Career Motivation & Understanding of the Bank

These questions assess motivation, interest in client-facing banking roles, and understanding of the organisation.

• What motivated you to apply for the Client Coverage Internship at Standard Chartered?
• When researching Standard Chartered, what did you learn about its global footprint and areas of focus?
• Why are you interested in Corporate and Investment Banking rather than another area of banking?
• What attracts you to a role that involves working closely with clients and internal teams?
• How do you think this internship supports your long-term career goals?

Commercial Awareness & Learning Readiness

These questions assess business awareness, curiosity, and ability to learn in a complex environment.

• Why is building strong client relationships important in banking?
• How do banks add value to corporates, institutions, and governments?
• How would you approach learning about financial products you have not encountered before?
• Why is collaboration important when delivering solutions to clients?
• How can interns add value while still learning on the job?

Professional Behaviour & Team Collaboration

These questions assess communication, teamwork, adaptability, and professionalism.

• Tell us about a time you worked with others to solve a problem.
• Describe a situation where you had to communicate clearly with different stakeholders.
• Give an example of how you managed competing priorities or deadlines.
• Tell us about a time you received feedback and how you responded.
• Describe a situation where professionalism or accountability was important.

Structuring Strong Interview Answers (STAR Method)

This section assesses your ability to communicate experiences clearly and logically.

STAR explained:

1. Situation: Describe the context
2. Task: Explain your responsibility
3. Action: Describe what you did
4. Result: Share the outcome and what you learned

Sample Intern Answer:

1. Situation: During my studies, I worked on a group project analysing a business case.
2. Task: I was responsible for researching client needs and presenting key findings.
3. Action: I gathered information, worked closely with my team, and contributed to the final presentation.
4. Result: The project was successful, and I strengthened my analytical and communication skills.

Presenting Academic and Informal Experience

This section assesses how well you translate non-work experience into workplace-relevant skills.

Standard Chartered recognises that many candidates may not yet have formal work experience. You may use examples from:

• University or college assignments
• Group projects or presentations
• Student societies or leadership roles
• Volunteer or community initiatives
• Part-time or casual work

Focus on problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and learning ability.

Common Internship Interview Mistakes to Avoid

• Not understanding the bank or its global role
• Giving general answers without examples
• Struggling to explain why Client Coverage interests you
• Ignoring teamwork and collaboration in answers
• Poor preparation or lack of commercial awareness

Interview Preparation Checklist

• Research Standard Chartered and its CIB business
• Understand what Client Coverage teams do
• Prepare 2–3 STAR-based examples
• Be ready to discuss teamwork and learning
• Dress professionally and arrive early
• Prepare a thoughtful question for the interview panel

Here's a list of Interview Questions specifically tailored to Standard Chartered’s Client Coverage team within Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB). These questions focus on client relationships, cross-border banking, and solution-driven thinking, not generic finance.

Client Coverage - Specific Interview Questions (Standard Chartered)

These questions assess understanding of Client Coverage, relationship management, and how the bank supports clients across markets.

• What do you understand by the role of a Client Coverage team within Corporate and Investment Banking?
• Why is relationship management critical when working with corporate, institutional, or government clients?
• How do you think a global bank like Standard Chartered adds value beyond providing financing?
• Why is collaboration between Client Coverage teams and product specialists important?
• How does Standard Chartered’s presence in emerging markets influence the way it serves clients?

Client - Focused Thinking & Commercial Awareness

These questions assess problem-solving, commercial judgement, and client-centric mindset.

• How would you approach understanding a client’s business before proposing a solution?
• Why is it important to understand a client’s industry and operating environment?
• How do working capital and cash management solutions support a client’s day-to-day operations?
• What challenges do multinational clients face when operating across different countries?
• How can banks support sustainable and long-term client outcomes rather than short-term gains?

Working in a Global, Matrix Banking Environment

These questions assess adaptability, communication, and comfort with complexity.

• How would you work effectively with colleagues in different countries or time zones?
• Why is clear communication important when working across multiple teams?
• How do you manage tasks when several stakeholders are involved?
• What skills are important for working in a fast-paced, global banking environment?
• How would you handle a situation where client expectations differ from internal constraints?