Affirm is a fintech company that offers installment loans at the point of sale to its customers. Since 2012, the company’s headquarters have been in San Francisco, which is located in the state of California in the United States. When you attend an Affirm interview, you may be asked about your experience with financial technologies and your ability to provide exceptional customer service. Both of these subjects will be discussed during the interview. You may also be questioned about your ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously. To help you better prepare for your interview with Affirm, we have prepared a collection of sample interview questions and answers that you may use as a rough guide.
1. What Distinguishes Affirm From The Competition?
Affirm distinguishes itself in the financial technology business by providing installment loans at the point of sale. I am aware that Affirm’s business strategy is fundamentally distinct from its competitors because I have previously worked with many companies that offer installment loans. Some lending institutions, for instance, specialize in giving personal loans, while others provide financial support to small enterprises. Individuals and organizations alike can utilize Affirm’s installment loans.
2. Why Would You Want To Work With Affirm?
Affirm is a company that encourages me to believe in the transformative power of financial technology, which is why I want to work there. Before this position, I assisted in developing an app that helps users locate economical medical care providers. It was gratifying to observe how our solution improved someone’s life by linking them with more effective therapy. It was a crucial objective for us.
3. How Would You Describe A Positive Banking Software User Experience?
A positive user experience is achieved when the software is easy to understand and operate. As soon as I get a product, I first ensure that every function is properly labeled, so I know what I’m looking at while using it. Then, I would add a helper function to the app that shows step-by-step instructions for each feature.
4. What Steps Have You Taken To Improve Your Soft Skills?
In college, I worked hard to finish at the top of my class, but I also spent a great deal of time and energy building skills that would be useful in the financial technology business. I spent a substantial amount of time in school working on various projects with various teams, which allowed me to learn how to cooperate and work with others effectively. I have also put in considerable effort to become well-rounded and knowledgeable in various disciplines to readily adjust to any situation that may arise once I begin working. As my prospective employer, you will benefit from my adaptability since I can cooperate with several teams and individuals on various projects. As a high school senior, I attended public speaking and writing classes to improve my communication skills. On a more personal level, I make it a point to be a solution-focused and creative thinker every day to promptly and logically address challenges.
5. What Is Your Understanding Of Automation? For A Financial Technology Firm
Working in the fin-tech industry, which is renowned for its ongoing innovation and fast changes, is one of my favorite aspects of my profession. In only a few short years, I have observed the creation of new tools and software programs that have considerably increased the speed and precision of a wide range of financial activities. Automation is a significant component of this progress and development since it removes the need to repeat specific procedures and makes strenuous activities considerably easier to complete. It is advantageous because it reduces the possibility of human error and increases overall safety. Fin-tech will become increasingly automated in the next few years, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it now.
6. Have You Created Financial Software In The Past?
Although I have never done it before, one of my objectives is to gain a deeper understanding of the procedure for creating financial software. As an accountant in the past, I was responsible for preparing financial reports for clients and tracking their spending patterns. In addition to this obligation, I was responsible for keeping accurate records. It helped me comprehend how various loan types operate and how they affect certain individuals.
7. Do You Have Any Certificates Related To Financial Technology?
After obtaining a degree in computer science, I began working as a security analyst for a fin-tech business. I enrolled in a few online certification courses that would help me advance my career while expanding my knowledge of the industry’s basics. I registered for the Professional Certificate in Fin-Tech program at the University of Chicago. This program appealed to me since it focused on the regulatory implications of blockchain technology and finance, two areas that I find fascinating. Since I’m interested in this subject and appreciate the need to stay current with new concepts and technologies, I am always attempting to increase my knowledge.
8. What Do You Know About Microservices Architecture, And Why Would We Adopt Them?
The architecture of microservices is an approach for dividing large programs into microservices, which are more manageable units. APIs then enable these components to communicate with each other. As a developer in the past, I utilized microservices design because it allowed more efficient scalability as required. For instance, if we discover that one service has become unacceptably slow, we may reduce our reliance on that service while continuing to use the others.
9. Do You Feel At Ease Working With Numbers?
Since I have worked as an accountant for the past five years, I am familiar with monetary concepts and numbers. My former position needed me to be well-versed in various accounting concepts and procedures, as it involved working with the accounting systems of multiple businesses. I also like to learn new things, so getting more training or reviewing your organization’s procedures would be great.
10. How Would You Approach Redesigning The Front End Of Our Product If Hired?
During my most recent two jobs, I collaborated on the front-end development with various stakeholders. In both cases, I started by researching the characteristics our customers want to be included in our products. After that, I worked with developers to produce wireframes for each page and prototypes based on those. After putting the product’s prototypes through user testing, I finished the front end of the product.
11. Describe A Challenging Circumstance You Encountered At Work And How You Dealt With It.
In my former job as an accountant, I collaborated on a project with a senior employee. We were responsible for ensuring that we turned our work in simultaneously; moreover, he was frequently late or needed to turn in his work. It was challenging to meet the deadlines because I was waiting for him to hand in his career. In the end, I decided to confront him about the issue and inquire about the possibility of us working together to find a solution. He gave his consent, and we concluded that the job should be subdivided so we could turn in half of it before the deadline.
12. What Do You Believe Are The Most Important Traits Of A Product Manager?
The ability of a product manager to make decisions that are both creative and motivated by facts is the most valuable trait a product manager can possess. Although I am excited about the prospect of producing new products and services, I am also aware of the importance of assessing ideas before committing to implementing them. It enables me to make informed decisions regarding which opportunities to pursue and which to dismiss based on the available information.
