I applied through an employee referral. The process took 5 weeks. I interviewed at Edward Jones (Houston, TX) in June 2013
Interview
This was a grueling process that unfortunately did not end well for me:
1. Phone screening - straight forward, run of the muck questions.
2. Background Paperwork - tedious and long but necessary
3. Face to Face Interview at Branch Office - This was just a 2 hour conversation with a cool seasoned advisor. He was a former Marine like me, so it was cake.
4. Business Plan/Survey - Pretty Extensive Business Plan that I completed at home, then a separate day of door to door knocking to have people help me fill out a survey. This was not the most pleasant thing in the Houston area around the summer time in a suit. 150 doors knocked on in 6 1/2 hours.
5. Phone Interview about business plan - Went over the complete business plan for 1 hour with a HQ recruiter and asked some situational questions.
6. The killer for me - "THE DAY IN THE LIFE" assessment - This has been a somewhat recent addition to their process that weeds quite a few people out I've heard. You are assessed on 10 different metrics that you will have to do as an adviser. This is done in a simulated setting at home on your computer and on the phone. A role play of a work environment.
My one cent: I have no experience working at a help desk, sales, or a administrative assistant at a busy work environment. You are graded on all of these aspects, including cold calling?? Hello, I have no experience or training and they know this?? To me the whole experience is not realistic of what I'm capable of doing as an adviser but to the HR people it is the best thing ever. They stated it based on research regarding success rates as an adviser. Hmmm, I have to disagree with that. They place way too much emphasis on this last part. They stated it is very expensive so that is why they do it last...fyi
A great company to work for and they invest so much in their employees. I just couldn't believe that I did so well with all of my interviews, had 2 employee referrals, and I'm military which they like and I still could not get in due to a assessment that is like a help desk on crack.
Good luck guys, you will be put through the ringer but I hope you come out on top!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Question on some performance statistic on a made up market share.
Interview process first consists of numerous dinner events, all very laid back where you get to learn more about the company and the advisors in the region, and they get to learn more about you. If you keep getting invited back to dinners, consider it progress in the interview process. Honestly, the best, most effective interview process.
I applied through an employee referral. I interviewed at Edward Jones (Vancouver, WA)
Interview
it's a series of interviews with people in the office then a full-day of simulating the role of the advisor where you're receiving calls from clients and team mates as well as receiving emails. As a career-changer, this was the part of the interview phase where I realized Edward Jones wasn't the right start to my career as a financial advisor and ended up going somewhere that invested in my growth rather than a "sink or swim" type of place.
Interview process is very lengthy. 6 steps, very in depth. HR screening, in person interview, 1 year plan, day in the life role play (3 hours long) where you had to call actors who were playing clients and prospects
