led so the format felt harder to navigate. Got a profitability case involving a hospital system cutting costs and got lost in the math halfway through. PEI story was about an initiative I started at a student club and they pushed on every detail for 15 minutes. When they ask what would you do differently the real answer matters so have one ready.

First round was a case study where you work through a business problem and then behavioral questions about weaknesses and how I'd approach a client engagement. They gave me a market sizing case about a retail company entering a new market. Whole thing was 30 min, felt quite collaborative

Scenario based questions about handling a customer escalation and prioritizing when everything feels urgent. Nothing finance specific despite it being a business role. Personality and team fit were clearly the focus. They also wanted to know how previous experience maps to this role.

The partner kept the conversation going even when I was thinking out loud, felt more like a chat than a grilling. Case was on an insurance company modernizing claims processing, heavy on change management and process redesign. Behavioral screen before that was standard.

One way video with 9 questions then HR called me for a quick chat. Manager interview was only 30 min and went into side projects.

Fast process for a pension fund, went through my resume, relevant coursework, interest in pension fund management. One question about how they differs from a typical asset manager and I had a solid answer for that.

Heard nothing for 3 weeks after the take home and had to follow up to find out I didn't move on. HR screening first, then an interview with the team that was heavy behavioral. Talked about how I handle ambiguity and working without much guidance. Then they gave me the take home assignment.

Way easier than I expected, hireVue was 5 questions about teamwork and why Deloitte then two zooms with a partner and senior manager but they were both super relaxed more like a conversation. They spent half the time talking about their own experiences so have questions ready because they will ask

Seemed like they wantedr someone comfortable with both SQL and Python. Video interview first, 3 questions. Then a phone interview and eventually a virtual panel. Why Bell and what data anaalytics experience I had. Background in marketing analytics from a class project came up a lot.

Case was a market entry question, easier than expected. Virtual Launchpad then two interviews same day. Behavioral covered strengths and dealing with disagreement. Had an offer pretty quick after that.

Applied through the campus portal, first round was a 30 min behavioral with the manager. Questions like tell me about a time you led a team, why consulting, why Deloitte etc.. Second round was a case it was about a grocery chain expanding into a new province and I had to estimate market size and recommend an entry strategy. They really wanted you to just be able to think and see your process rather than only getting the right answer. Heard back within 2.5 weeks

Manager interview was mostly scenario based behavioural stuff and projects. easy dubs.

Four rounds felt like a lot, phone screen then behavioral then technical with senior analyst, SQL and gap analysis questions, then final with a VP that was mostly about why Scotiabank and if I understood their values.

First interview was behavioral about identifying risks others missed.Second had a case about a bank implementing AML controls. Knowing basic Canadian financial regulation helped a lot. Three weeks total.

HR screen first then a panel with a risk manager and a credit analyst sitting together. Questions on Basel III capital requirements, how I'd assess counterparty credit risk exposure and a short scenario about a loan book under stress. I knew theory from class but lacked the applied examples they were after. Didn't move past that round.

RBC HR phone screen then a panel with two operations managers. Questions about process improvement, working under tight service level agreements and a scenario about how I'd handle a workflow bottleneck where one team was a dependency for four others. Got to round 2 then silence for three weeks before a rejection email came through. No feedback on what could have been stronger, frustrating after two rounds.

One interviewer asked about failing without being able to go to a supervisor, unusual framing. Phone screen first then in person with four people, 30 minutes each. Mostly fit and resume. No technical questions.

The in person felt more like a coffee chat than a formal interview but they were clearly evaluating how you think about the real estate industry. Started with a pre recorded video, four questions about 90 seconds each on why commercial real estate and how you handle competing deadlines. Then went into their Toronto office with the team, very back and forth, asking about any property or finance coursework I had taken and comfort with financial modeling.

Recruiter screen was like 15 min, then they sent an online assessment with some accounting and Excel based stuff. Behavioral round after that was mostly about past projects and how I handle working with people who have different work styles. They wanted to know what I know about PwC's service lines which I had researched so that went well.

This was like 5 rounds, insane for a co-op. Phone screen, behavioral with STAR questions, SQL and data analysis assessment, followed by a GROUP interview with other candidates where we did a case study together. I thought the group part went well but I guess not. Never made it to the final round

HireVue first then the manager went into some SQL basics which caught me fully off guard and also behavioral about conflicts with coworkers.

Quick interview, maybe 20 minutes. Behavioral questions and a brief IQ style aptitude portion. Got rejected fairly fast too, within a few days. The role had a lot of applicants from what the recruiter mentioned.

HackerRank SQL and easyish to medium coding then behavioral about communicating data findings to non-technical people and quick chat with senior manager at the end

Networked with two analysts at the school info session, definitely helped. First round was fairly standard fit and basics, why IB, why choose TD over the US banks, explain a DCF. Final panel with an MD and two directors was intense but I'd prepped the accounting stuff cold. One of them went into how rising rates affect an LBO model and I had a solid answer. Whole process was under three weeks.

VidCruiter first round then a live interview. LBO mechanics and exit multiples. Pitched a stock also.

