Senior Credit Analyst is essentially a Long-Only buyside Investment Grade research position with an eventual path to portfolio management from the perspective of an insurer with ALM considerations and return hurdles in a low interest environment.
- Applied online. The online application is quite good as far as these things go; the questions are formulated in a way that suggest that your answers actually matter and will be taken into account in the first filter process.
- 1st round phone interview a month later with an external contractor, primarily asking fit and behavioral/experience questions.
- 2nd round a few weeks later: extensive online IQ-type test, a blend of raw psychometric tests, personality compatibility tests, and some rather superficial financial comprehension tests. Takes several hours. Was told that my results were very good.
- 3rd round Skype interview a few weeks later with Recruiter and Hiring Manager, also overwhelmingly fit-oriented, also explaining the position further. By fit, the classic "I see this position - tell us what you did on a day to day basis?"; "what methodologies did you use?"; "are you willing to relocate?"; "you're currently at a very well established firm - why do you want to switch to us?" etc.
Was eventually told that I didn't fit the position as much as other candidates did.
FWIW, I do agree with them. In terms of experience and background, I think there was consensus that I was prepared to perform well on the job, but that likely my personality type and interests weren't the right match for their corporate culture. Zurich is a large, slow-moving organization, and the role's focus is integral to the company's strategy. A steady-performing, intelligent, type B personality is probably the ideal hire in this organization.
