I applied through an employee referral. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Vanguard (Malvern, PA) in Mar 2017
Interview
First, I was contacted to schedule a phone interview after applying online. The phone interview is a behavioral-based interview where you will be asked to define basic finance terms. I was also asked different behavioral questions and provided examples for each. After that the recruiter will go over the basics of the job and schedule a time to come in for an in-person interview. The in-person interview is not as bad as you might think as long as you prepare beforehand. It started out with a presentation of the company and some of the benefits package. Then another person came in for a Q&A Session and case study prep. Be sure to ask questions during these presentations as there might be someone in the room taking notes. We were given about 15 minutes to look over the case study which includes some questions you'll be asked in your first interview. Then everyone goes to the galley and is assigned their first interviewer. This involved some questions about the case and then some prep time for the related phone call role play. The people there try to make you feel comfortable and make it seem like more of a conversation rather than an "interrogation". The most important part about the role play is not the answers you give or what investment advice you give to the "client" its more about how you respond and how empathetic you are to the client. Then another person will come to you for the second interview which is a traditional interview with some STAR questions. Be sure to prepare some examples to give about situations and how you handled them. once that interview is done, you are free to go but before you do, I would prepare some questions to ask the interviewers about their career or finance.
The interview process took about two weeks from application to offer. After submitting my application, I completed an online writing assessment followed by a short questionnaire with around five basic investing-related questions. Next, an AI scheduling assistant helped me set up a 15–20 minute phone interview with a recruiter.
The recruiter was incredibly positive, welcoming, and encouraging. She immediately put me at ease, which helped boost my confidence and allowed me to present myself well during the interview.
After moving forward, I had a Microsoft Teams interview with the hiring manager, who was equally fantastic. He made me feel comfortable throughout the conversation, which was especially appreciated since I tend to experience interview anxiety.
Overall, the hiring process was smooth, well organized, and a genuinely positive experience from start to finish.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about yourself. / How do you handle a difficult customer?
Over the phone for first round. Very friendly and felt more like a conversation at first, then came a few behavioral questions using the STAR method. Know the company and what sets them apart from others.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Describe a time where you had to face a difficult challenge, and how did you approach it?
I applied online. I interviewed at Vanguard (Charlotte, NC) in Jun 2026
Interview
Very easy, initial online assessment, then phone screen scheduled within a few days. Then a final round with a team lead. They mostly make sure you are a good fit with the culture at the company