Dimensional Fund Advisors Investment Analyst Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 14 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Dimensional Fund Advisors.
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Portfolio Manager
Intern Easy Neutral experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Other
It was pretty standard. Got an email saying I was moving to R1. It was mostly behavioral stuff, then they asked about Fama-French and the philosophy behind Dimensional's investing. There was also a standard HR screen where they asked about my motivations for wanting the internship.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Could you tell us about yourself?
- Can you describe the Fama-French model and CAPM?
- What are your motivations for wanting this internship?
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Investment Analyst
Mid Average Neutral experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interview had two stages. First was an HR call where they screened my resume and asked about my technical skills and where I'd like to work. Then I spoke with the hiring manager, who was a PhD. We talked about common fit questions and specifically about data processing skills. It seems like the role is data-focused within the investment team, since their strategy uses the Fama-French factor model.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Could you tell me the scale of the datasets you've previously handled?
- What was the size of the dataset you worked with?
- How large was the dataset you worked on?
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Portfolio Manager
Entry Easy Positive experience Accept offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Panel
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral Case
There were four rounds of interviews spread out over four weeks. Each time, I met with two people from the Portfolio Management team for about an hour or two. They really focused on testing my knowledge of academic finance theory, like the Fama-French five-factor model. They also asked about my technical skills, such as SQL and VBA, and about my past project work. On top of that, they asked 'fit' and work culture questions. A big theme throughout each round was how much the day-to-day work is focused on operations, and they repeatedly mentioned they expect me to help improve operational efficiency.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Could you describe a research project you are currently involved with?
- Explain the reasoning behind why highly profitable companies tend to exhibit higher expected returns.
- What are your thoughts on our established Investment Philosophy?
Dimensional Fund Advisors Investment Analyst Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Dimensional Fund Advisors interview reports.
“Explain the reasoning behind why highly profitable companies tend to exhibit higher expected returns.”
Read reports →“What is DFA's investment philosophy?”
Read reports →“Can you name the three factors included in the Fama-French model?”
Read reports →“Can you explain the Fama-French model?”
Read reports →“Could you elaborate on the French Fama 3 factor model?”
Read report →“How do WE end up being lead holders of names?”
Read report →“Can you explain the FAMA FRENCH 3/4 factor model?”
Read report →“Can you describe the Fama-French model and CAPM?”
Read report →“Do YOU know what metric WE use for OUR sorts?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 14 Dimensional Fund Advisors interview reports.