Know your resume and follow Canadian financial news. Basic behavioral to start, then finance technicals and Excel modeling concepts, then a senior behavioral. Three rounds, about 21 days.

On campus first round was 30 min behavioral then a 30 min case. The case info was sent 24 hours before, unusual and very helpful, I was able to prepare a solid structure. Round 2 was at their office, dinner the night before was relaxed, two 30 min behavioral interviews the next day. Well organized and the office visit made it feel like they actually wanted to bring you in.

PLUM test then hireVue. Technical on capitalizing vs expensing. Final panel grilled me on mining sector deals

First they make you do a 160 question personality assessment before the first call which takes forever. HR screen after that then a panel with a risk manager and someone from a business line, questions on regulatory knowledge and a credit event scenario.

HR interview then some questions about basic financial statements, what they are used for and when to use them, communication from recruitment was bad.

They were friendly about explaining context for the regulatory stuff. Panel with two compliance team members, CIRO and insurance regulatory frameworks came up plus a scenario about identifying a conflict of interest in client dealings.

Group format with about 6 candidates. Started with introductions and why sports then moved into a mini case about fan engagement ideas. Final stage was a 1 on 1 with a manager about my analytics background. They care a lot about passion for the industry so ya

They emailed me a case the morning before the second round, after a standard HR screen. Had 24 hours to build a presentation on a real estate investment scenario and present it in person. Case was the whole evaluation.

Casey chatbot was fine if you've practiced cases, first round two interviews behavioral then case for each and the case was about a distribution company losing market share. Final round with partners was basically them selling me on BCG.

Friendly interviewer but didn't land it. Mostly behavioral across two rounds, some working capital and interest rate questions.

Video interview with timed questions first then a call with a senior person, personality based questions like why KPMG and do you have previous customer experience. Used the STAR method for everything, generic overall nothing memorable.

Most relaxed interview I had all cycle, two rounds first with a partner who just wanted to chat about my interests then second was about more structured behavioral stuff but still friendly.

Two 30 min rounds same day, first was behavioral why banking then second got into interest rates and gave me a mini case study to present, had an hour to prep but was nervous presenting to the panel even though the content was solid.

45 min on Zoom with two people, half was about previous experience and half was conceptual like had me walk through how I'd predict future temperatures for a city and what coding language I'd use, very relaxed nice people and not super technical.

Quick screen was quick then had this panel format interview with managers where they drilled on SQL and Python. Handling large datasets came up and the behavioral round after was fine but the technical round seems to be the one that matters most.

This was a journey. First they sent a written case study that was mostly behavioral questions and I had a full week to complete it. 1 hour virtual interview after that with more behavioral and situational stuff. Then a call from the manager asking personal questions about my location and course load and start date availability.

Pre-recorded video first then a call, questions about my favourite and least favourite classes and some technical about web APIs and Java, HackerRank had 2 questions one was array based and the other was about trees.

Took 35 days, they warned me upfront about the long process possibility. HR then virtual with my future manager. Standard behavioral imo

Recruiter screen then a technical assessment not even sure if u can call it technical but thats what they said. Interview was on teams, resume and behavioral focused. They mentioned the Montreal HQ is where most BA interns end up.

Pretty straightforward role. Round with two analysts, they asked about financial statement analysis, basic modeling concepts and why National Bank specifically.

People skills and managing abilities emphasized more than technical supply chain knowledge. All behavioral, their GREAT5 leadership framework was referenced throughout. Good process but I came up short on the ethics component questions.

In person case presentation about operational efficiency in a supply chain context. They seemed interested. Online simulation in the middle rounds was fine.

Short recruiter call then a 45 min panel with a supply chain manager and an analyst. Questions about demand planning, supplier performance metrics and a short component shortage scenario. Also had questions about Excel and SAP experience.

Round one was HR after that a panel with compliance and legal. Questions about AML fundamentals, the three lines of defence model and spotting suspicious transaction patterns. Wasn't prepared enough on FINTRAC

Met the plant controller and someone from corporate finance. Cost accounting in manufacturing, standard costing and what causes variances. Mini case on raw material price fluctuations.

Read up on Colliers Innovation before you go in, they seemed excited when candidates already knew about it. Pre recorded video had four questions then two written ones about start date and availability. In person after that with a couple people from the rotation program at the Calgary office. They really emphasized the innovation challenge component.

No case study for the intern role, surprised me. Three rounds, mostly behavioral

Short behavioral first round. Superday was three sessions, comps analysis and fit. Accepted same day.

Pre interview networking dinner the night before, pretty casual. Interview was two people, hit on resume bullet points in detail then behavioral questions about teamwork and handling a stressful deadline. Why accounting and why BDO over the big 4 came up twice. Got an offer in 14 days, fastest turnaround I had all season.

Had to make a 5 slide deck introducing myself and a mini analysis on a topic I cared about. Odd format but the panel appreciated the effort. HR was friendly throughout.

OA was 10 multiple choice questions. HR round was projects and why fintech. Whole thing took maybe 5 days total

Recruiter call then 30 min with a senior developer, basic technical and behavioral like why BMO and side projects.

