Have an interview lined up with Discover? Congrats! Wondering where to start? We have you covered.
We’ll walk you through the Discover interview process in this article. We’ll talk about how the interviews usually go, what questions you should prepare for, and how to ace the interview and get the job. Let’s get started.
Interviewing at Discover can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. As one of the largest credit card issuers in the United States, Discover receives thousands of applicants every year for roles ranging from financial analysts to software developers.
With competition fierce for jobs at this prestigious financial services company, it’s important to thoroughly prepare for the Discover interview process This article provides an in-depth look at what to expect during Discover interviews, frequently asked questions, and tips to stand out from the crowd
Overview of the Discover Interview Process
The Discover interview process typically involves one to three rounds, depending on the role you are applying for.
Here’s what you can generally expect:
Initial Phone Screen: 30 minutes focused on your resume, skills, and experience. Evaluates qualifications.
**Video Interview: **45-60 minutes, often asynchronous/one-way. Role-specific questions. Evaluates communication.
In-Person Interview 60-90 minutes with potential manager and cross-functional partners. Assesses experience technical skills problem-solving abilities, and culture fit.
**Panel Interview: ** 60-90 minutes with multiple leaders. Questions focus on strategic thinking, leadership, collaboration.
**Final Interview: ** Another 60-90 minute discussion, sometimes with senior executives. Deeper dive into capabilities and experience.
Other Assessments: May include a code screening, writing test, skills assessment, or presentation. Depends on role.
The Discover interview process aims to thoroughly evaluate candidates from multiple angles. Preparing for the variety of interview types you may encounter is critical.
Common Interview Questions at Discover
Understanding the types of questions asked is an important part of preparation. Here are some of the most frequent questions candidates encounter during Discover interviews:
General Experience Questions
- Walk me through your background and resume. Why are you interested in this opportunity?
- Why do you want to work at Discover?
- What interests you about this particular role?
Behavioral & Situational Interview Questions
- Tell me about a time you had to rapidly learn something new for your job. How did you approach it?
- Describe a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
- Share an example of when you had to collaborate with a difficult coworker or client. How was the working relationship improved?
- Imagine you notice a process in your department that is inefficient. How would you identify and implement improvements to it?
Technical Interview Questions
- What experience do you have with [name of software, language, tool, etc.] that we use here at Discover?
- How would you approach [designing a new application, analyzing this data set, developing an algorithm, etc]?
- Please walk me through this sample [code, financial analysis, forecasting model, etc]. What considerations or improvements would you make?
Leadership Interview Questions
- What does strategic leadership mean to you? How have you demonstrated this capability in your career?
- Tell me about a time you effectively managed a project team. How did you motivate and guide them?
- Describe your approach to performance management and developing your employees.
- Share some techniques you’ve found effective for collaborating cross-functionally. How have you broken down silos?
How to Ace Your Discover Interview
Here are some key strategies to implement as you prepare:
Conduct Research
- Review Discover’s website, press releases, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn to understand their business, culture, values, and initiatives.
Practice Responding to Common Questions
- Anticipate likely questions based on your research and the role. Craft compelling stories and examples from your experience.
Brush Up on Technical or Role-Specific Skills
- For analytical roles, refresh yourself on financial modeling, Excel, data visualization, etc. Review coding languages and tools for technical roles.
Prepare Questions for the Interviewer
- Draft 5-10 thoughtful questions that show your understanding of the role, Discover’s goals, and culture.
Rehearse Interviewing
- Complete mock interviews with a friend. Tape yourself to review body language and tone.
Review Your Resume Thoroughly
- Be ready to discuss any information on your resume in detail. Refresh yourself on key projects and accomplishments at each role.
Learn About Your Interviewer
- Research their background on LinkedIn to personalize talking points and establish rapport.
Displaying Soft Skills During Interviews
In addition to job-specific qualifications, Discover looks for candidates that exude these sought-after soft skills:
Communication and Listening
- Respond succinctly. Illustrate points with examples vs generic claims. Actively listen and build on interviewer comments.
Collaboration and Teamwork
- Share how you build relationships with partners and collaborate across functions. Discuss seeking inputs to improve.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Ask clarifying questions. Walk through your logic and analysis. Provide details on how you overcame obstacles.
Flexibility and Adaptability
- Share examples of how you’ve adjusted smoothly to major change and learned new processes or skills on the fly.
Initiative and Drive
- Give examples of when you took proactive ownership of projects or responsibilities outside the scope of your role.
Leadership Skills
- For managerial roles, illustrate your leadership style. Share how you have mentored team members and delivered feedback.
Bringing these soft skills to life with compelling stories and examples can help you stand out in your Discover interview.
Questions to Ask Your Discover Interviewer
The questions you ask are your chance to show interest while evaluating the opportunity. Here are some options:
- What do you enjoy most about working at Discover? What keeps you motivated?
- Can you describe the culture of the team and how people collaborate?
- How are new hires onboarded and trained? What learning opportunities are available?
- What types of projects or key initiatives would I potentially own and work on?
- How is performance reviewed and career development supported?
- What are 1-2 biggest challenges someone in this role would tackles?
- What are the next steps in the interview process? When can I expect to hear back?
Keep your questions focused on learning more about the day-to-day work experience and company culture.
Following Up After the Interview
Send a thank you email within 24 hours reaffirming your interest and highlighting one or two specific discussion points.
If you interviewed with multiple people, consider sending individualized notes to build stronger connections.
Stay patient during the hiring process and timeline. If you don’t hear back after 1-2 weeks, don’t hesitate to follow up.
With extensive preparation using the strategies above, you will be ready to confidently interview and win over hiring managers at Discover. We wish you the very best with landing your dream job at this respected financial services leader!
The Discover Interview Process
The Discover interview process can be different for each candidate and each job, but it usually has 3 rounds.
- Initial phone call
- Behavioral interview
- Case/technical interview
As part of the Discover interview process, you will talk to employees at all levels, from HR reps to associates to directors.
During the interview process, it’s important to think about Discover’s goals, company culture, and reputation as a top financial services company. Putting this into practice will help you answer questions in a way that shows why you are a good fit for the job and company.
Discover Careers: Learn about our recruitment process with this step by step video guide
FAQ
Why do you want to work at Discover?
What is the star method when interviewing?
What is the interview process like at discover?
Started out with a HR call describing the process. Interview process consisted of 2 rounds: a case interview and then a behavioral interview. Each interview was approximately one hour long. Tell me a little bit about yourself. I applied online. I interviewed at Discover
What questions do interviewers ask during a job interview?
Make sure your story has a great beginning, a riveting middle, and an end that makes the interviewer root for you to win the job. 2. **How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?**
What should you ask in a discovery interview?
There are 4 key areas you want to move through in a Discovery Interview: Note that you don’t see a “solution presentation” area. That’s by design. You will not talk about your solution or startup at all in this interview. Ask about the problem space. Never mention your solution. It’s all about listening.
What is the purpose of a discovery interview?
The discovery interview allows the accountant to explore the client’s situations, opportunities and concerns that may have motivated him to ask for the meeting. This interview is the place and time for fact finding and determining the client’s goals, whether it is from a tax or wealth management point of view.
