DBRS Interview Questions

9 total interview insight submissions
Interview Experience (87%)

The Interview Experience is a score from 1 star (very negative) to 5 stars (very positive) generated based on the Interview Insights at this company.

The number you see in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. If you hover over the various sections of the donut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.

The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few interview insights). Simply put, as a company gets more reviews, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire dataset.

3.9
  • Very Negative
  • Negative
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Very Positive
Interview Difficulty (70%)

The Interview Difficulty is a score ranging from very difficult (red) to very easy (green) generated based on the Interview Insights at this company.

The number you see in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. The higher the number, the more difficult the interviews on average. If you hover over the various sections of the doughnut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.

The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few interview insights). Simply put, as a company gets more insights, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire data set.

2.4
  • Very Easy
  • Easy
  • Average
  • Difficult
  • Very Difficult

Interviews at DBRS

Filter by:
Year
Job Title
Group/Division
Location
Experience
Difficulty
1st Year Analyst
Year 2018
Job Title 1st Year Analyst
Group/Division Credit
Location New York
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Average
2nd Year Analyst
Year 2019
Job Title 2nd Year Analyst
Group/Division Generalist
Location New York
Experience
Neutral
Difficulty
Average
Intern
Year 2019
Job Title Intern
Group/Division Structured Products
Location New York
Experience
Very Positive
Difficulty
Easy
Intern
Year 2017
Job Title Intern
Group/Division Credit
Location New York
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Easy
Intern
Year 2018
Job Title Intern
Group/Division Real Estate
Location Chicago
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Easy
Intern
Year 2018
Job Title Intern
Group/Division Real Estate
Location Chicago
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Average
Summer Associate Intern
Year 2016
Job Title Summer Associate Intern
Group/Division Equities
Location Toronto
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Average
1st Year Analyst
Year 2016
Job Title 1st Year Analyst
Group/Division Credit
Location Toronto
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Easy
1st Year Analyst
Year 2014
Job Title 1st Year Analyst
Group/Division Advisory
Location New York
Experience
Neutral
Difficulty
Easy

Interview Questions & Answers - DBRS Examples

Financial Analyst Interview - Credit

Anonymous employee in New York
Interviewed: April 2018
Outcome
Accepted Offer
Interview Source
Applied Online
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Background Check
Interview
Applied to the position in NY online. Initial phone conversation was with HR asking simple questions to gauge personality/background, etc. 2nd interview was phone interview with Head of the team I would be working on which focused on resume/CV questions, why the job, etc. Final round was a few hours in office meeting every other member of the team and going through resume/CV, math questions, personality, problem solving, etc.
Interview Questions
Walk me through the three financial statements?

Senior Analyst Interview - Generalist

Anonymous employee in New York
Interviewed: May 2019
Outcome
Accepted Offer
Interview Source
Recruiter
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Interview
Reached out by the recruiter and submit resume, then phone interview, then onsite, then another round of hr interview.
Interview Questions
It's resume/work experience question. Also asked if leverage is xxx what is the rating is approximately at...
But overall ok.

Structured Finance Intern at DBRS Interview - Structured Products

Anonymous employee in New York
Interviewed: February 2019
Outcome
Accepted Offer
Interview Source
Applied Online
Length of Process
Less than 1 month
Application
Phone Interview
Other
Interview
Initial phone screen with HR representative then phone interview with an SVP then virtual interview with VP of the group and a writing test. All the questions were basic behaviorals and a brain teaser. The writing assessment was 30 minutes to write two paragraphs summarizing some financial information, very basic. My process was about a month, but they fast tracked my interviews because I had a competing offer. I accepted my offer about a month after the process started. They said they take 8 summer interns for their group.
Interview Questions
The hardest question was just a brain teaser asking to estimate average new car sales in a year in the United States there were no technical questions besides asking me what I knew about securitization. I also got asked the regular behavioral questions regarding strengths and weaknesses, tell me about yourself, a book I recently read, what I like to do in my free time, a time I faced a challenge, a time I lead a group. All very basic and common and expected questions that anyone can answer so I would not stress

Structured Credit Intern Interview - Credit

Anonymous employee in New York
Interviewed: October 2017
Outcome
Accepted Offer
Interview Source
College / University / On Campus Recruiting
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
Interview
Consisted of 4 phone interviews, only one of which was technical in any sense of the word. Only "Technical" question asked was what is securitization. Also only asked 1 brain teaser(how many new cars were sold in the us last year). Other than that, it was almost all about my resume/fit questions. Not hard at all.
Interview Questions
The most difficult question was describe how you would find out how many new cars were sold in the united states last year. Basically seeing how you think about this kind of problem, and using that thought process to come up with an estimate based on how you thought about the problem. Also, just knowing a very low level definition of securitization. The rest were almost all fit questions and asking about experiences that were on my resume that were relevant to the job. For example, this position needed to create data visualization tools, so they asked how similar i am with data visualization in the languages that were on my resume.

