Swiss Life Manager Interview Questions
& Process

The interviewers were super chill and professional, which made the whole thing feel pretty relaxed. They were really friendly, and it was easy to chat, ask stuff, and talk about my experiences during the interview.

Before the interview, an online personality test was administered. Unfortunately, the results provided were not very insightful, and it seemed only the recruiters received the full evaluation. This test was then used against me during the interview. Scheduling the in-person interview was quite challenging, possibly due to vacation periods in HR or the hiring manager's busy schedule, taking almost three weeks. Both the hiring manager and HR were about 10 minutes late for the scheduled interview, which I found to be a significant faux pas and not very respectful. During the interview, I was asked to describe SwissLife, followed by an intense questioning session emphasizing that applicants should know the company. They then simulated an 'everyday situation' on the spot to assess how I handle resistance in negotiations. This was done abruptly, without any introduction or announcement of what was about to happen, and with questionable Conduct & Ethics standards. They repeatedly focused on why I wanted to work at SwissLife. Although I had mentioned this several times, they dismissed my answers as standard ones like 'good company,' 'traditional values,' and 'good reputation,' which they hear from all candidates. The hiring manager was not very appreciative and seemed unprepared. He frequently had to refer back to my CV, which was prepped by the headhunter, and he didn't even have a general grasp of my previous roles, which was embarrassing and came across as arrogant. I found the question about lacking motivation for a Master's instead of a CAS to be extremely impertinent. Similarly, the inquiry about why I was applying through a headhunter, how long I had worked with them, and if I was unsuccessful in direct applications, thus requiring their help, was baffling. The interview concluded after about 50 minutes. I was asked to follow up with my impressions. This was difficult because after the interview, I no longer wanted to work at SwissLife. Consequently, I sent a brief, cool response. HR admitted in a private conversation after the interview that some of the hiring manager's comments were 'very direct.' This did not change my impression that it wasn't just a lack of fit on my part. Six weeks after my rejection, the position was still advertised, albeit with a new title, 'IKS Manager,' but the responsibilities remained the same.

So, the process is pretty standard: first, they look at your CV and cover letter. Then, there's an interview with the team members and HR.