How to Pass the Capital One Assessment Test? – A Definitive Study Guide with Interview Questions
So you are hoping to get a job with Capital One but are faced with the daunting assessment and interview process?
Known as one of the best companies to work for in the corporate world, Capital One is an employer that takes the hiring process seriously. They offer an extensive range of different positions within their company as well as many opportunities for growth.
They expect their employees to contribute and uphold it because they have such a stellar reputation from both their employees and global partners. Therefore, the interview process can be cumbersome and challenging to navigate— especially if you’ve never experienced something like it before.
However, putting in the extra work to ace the assessment and interview process will undoubtedly lead you to have a successful career with Capital One. This article will review what this process will look like and go over essential information to help you succeed.
Table of Contents
The Hiring Process: Step by Step
The Application
First, you’ll need to go on the Capital One website and fill out the job application for the position you hope to get. Make sure all your information is correct, especially your contact information like your phone number, address, and email. If a hiring manager tries to reach out and cannot get a hold of you, that’s an automatic negative impression.
Also, be sure to update your resume with skills and experience directly related to the position you’re applying for. For a better idea of what the company values, search on their website for their mission. As you study the mission statement, think about what skills you have that align with it.
Put these on your website to help draw more connections between yourself and the position you’re applying for. The more you can do this, the more likely you will get your application noticed by the hiring team.
The Assessment
There are three parts to the online test that you’ll take after submitting your application:
1. Verbal – Because using good communication is a skill required in any department at Capital One, this section of the test is vital to the company to understand how well you can use information that you’re presented with. Verbal logic and comprehension are the main areas of assessment on this test. Essentially, you’ll be asked to interpret passages of information and answer questions about it. This is similar to other verbal reasoning tests you may have taken before, so utilizing any knowledge from prior experience will be helpful.
2. Numerical – This section tests your ability to use basic math skills like add, subtract, multiply, and divide. You will also be dealing with more complex math problems that require you to interpret graphs or figures and answer questions about them. At the same time, you won’t be expected to do any high-level quantitative reasoning for this assessment. You should be able to apply your math skills to problems relevant to the job duties of the position you’re applying for. This section of the test aims to make sure you can keep up with any part of the job that involves numbers.
3. Personality – Before you jump to conclusions, this section of the test isn’t your standard personality test. It is specifically geared toward identifying career-oriented personality traits that would make a person a good fit in a work environment.
You’ll be asked questions about how you get along with others, your work preferences, and your problem-solving abilities. Job Test Prep recommends using the STAR method to answering personality test questions:
- Situation – how you solve the issue
- Divisions – different opinions about a task, situation, or issue
- Actions – the steps you take to solve the problem and how you created them
- Result – what solution worked and how successful it was.
Although you will more than likely be answering multiple-choice questions, you should think through this method while figuring out which answer is the one you want to choose.
However, the subject matter of the questions will be similar to things you will be asked in the interview or conversations you may have had in another hiring
processes.
To prepare for the multi-phase assessment, familiarizing yourself with the type of test you’ll be taking is essential. While there are many different options you have for study materials, we highly recommend the PrepPack offered by Job Test Prep which is geared explicitly toward the Capital One assessment test and interview process.
PrepPacks can be purchased for three different lengths of time: one month, one week, and three months. Included is:
- Complete length practice tests for SHL-style verify calculations, numerical reasoning, checking, verbal analysis, verbal reasoning, and deductive reasoning
- A full-length personality assessment
- 11 figural SHL-style next in series drills
- Guide on how to complete an OPQ personality questionnaire
- Study guides and video tutorials on how to complete practice tests and sample questions
Each practice test provides an accurate look at what you’ll experience on the actual Capital One assessment. By practicing with these materials, you will get a much better idea of the types of questions you will be required to answer and the strategies you need to know to solve them.
The Phone or Video Interview
If you score well enough on the assessment and your application is approved, the hiring team will invite you to do a phone or video interview. During this interview, they will ask you different questions about your experience related to the position you’re applying for.
Here, you have the opportunity to talk about your relevant skills, expectations for pay/salary, and when you would be available to start work. They will cover the essential information they need to determine whether you and your qualifications match what they’re looking for.
Here are a few tips to prepare for a phone or video interview:
- Practice speaking clearly and enunciating your words. You want the interviewer to be able to understand what you’re saying loud and clear.
- If you’re on video, make sure to be in a quiet room that is free from distractions.
- Check your wifi signal before logging onto a video conference platform; having a bad connection can deter potential employers, especially if there are opportunities for remote work.
- Avoid having any “cheesy” usernames when loading your video conference account, which includes your email. If you have an email that could be deemed inappropriate, it’s advised to create a new one before applying.
The In-Person Interview
If you’ve made it this far in the hiring process, congratulate yourself! At this point, you have impressed the hiring team and are well on your way to landing a position with Capital One. During the interview, you could be speaking with several people or one individual. No matter which type of interview you find yourself in, be prepared to answer more personal questions yourself. Some more tips on how to handle an in-person interview are:
- Dress the part! Wear comfortable yet professional clothes. You should feel confident in your outfit of choice; if you aren’t, it can hamper your attitude and productivity.
- Avoid nonverbal behaviors that can make you seem closed off, such as crossing your arms or having unpleasant facial expressions. First impressions are everything in an in-person interview, even though you have interacted with the hiring team extensively by this point.
- Be prepared to answer questions about your previous work experience, including an experience where you overcame a challenge at work. Although this is a common and quite cliched interview question, it can tell a potential employer a lot about how you handle difficult or stressful situations. If you can’t think of anything, let them know that but provide an example of a problem outside of work where you overcame a challenge. This enables an interviewer to see that you are able to think outside the box and have experiences relevant to helping you solve problems in the workplace.
- Be sure to follow up your interview with a thank-you email to whoever you spoke with. This lets the employer know that you valued their time and that you are interested in the position.
The STAR method recommended for answering the personality test is also applicable in both parts of the interview process. Your decision-making process matters when you’re responding to interview questions, especially those that require a bit more thought. The in-person interview is where you will utilize it, as the person or panel will be taking a deep dive into your relevant experience and personality.
In addition to helping you prepare for the assessment test, The Job Test Prep Capital One PrepPack also offers materials to help you build skills for the interview process. By purchasing it, you’ll have access to examples of interview questions that could be difficult to answer and more tips like the ones above.
Ace your interview by preparing with Job Test Prep here.
Final Notes About the Assessment
The best way to pass the Capital One assessment test and interview, is to be prepared, know what’s coming, and practice. We recommend checking out the Job Test Prep PrepPack so you can get a real feel for the exam.
Not only will it help you study the necessary materials for the test, but it also helps you strengthen your interview skills, for this and any future interviews. It’s time to do what you can to gain your dream career at Capital One.
Good luck!
Written by Bailee Boggess McCoy
Bailee, MSW, is a freelance writer and editor. She specializes in career, social work, tech, B2B, marketing, and medical, health, and wellness content. She has experience as a job coach, DEI consultant for companies, community-project manager, and clinical researcher. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Georgetown College in 2018, and studied neurolinguistics and developmental psychology at the University of Oxford. She earned her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Kentucky in 2021. Her scientific research has been presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders.
Related Reading: Everything You Need to Know About The Barclays Assessment Centre
Sarah is an accomplished educator, researcher and author in the field of testing and assessment. She has worked with various educational institutions and organisations to develop innovative evaluation methods and enhance student learning. Sarah has published numerous articles and books on assessment and learning. Her passion for promoting equity and fairness in the education system fuels her commitment to sharing insights and best practices with educators and policymakers around the world.
