Questionnaire BNP Paribas
What are the answers to these questions? Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
Please put a for best and so on till d for worst
Situation 1
You have been provided with some detailed analysis conducted by a respected, experienced senior colleague. You find it difficult to follow some of the reasoning, and believe that the rationale supporting the recommendations may be based on flawed assumptions. How do you proceed?
Best * Worst *
Go through the report again yourself until you can understand how your colleague reached the conclusions.
Ask your colleague to explain where the assumptions came from and why they believe these are accurate and appropriate.
Trust that your colleague has got the analysis correct and proceed using the assumptions and other information provided.
Ask one of your peers to look at the assumptions and see whether they also believe them to be flawed.
Situation 2
You need some information in order to complete an urgent report for your manager. The person who is acknowledged to be the greatest expert on the subject is a very busy trader. How do you go about getting the information?
Best * Worst *
Observe the trader in the hope of spotting a convenient moment to approach.
Send the trader a short e-mail requesting a meeting at a convenient opportunity.
Formulate the precise questions you need to ask the trader before you approach them.
Ask one of the trader's colleagues for the information rather than bothering the trader.
Situation 3
You have completed some analysis for a senior colleague. They have politely thanked you but you are unsure whether they are happy with the work you have completed. Do you:
Best * Worst *
Ask your colleague to explain how the analysis will now be used.
Assume that your colleague would make you aware if they needed anything different.
Ask your colleague whether your analysis has completely met their needs.
Ask your colleague for feedback on the quality of the analysis you have performed.
Situation 4
Whilst trading, the main IT system providing competitors' prices goes down. Do you:
Best * Worst *
Notify the IT support function, then suspend trading until the issue is resolved.
Continue trading based on your competitors' last known prices.
Seek confirmation from your manager about how you should proceed.
Look for an alternative solution to establishing competitor prices.
Situation 5
You are working on several projects at once. Some of them are already behind schedule, and the timeframes and goals on many of them are constantly shifting. How do you determine how best to use your time?
Best * Worst *
Concentrate on finishing off those tasks that can be completed most quickly.
Focus on delivering against any projects that are already running behind schedule.
Consider the relative importance of the overall project aims in allocating your time to them.
Examine where there will be the greatest knock-on effect on others if specific goals are not met on time.
Situation 6
You have prepared a report for a colleague outlining your recommendations for a new product. Your colleague has expressed scepticism about its viability but you believe your analysis holds up well. Do you:
Best * Worst *
Try to come up with a different product to the one you initially proposed.
Ask your colleague to explain why they are sceptical about your new product.
Seek the opinion of a third party about the viability of your proposed product.
Demonstrate to your colleague how your analysis supports your recommendations.
Situation 7
Whilst performing some credit simulations for a trader who is on the phone to a client, you realise that you have made an error in your calculations. What do you do?
Best * Worst *
Quietly correct your error and stall the trader.
Briefly explain the nature of your error to the trader.
Continue with the simulation as it stands.
Mentally factor in the error in the information you provide.
Situation 8
You have received an e-mail asking you to urgently provide information relating to competitors' products which will be used as part of a client pitch. The information is required tomorrow, and will be integrated with information from other team members who you know are involved in the pitch. However, the request is rather vague when it comes to the intended focus of the information and the person who sent you the e-mail (who will ultimately be responsible for the pitch) is engaged in another client meeting and will not be available for the rest of the day. What do you do?
Best * Worst *
Ask your manager about the best way to proceed in this matter given the tight time constraints.
Gather as much information as you can about competitors' products based on the information in the request.
Leave a voicemail message on the mobile phone of the person who made the request, asking them to contact you after their client meeting.
Try to understand the precise nature of the pitch from one of the other team members who is also involved.
Situation 9
A trader has asked you to withhold some pricing information from a client as he believes it is inaccurate and therefore likely to change. You are concerned that this matter may breach compliance standards. What do you do?
Best * Worst *
Ask for a second opinion on whether that pricing information is potentially inaccurate.
Explain your concerns to your manager and ask for advice on how best to proceed.
Do as the trader has requested and withhold the information from the client until you know more.
Immediately take the issue to the compliance department and seek their advice.
Situation 10
You overhear a small group of senior colleagues discussing a difficult and sensitive problem. Some of the group you have worked with before and know well, others are people you do not know well. Although you feel you should not have heard their discussion, you believe you have some useful information which may help them find a solution. How do you react?
Best * Worst *
Talk to your manager about the situation and ask them for advice on how you ought to deal with it.
Wait for the group to finish their discussion then talk about the problem and your information with one of the people you know well.
Approach the group, explain that you overheard their discussion and share your information with them.
Without referring to what you have overheard, try to drop your useful information into conversation with one of them.
