We asked colleagues who have plenty of experience conducting interviews for their advice.
Tips from an Interviewer
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We thought it’d also be helpful to hear from some recent interviewees! Courtney, Kate and Joel started at the Cumberland in 2022/23 and have a few bits of wisdom that they’ve gleamed from their own interview experiences.
A friend of mine worked at the Cumberland and loved her job. She told me that the role was open, so I decided to go for it!
I won’t lie, I was quite daunted! I’d never worked in financial services before, so I still had quite a stereotypical concept of the working environment. I imagined that it would be very formal and serious. I wondered whether I would fit in.
Really well! All of the stereotypes I had about financial services evaporated when I was greeted by my interviewers. They were really friendly and put me at ease. It felt more like an friendly chat rather than an interrogation.
A lot of my interview questions were scenario-based. I’d make sure to research the job closely. Look at the job description and person specification, and come prepared with examples of how you’ve demonstrated the qualities you find there.
My wife saw the job advertised, but the Cumberland was on my radar as a great place to work. I’d heard good things from friends who had worked there in the past.
Quite nervous, but I had done some solid preparation. I felt that whatever happened, I’d given it my best effort.
The interview was a pleasant experience. I met two colleagues who were very engaged and curious about my understanding. It also felt like they were interested in me as a person, rather than just a worker, which I appreciated. I was invited back for a second interview and subsequently was offered the job, which I was thrilled to accept!
Research the Cumberland as a whole. What are its values? What are its priorities? This should all give you a good idea of the type of person they’re looking for. Maybe take a look at the latest Annual Report to get a sense of where the organisation is at and where it’s heading.
I heard about the job from a family friend who worked in branch at the time. I love interacting with people, so working in customer care seemed like a good fit!
I had two interviews, the first on the phone and the second in person. I was more nervous about the in-person interview, as I hadn’t had much experience of this before.
For the telephone interview, I had to do a role play to test my telephone manner with customers. My interviewer was pleased with this, so I was invited for the second interview. The interviewing panel were really friendly, and the experience helped me get a sense of what the job would be like. I was offered the job and gladly accepted!
Go for it! I even advised my Auntie to apply for a role recently! Everyone’s so willing to help and there really is no such thing as a stupid question here. Ultimately, it’s a team of genuine and real people, so just be yourself!
We asked colleagues who have plenty of experience conducting interviews for their advice.