PENNYMAC Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 174 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
30 roles · 174 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at PENNYMAC.
PENNYMAC
Underwriter
Mid Average Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
It was a pretty standard set of questions. I talked to 2 people, though only one really asked me anything. They asked a lot about my guidebook/underwriting knowledge, using specific and common scenarios. They also asked about my past experience and why I applied to PNMC.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- How would you handle reviewing W2 income/paystub when you suspect the borrower owns a business?
- What steps would you take if a borrower is purchasing a new primary residence within a year of their current one, and it's within 50 miles?
- On a tax return, where would you find this particular information?
PENNYMAC
Rotational Analyst
Entry Average Neutral experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral
There were two interview rounds. The first was a 30-minute chat with a manager who seemed to have experience similar to mine. The second round involved two 30-minute interviews, one with another manager and the other with the SVP of HR. It's good to know the STAR method for most of the behavioral questions.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Walk me through your resume.
- Can you provide examples using the STAR method for behavioral questions?
PENNYMAC
Instructional Designer
Mid Average Positive experience Accept offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Take home Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
So the interview process was pretty standard for instructional design roles. First, there was a phone screener. Then, I had a virtual interview with the instructional design team. After that, I was given a sample project to complete. Finally, I had an in-person interview. The whole thing took about 3 weeks.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you discuss your experience with instructional design tools and programs?
PENNYMAC
Software Engineer
Senior Average Negative experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral System Design Coding
I had my interview on August 2nd and it was a really bad experience. I applied through a recruiting agency. There were 3 interview rounds: a behavioral/getting to know you chat, a system design interview, and a coding challenge which was the last one. They said I could use Google for syntax and methods, focusing on problem-solving, but they were surprisingly strict about syntax after I completed 4 mini coding challenges. I felt rushed and couldn't finish writing code, resorting to pseudocode. The interviewer said it was okay, but then apparently misled the staffing agency, making excuses. I wish it was recorded, as I feel he took advantage of that. My question for Pennymac is: if you're in a recession and don't need staff, why waste people's time interviewing them? It's sad and feels like a waste of my time, and the agency was misled.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Tell me about Palindrome, searching, Big O, and Frequency counter.
- Can you explain Palindrome, searching, Big O, and Frequency counter?
- What do you know about Palindrome, searching, Big O, and Frequency counter?
PENNYMAC Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from PENNYMAC interview reports.
“Which state would you pick if you wanted to separate from the USA?”
Read reports →“Given a balance scale and 9 coins where one is heavier, how can you identify the heavier coin with absolute certainty using the scale only twice?”
Read reports →“Given two candles that burn for exactly 30 minutes and a lighter, how would you measure a duration of 45 minutes?”
Read reports →“If you had a string that takes one hour to burn but burns at an inconsistent rate, how would you use it to measure exactly 30 minutes?”
Read reports →“Could you write out the formula for the standard deviation of a two-asset portfolio?”
Read report →“What steps would you take if a borrower is purchasing a new primary residence within a year of their current one, and it's within 50 miles?”
Read report →“What are your thoughts on mortgage lenders in light of the housing market crash?”
Read report →“How would you handle reviewing W2 income/paystub when you suspect the borrower owns a business?”
Read report →“Can you discuss your experience with FHA and conventional loan processing timelines?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 174 PENNYMAC interview reports.