ING Direct Interview Questions
& Process

Group interview where there was an initial presentation followed by technical and current affairs questions about general financial and economic dynamics. Technical questions about financial markets were asked, recommended for those passionate about this sector.

A recruiter reached out about a role at ING Direct in Canada, an online and phone-only bank. The interview process involved two phone interviews, followed by two in-person interviews. One in-person interview was a 1:1 with a team member to check cultural fit and skills, and the other was a group interview with HR and the hiring manager. After that, I met with the VP for another 1:1 interview, and finally, I met with the CMO before the holidays. All interviews went well, with one 1:1 lasting twice as long as scheduled. I got very positive feedback throughout. The main concern raised was that my broad experience made the job's scope and responsibilities seem too small for me and wouldn't meet my expectations, and my salary expectations were also an issue, though I was willing to take a pay cut for the right company. I tried to explain how I could adapt, but it seemed like the role wouldn't grow soon. Around Christmas, I was told that even though I was the only candidate to complete all stages successfully, they needed to interview two new candidates because they felt they couldn't hire without seeing others. This was surprising and disappointing, as I received no constructive criticism, but it might have been related to feedback from an executive interview. The interview process was thorough and intense, with well-prepared questions aimed at finding the right fit. Despite five interviews, some lasting 1.5 hours, I felt encouraged by their serious commitment to hiring the right person. I have a lot of positive things to say about the company, especially as they are in a transformation phase, and I would have loved to help them achieve their goals. It's been over 4 weeks since my last interview and almost 3 weeks since I last spoke to the recruiter, so it likely won't work out. It's a shame because I believe I could offer a lot and potentially expand the role's scope in the future. I'm struggling with situations where I might be overqualified, even when meeting all job requirements. I haven't heard back about whether the process is still ongoing or if they've found someone, but given the time elapsed, it's unlikely.

Ing is really picky about who they hire. I interviewed for the cafe associate role, and the managers mentioned they'd been looking for over 8 months, so they're definitely selective. The interview kicked off with a company video, so definitely pay attention because they ask questions about it. They do things for a reason during their interviews. For example, one manager started picking at his nails like he was bored, but it was actually to see how I'd react. They did other similar things to get a reaction from me. They're looking for people who are passionate about saving and the company, aiming for long-term employees who want to grow with a growing business.

I applied online and mentioned a friend who started a few months ago referred me. Since I lived about 2 hours away at the time, I first had a phone interview, and then they agreed to see me in person. Normally, you'd visit ING twice for interviews, but because I had a long commute, they did my 1:1 interview first and then immediately moved me to the next stage. I interviewed with the Sales Floor Manager right after. The Sales Coach was intimidating during the interview. I had to sell them a pencil, and they asked what I would do if I were trying to sell them the pencil. The most important thing is to ask questions about why they need the pencil, etc. It was alright.