First American Bank Interview Questions
& Process

The Interviewer was Horrible! I can tell he did not review my resume prior to our interview because he kept asking me what was my position prior to my current position which my resume clearly showed my 17 plus years of experience as a branch manager. I disclosed to him several times in my current role that I was not a manager of individuals just managed a book of clients it was as if he was not paying attention to my responses at all! I stated to him that since this a BM position I would like to discuss my role as a BM and he agreed but then started asking me about who my clients were at my current employer, which I then stated that information was confidential.

The interview process was pretty standard, but the recruiter and one interviewer lacked professionalism. The recruiter commented on my LinkedIn profile picture and hairstyle during the initial phone call, which was odd given it was an old photo. She also repeatedly asked about salary expectations, even though the application already requested this information. This came up again during the in-person interview with her, and her expression set a negative tone. Following that, there was a panel interview with the hiring manager and another manager from the same line of business. The non-hiring manager dominated the interview, being abrasive and almost confrontational from the start, feeling like a bad cop/good cop routine. Both interviewers seemed unfamiliar with my resume, frantically flipping through it. The non-hiring manager's excessive use of industry jargon made it difficult to answer questions, often requiring me to ask for clarification. I felt drained and unsure if this was a test or their typical corporate culture, and I considered leaving.

They advertised for an 'Assistant Branch Manager,' but upon arrival for the interview, they presented a job description for an 'Assistant Branch Manager TRAINEE,' stating that's the role you're actually being interviewed for. It's puzzling why employers advertise one position and then change it during the interview. They intend to pay hourly for this role, with the promise that after 9-12 months of training across Illinois, you'll be placed in a salaried Assistant Branch Manager position IF you pass an assessment panel. There's no guarantee of placement in your originally applied-to branch. For a management-level role, one would expect candidates to be already knowledgeable in finance and not require such extensive basic training covering teller duties, customer service, call center operations, and loan processing. It seems their strategy is to recruit qualified individuals and use them to fill staffing gaps in branches while paying them a 'trainee' hourly wage. This benefits them by utilizing skilled workers at a very low pay rate. If they can't be upfront about the job title, how can you trust them after accepting the position? Be cautious, as this approach appears deceptive.

The interview process was insightful and well-structured. The interviewers were professional and courteous, making for a comfortable environment. I'm looking forward to potential opportunities with this company. It was a highly recommended experience with an engaging process, thorough questions, and a welcoming atmosphere. The interviewers were knowledgeable and respectful. Overall, it was a positive experience, and I'm looking forward to potential collaboration.