PNC Financial Services Group Finance Consultant Interview Questions
& Process

First I spoke with a recruiter, and then I spoke with the direct supervisor over the phone. They described the role and compensation. They were really looking for a good fit for the team, not just another person to fill a spot. The process was good, and I realized early on that it wouldn't be a good fit for me at this time, which saved a lot of effort. They were very nice, and under different circumstances, I would have been willing to work with them.

Started with HR, then they needed to see my past production numbers. After that, I had a meeting with the person who would be my manager.

I applied online through their website for the Branch Financial Advisor role. A recruiter called me for a first interview. The questions seemed scripted, like asking about my previous year's business. It felt like she was just qualifying me to ensure my resume details were accurate. This initial call was about 5 minutes, and then she tried to sell me on the job. The next step was a face-to-face interview with a Regional Manager. In the meantime, I received an application to authorize a background check. I also applied for a Branch Manager role and got an automated survey assessment. I find these assessments outdated and easy to manipulate; the trick is to answer how you think the job wants you to, consistently. The interview with the Regional Manager was also a breeze, and she was selling me on PNC. She mostly talked about the company's history and asked how much business I'd written and why I was looking to move from my current job. I asked about the retention rate for the position, but she wasn't sure and just talked more about how great PNC is. I felt it was more of a retail role, focusing on selling CDs and explaining fees, rather than true financial advising. A week later, I got offered the position, contingent on a drug test within 3 days. I had better offers by then and declined. I later learned a coworker, who isn't a strong advisor, got the job easily after I prepped him, even using a friend's urine for the drug test. He now makes around $45K doing mostly paperwork and selling CDs and annuities to elderly customers.