13. How Would You Go About Implementing Two-Factor Authentication For Our Mobile Banking App?
A time-based one-time password generator, often known as TOTP, is a more secure alternative to SMS verification; thus, I would use it instead of SMS verification for my mobile banking app. A physical device on my phone, such as a USB dongle or an application running on my mobile device, can generate a unique code every thirty seconds. The user must enter the generated code into the program to validate their identity.
14. What Is Your Understanding Of Cybersecurity?
As the financial services industry expands, there will be greater demand for cybersecurity, which safeguards networks, devices, and data against unauthorized or illegal use. A rising range of financial services is becoming more accessible to the general public as financial technology becomes more user-friendly and less expensive. It is excellent, but it also increases the likelihood that hackers will target these consumers and the businesses that provide these services. As a financial security analyst for a startup, one of my tasks involved protecting business networks. I accomplished this by deploying firewalls and anti-virus software, educating employees on avoiding phishing attacks, and selecting strong passwords. In addition, I am familiar with legislation such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation and the California Privacy Act (GDPR). The demand for cybersecurity specialists in the fin-tech business will continue to increase, and I could not be happier to be a part of it.
15. What Experience Do You Have With Ai And Machine Learning?
Although I have experience working with AI and machine learning, the field of data science is where my specialty lies. My most recent assignment as a senior data scientist involved working on an artificial intelligence project that utilized machine learning algorithms to forecast customer behavior based on past purchases. Because of this, we were able to develop marketing plans that were tailored to individual customers.
16. Describe A Situation When You Had To Handle Many Tasks Simultaneously.
In my previous role, I managed many projects simultaneously while ensuring that the company’s customers received great service. Managing a team of customer service representatives who responded to inquiries from customers was one of the key responsibilities that fell on my shoulders. Another responsibility was to devise innovative marketing strategies to increase sales. In every circumstance, I was required to balance several responsibilities simultaneously, ensuring that the due dates met all objectives.
17. Why Should We Choose You Above Another Candidate?
I know you have interviewed several excellent candidates, but I am confident I am the best candidate for the position. To begin, I have a genuine interest in both the business world and in people, which helps me flourish as an account manager at Affirm. In addition, I am an excellent networker who can quickly develop major contacts with clients and prospects, and I enjoy educating others on topics that will benefit them. Because of my extensive experience working in the field of fin-tech account management over the past many years, I will be able to contribute meaningfully to your company’s success immediately.
18. What Are The Criteria For A Code Review?
During the code review, I look for comments since doing so enables me to justify my decisions while writing the code. In addition to this, I search for methods that will make the code shorter or more effective. When I dealt with this developer in the past, his code featured many nested loops. We successfully halved the number of loops he was utilizing in his system.
19. Which Aspect Of Software Engineering Interests You The Most?
Front-end programming piques my interest because I enjoy building user interfaces and websites. In my previous position, one of my tasks was ensuring that our website was constantly up-to-date and that each page was optimized for mobile browsing. This part was responsible for a 20% increase in foot traffic over three quarters.
20. In Five Years, Where Do You See Yourself?
My professional life has been spent in the human resources department of fin-tech companies, so I should be here. And I still intend to work in the human resources division of Affirm after five years. On the other hand, as time goes on and I continue to improve, I can see myself taking on increasingly responsible roles. I want to focus on recruiting because I find that aspect of my job to be enjoyable. However, there is a great deal more that I need to learn to be successful in this field, particularly in terms of locating top candidates, cultivating relationships with them, and informing them about the company and the position. As I gain more experience, one of my goals is to manage more employees eventually. As I gain more experience and knowledge in the field of fin-tech human resources, I am looking for a long-term position to acquire more information and take on more responsibilities.
21. Are You Confident In Making Autonomous Decisions?
Although I am confident in my capacity to make autonomous decisions, there are occasions when I should seek assistance. When I first began working for my prior employer, I was responsible for deciding whether or not consumers were eligible for loans. I once authorized a loan application for a client with an extremely low credit score. After studying their application, I was confident they would be able to repay the loan as they had indicated. However, they still need to repay the loan after a few months. This event taught me that it is prudent to wait until you have more information to explore your options before making a decision.
22. Are There Any New Technologies That Have Piqued Your Interest?
One of the reasons blockchain technology intrigues me is that it can be applied to the financial industry in various ways. This technology might enable more secure transactions, allowing organizations like Affirm to provide higher service levels to our clients. Artificial intelligence is another field of technology I would like to understand more about. This technology has been in the news lately and could have intriguing financial applications.
23. What Exactly Is Data Verification, And Why Is It Required?
Data verification is the process of ensuring that data is correct and consistent. Verification takes place frequently during the process of transferring or combining data obtained from external data sources. It is essential since even slight inaccuracies in the data may create major difficulties and inaccurate outcomes. For instance, if you combine customer information and mistakenly shift the position of one of the columns of data, you can wind up with incorrect information for every one of your clients.
24. What Kinds Of Problems Do You Like To Solve?
I appreciate finding solutions to problems that require me to consider novel approaches. During my time in the position I just left, I assisted a client with difficulty reaching their monthly payment obligations. We learned from speaking with them that they were experiencing financial issues due to an unexpectedly significant medical expense. Together, we devised a plan to permit them to extend the loan repayment over a longer period without incurring additional costs.
25. Give An Example Of When You Went The Extra Mile For A Customer.
My previous company had a client who needed help understanding the financial software we used. They were regularly ringing in with queries about various areas of the program. I volunteered to meet with them individually to instruct them on better use of the application rather than just giving them a brief overview over the phone. It improved their understanding of the program and lowered the number of calls they made each week.
Conclusion
It would help if you used the following interview questions and answers as a reference to help you prepare for your upcoming interviews. Always note that more practice will increase your chance of excelling at Affirm’s interview.