CMBS Intern Interview - Real Estate

Anonymous employee in Chicago
Interviewed: March 2018
Outcome
Accepted Offer
Interview Source
Applied Online
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Group Interview
Background Check
Interview
One phone screening with HR, A follow up call to schedule a super-day interview, 2 group interviews, 3 one-on-one interviews. Called me the following week to extend an offer.
Interview Questions
Tell me what you know about DBRS?

Tell me what you know about the ratings business.

What is the role of a ratings agency in the issuing of a commercial mortgage backed security?

What is a commercial mortgage backed security and how are they structured?

Walk me through your resume.

Tell me about your last internship.

Why are you interested in real estate?

What do you like to do for fun?

Why do you want to work in Chicago?

What about your background and skills makes you a good fit for this position?

DBRS - Commercial Mortgage Backed Security Analyst - Intern Interview - Real Estate

Anonymous interview candidate in Chicago
Interviewed: February 2018
Outcome
Declined Offer
Interview Source
College / University / On Campus Recruiting
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Group Interview
Interview
I initially met the company at a campus recruiting event. I was then called in for an on campus interview. This interview went well and I stayed in contact with the company, exchanging emails for a couple weeks. They then called me into the office in Chicago, where I underwent the interview process. The process went very smoothly and they majority of questions was about my experience listed on my resume. The toughest question I was asked was, "What is your definition of a Commercial Mortgage Backed Security (CMBS)?"
Interview Questions
"What is a Commercial Mortgage Backed Security?"

"Tell me a time you effectively led a team to achieve a desired outcome."

"Why Real Estate?"

"What set's you aside from other applicants?"

"Tell me a about a time you went above and beyond to achieve a task."

I discussed my experience and the events the led to my current situation. It's important to consistently use examples to back up the points you are making about your worthiness. This is why you should have multiple past experiences memorized, so that you can give a convincing argument. Be confident!

DBRS Interview - Equities

Anonymous interview candidate in Toronto
Interviewed: March 2016
Outcome
No Offer
Interview Source
Applied Online
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Interview
Applied online, received an email from HR to set up a phone interview. Then was called to meet with the entire group of 3 people.
Interview Questions
1. Tell me about yourself
2. Why this role interests you?
3. Behavioural stuff
4. Bloomberg skills? Attention detail skills? Compliance skills?
2. Tell me about any macro event you are interested in?
3. Walk me through your resume
4. What attention to detail skills do u have?
5. Talk to me about your excel skills?
6. How would you handle stress in this job?
4. What about this role interested you?
5. Your most significant accomplishment?
6. What would be your biggest challenge with taking on this job?
7. Salary expectations?

Financial Analyst Interview - Credit

Anonymous interview candidate in Toronto
Interviewed: 2016
Outcome
Declined Offer
Interview Source
Applied Online
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Skills Test
Interview
1st round was with HR who asked me general questions about my resume and some key skills for the position. 2nd round was in person, which involved more technical questions (accounting, credit) along with a modeling test.
Interview Questions
What factors affect the credit rating of an issuer? Give examples for each factor.
What do you know about our company?
What is your work style?
Questions about covenants and give examples.
What do you know about the industry?
What credit metrics do you look at for xxx industry?
Tell me about your analytical abilities.
Why do you want to work at a credit ratings agency.
How are we different from our main competitors.
How would you rate your writing skills?
Tell me about your financial modeling experience.

Financial Analyst Interview - Advisory

Anonymous interview candidate in New York
Interviewed: January 2014
Outcome
No Offer
Interview Source
College / University / On Campus Recruiting
Length of Process
Less than 1 month
Application
Phone Interview
Interview
The opening was from an alumnus, get an interview in a couple days after applying. Phone interview
Interview Questions
what are some projects/experiences illustrate your analytical skills
$1m+
Est Annual Revenue
Industry

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