Interview preparation

Skills & role specific knowledge

We will be asking you about your general skills, role-specific knowledge and related experience:

Make sure you understand the terminology and tasks detailed in the job description. For example, if you are applying for a financial role, prepare yourself to share your knowledge and experience related to the role.
You can also expect questions about your general skills such as analytical thinking, communication skills, planning and organizational skills.
Think about your digital skills and provide examples of using popular applications to analyze data and create presentations. Perhaps you have worked with business-specific programs that help manage projects or visualize data? Let the interviewer know about it.
For roles that require knowledge of foreign language, you may expect that the interviewer will check your language skills.

Let's get started

Here are some tips on how to prepare for some of the most common interview questions.

Our values drive us. What drives you?

We are responsible for data and assets worth billions of dollars.
Are you focused on details and accuracy? How do you handle responsibility?

We are at the forefront of innovation in finance.
Tell us about the last time you have improved something? How do you manage change?

We believe that our diverse employees are the force behind our success. When was the last time you had a chance to work in a team?

We make our mark in many ways – environment, social changes, inclusion. What is important to you or what drives you?

Before the interview

Plan ahead – Our interviews could be on the phone, held virtually or in-person. Your interview confirmation email will include the date, time, location address and who you will be meeting or details of an online meeting. Be sure to be on time and check your telephone or video connections to avoid any last-minute technical difficulties.
Be smart in your appearance - Even if it is a telephonic interview, you will feel more confident in something that you would wear to work. If it is a video interview, make sure your background environment is tidy as well.
Be prepared – Rehearse your answers to the most popular questions. Print or have available your resume, job description and any of your notes.
Think of questions you have for us - It is important to ask questions about our role, culture and business.

Skills & role specific knowledge

We will be asking you about your general skills, role-specific knowledge and related experience:

Make sure you understand the terminology and tasks detailed in the job description. For example, if you are applying for a financial role, prepare yourself to share your knowledge and experience related to the role.

You can also expect questions about your general skills such as analytical thinking, communication skills, planning and organizational skills.

Think about your digital skills and provide examples of using popular applications to analyze data and create presentations. Perhaps you have worked with business-specific programs that help manage projects or visualize data? Let the interviewer know about it.

For roles that require knowledge of foreign language, you may expect that the interviewer will check your language skills.

Let's get started

Our values drive us. What drives you?

We will ask questions to learn more about the values that are important to you. Here are the values that guide us, how do they apply to your goals and experience?

Trust is our greatest asset

We are responsible for data and assets worth billions of dollars.
Are you focused on details and accuracy? How do you handle responsibility?

Always finding better ways

We are at the forefront of innovation in finance.
Tell us about the last time you have improved something? How do you manage change?

Stronger Together

We believe that our diverse employees are the force behind our success. When was the last time you had a chance to work in a team?

Global force local citizen

We make our mark in many ways – environment, social changes, inclusion. What is important to you or what drives you?

Before the interview

Be smart in your appearance - Even if it is a telephonic interview, you will feel more confident in something that you would wear to work. If it is a video interview, make sure your background environment is tidy as well.

Be prepared – Rehearse your answers to the most popular questions. Print or have available your resume, job description and any of your notes.

Think of questions you have for us - It is important to ask questions about our role, culture and business.

More research resources

To find out more about State Street and to help you prepare, follow these links for a better understanding about our impact on the financial industry:

Good luck with your interview!

We’re excited that you are interested in a career at State Street. Are you just planning to apply or is your interview already scheduled? Here’s some hints and tips to help you prepare for your interview.

Skills & role specific knowledge

We will be asking you about your general skills, role-specific knowledge and related experience:

Make sure you understand the terminology and tasks detailed in the job description. For example, if you are applying for a financial role, prepare yourself to share your knowledge and experience related to the role.

You can also expect questions about your general skills such as analytical thinking, communication skills, planning and organizational skills.

Think about your digital skills and provide examples of using popular applications to analyze data and create presentations. Perhaps you have worked with business-specific programs that help manage projects or visualize data? Let the interviewer know about it.

For roles that require knowledge of foreign language, you may expect that the interviewer will check your language skills.

​​​​​​Let's get started

Tell us about yourself

This is often the first question we will ask you. We want to hear about you and why you want to work with us, this is your opportunity to give us a brief introduction about who you are. Take this opportunity to talk about your skills and what motivates you as a person.

How to prepare your answer

Be prepared to talk for 1-2 minutes about what drives you – why did you choose this career path? What are your strengths and achievements? What is your current role? What are your goals?

Your motivation to join us

We will ask you to describe your motivation: the main reasons why you have applied and why you think you would be an ideal fit. We can also ask about your understanding of the role and motivation to perform these tasks.

How to prepare your answer

Competency-based behavioral questions

You might be given a scenario, where you need to give your real-life experiences: When was the last time you had to solve a difficult problem? How do you prioritize your work to deliver deadlines? Have you ever lead or joined a project? Was it successful?

How to prepare your answer

You may want to follow the STAR model: Situation – Task – Action – Result to answer the competency-based behavioral questions.

Our values drive us. What drives you?

​​​​​​​Championing Strong Communities and Values

We are championing strong communities and values - our values guide how we conduct our business, develop our workforce and care for our communities.

Kathy HorganChief Human Resources and Citizenship Officer

We will ask questions to learn more about the values that are important to you. Here are the values that guide us, how do they apply to your goals and experience?

Trust is our greatest asset

We are responsible for data and assets worth billions of dollars. Are you focused on details and accuracy? How do you handle responsibility?

Always finding better ways

We are at the forefront of innovation in finance.Tell us about the last time you have improved something? How do you manage change?

Stronger Together

We believe that our diverse employees are the force behind our success. When was the last time you had a chance to work in a team?

Global force local citizen

We make our mark in many ways – environment, social changes, inclusion. What is important to you or what drives you?

Before the interview

​​​​​​​Be smart in your appearance - Even if it is a telephonic interview, you will feel more confident in something that you would wear to work. If it is a video interview, make sure your background environment is tidy as well.

Be prepared – Rehearse your answers to the most popular questions. Print or have available your resume, job description and any of your notes.

Think of questions you have for us - It is important to ask questions about our role, culture and business.

More research resources

To find out more about State Street and to help you prepare, follow these links for a better understanding about our impact on the financial industry:

Good luck with your interview!

We’re excited that you are interested in a career at State Street.
Are you just planning to apply or is your interview already scheduled?
Here’s some hints and tips to help you prepare for your interview.

Let's get started

Championing Strong Communities and Values

Kathy Horgan
Chief Human Resources and Citizenship Officer

We are responsible for data and assets worth billions of dollars.
Are you focused on details and accuracy? How do you handle responsibility?

We are at the forefront of innovation in finance.
Tell us about the last time you have improved something? How do you manage change?

Be smart in your appearance - Even if it is a telephonic interview, you will feel more confident in something that you would wear to work. If it is a video interview, make sure your background environment is tidy as well.