Still didn't make round 3 somehow. hireVue then two zoom rounds, all behavioral, no hard technicals.

Unique process mostly just a conversation with the recruiter and got to meet the would be manager as well in the same interview jsut be confident honestly

25 min cognitive assessment then pre-recorded video then technical phone screen then a brutal 4 hour final stage with 90 min coding and behavioral with senior managers long day.

They asked why tax specifically not audit and I hadn't thought through that distinction clearly. First round was relaxed, second was behavioral and situational format. Process was smooth but my answer on that one question clearly wasn't strong enough.

Felt like a conversation more than an interview. Two pleasant interviewers asked about my experience and interest in brokerage. About two weeks total

Have a real answer for why u want to work in the pensions domain. HR behavioral then team interview with a mini PE case.

Culture felt more specialized than MBB. hirevue first then a virtual interview. Asked why forensic consulting over strategy and about teamwork under pressure. Seemed like they give interns real responsibilities.

Games, Hirevue then 15 min live interview. Way too short. d

The Hirevue first, video questions about motivation and experience. Then a second round with two managers, mostly behavioral with a compliance focus. talked about my past experience handling ambiguity which ironically was ambigious. Typing test at one point which I hadn't anticipated. Pretty fast.

Did hireVue was 7 questions, 30 sec prep each, timer pressure still gets you even when you know it's coming. Superday was five interviews same day, questions about why Goldman and what I read to stay current on markets. One covered a valuation problem and I walked through an LBO well, but by interview four the MD threw a capital structure brainteaser I hadn't seen before and didn't have a solid answer for it.

Phone interview with a passcode, weird format. Behavioral and stakeholder situational questions. Got it!

Know the BC public service values before you go in because they expect you to reference them directly. Virtual panel with two people, fully behavioral and structured with no deviations from the script. Public service motivation came first then competency questions on research skills and communication. They read from a sheet and scored everything in real time.

One interview, 4 questions 2 behavioral. Tell me about yourself, why Loblaws, a time you managed competing deadlines and a mistake you learned from. No technical questions. Offer came in 7 days. Brampton HQ. Very fast and no nonsense process.

Up against really strong candidates on this one the interviewer literally said. Made it through the screening and case presentation but didn't get the offer. Mine was a real estate valuation for a provincial asset. Panel of 3, they were engaged and had good follow up questions.

Was not ready for the underwriting specific stuff lol. First round was cultural fit, went fine. But then questions about commercial property risk assessment and premium calculation hit and I didn't have enough depth

Casual format, single interview with a manager. Strengths and weaknesses and then a situational question about what I'd do if I noticed a colleague cutting corners. Basic knowledge of the insurance market and what they do. Winnipeg based also

My IRR calc was off and they caught it. Behavioral HR round then a 30 min on the spot case study about infrastructure investing. Two months and no offer.

Psychometric assessment first then two virtual rounds. Second round focused on PepsiCo's GREAT5 leadership principles. entirely behavioral, like tell me about showing agility when plans changed. Mississauga based

Superday was three 30 minute sessions, all solid. Offer came a week later but I'd already accepted at another Canadian bank. Don't sit on IB offers, they expire fast.

General fit call first then second round with the finance team. Variance analysis, how I'd approach an FP&A problem and a brief case on sales trend interpretation. Very UBC heavy team.

20 min call, never heard back lol feels bad honestly.

My market sizing math was too slow I think. Standard case questions, market sizing and a strategic recommendation. Interviewers help you stay on track during the case

Just a pre recorded video screening, behavioral questions. No live round

Called with HR then met the production team. Relaxed and open ended, asked how I approach new problems and whether I had logistics experience. One question about handling a supplier quality issue.

One interview, no pre recorded screens or assessments. Two senior people from the investment team, quite technical. Went into insurance underwriting fundamentals, portfolio evaluation methodology and had me go over how I think about risk and return in a value investing framework like they use at Fairfax. Very focused on whether you actually understand the Hamblin Watsa approach to capital allocation. If you haven't read their annual letters you'll struggle.

Process went virtual. Team lead and another person, behavioral the whole way. Conflict resolution, when you had to adapt quickly. Friendly process but I got rejected and the return offer rate for interns there is reportedly low.

25 minutes, general behavioral questions about team fit and past experience. Not technical at all. Super relaxed, felt more like a conversation than an interview. Applied through school co-op office. About 2 weeks from interview to offer.

Group interview format threw me off, had 5 candidates in a room together. Did fine I think but didn't advance to the 1 on 1. Community engagement stuff dominated, not much supply chain relevance.

Teams interview with an supervisor, about 45 min, behavioral and light technical. Very structured, they contacted me within 2 weeks of the posting closing

Group interview with 4 candidates and 3 supervisors watching. Scenario about structuring a community event. Then a 1 on 1 with a manager. Culture fit was easily 50 to 60% of what mattered.

Took me three attempts to feel normal talking to a camera. video about why wealth management type questions. Then waited 7 weeks for a rejection