USAA Business Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

USAA is a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing financial security to U.S. military members and their families. With core values of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service, USAA ensures these principles guide interactions with both members and employees.

As a Business Analyst at USAA, you will play a crucial role in analyzing and evaluating complex business data to identify opportunities and implement solutions for optimizing operations. The position involves supporting business functions, developing new capabilities, and ensuring compliance with risk and procedures.

Stay tuned as Interview Query walks you through the interview process, commonly asked USAA business analyst interview questions, and useful tips to prepare for your application to this prestigious company. Ready to contribute to something that truly matters? Let’s dive in!

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority; however, you can expect the following on a USAA business analyst interview:

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV is shortlisted, a recruiter from USAA’s Talent Acquisition Team will contact you for an initial phone interview. This call, approximately 15 minutes in duration, will primarily focus on verifying your qualifications and experiences. Basic interview questions such as “Tell us about yourself” and “Why do you think you would be a good fit for USAA?” are common during this stage.

In some cases, especially for mid or senior-level positions, you may also have a second screening call with the hiring manager conducted via Zoom. The hiring manager may delve into more specific aspects of your experience, including scenario-based questions like “Describe how you handled a difficult situation in your previous/current role.”

Technical Virtual Interview

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited to participate in a technical virtual interview. This stage usually includes video conferencing and may range from 1 to 2 hours. The interview can cover various aspects, such as:

• SQL Skills: Be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency in SQL through both theoretical questions and practical tasks.
• Scenario-Based Questions: Expect questions that gauge your problem-solving ability, such as “Tell me about a time when you identified a significant issue in your analytics process.”
• Analytical Tools and Techniques: You may be asked about your experience with data analysis tools like MS Excel, Tableau, and MS Visio.

For senior roles, this stage might also include additional virtual interviews or a substantive take-home assignment.

Onsite Interview Rounds

If you advance past the technical virtual interview, you will be invited to the onsite interview rounds. These interviews will be conducted at one of USAA’s locations (San Antonio, TX; Plano, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Colorado Springs, CO; Charlotte, NC; or Tampa, FL). The onsite interview process usually involves multiple rounds and can include:

• Panel Interviews: You may interact with a panel of supervisors and managers to discuss your technical and behavioral competencies.
• Scenario-Based Assessments: Similar to earlier rounds but more detailed, including solving real-world problems and case studies.
• Presentation of Take-Home Assignments: If you were given a take-home task, you might need to present and discuss your findings and recommendations.

Typically, interviews at USAA vary by role and team, but commonly, Business Analyst interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. Write a function search_list to check if a target value is in a linked list.

Write a function, search_list, that returns a boolean indicating if the target value is in the linked_list or not. You receive the head of the linked list, which is a dictionary with the keys value and next. If the linked list is empty, you’ll receive None.

2. Write a query to find users who placed less than 3 orders or ordered less than $500 worth of product.

Write a query to identify the names of users who placed less than 3 orders or ordered less than $500 worth of product. Use the transactions, users, and products tables.

3. Create a function digit_accumulator to sum every digit in a string representing a floating-point number.

You are given a string that represents some floating-point number. Write a function, digit_accumulator, that returns the sum of every digit in the string.

4. Develop a function to parse the most frequent words used in poems.

You’re hired by a literary newspaper to parse the most frequent words used in poems. Poems are given as a list of strings called sentences. Return a dictionary of the frequency that words are used in the poem, processed as lowercase and without punctuation.

5. Write a function rectangle_overlap to determine if two rectangles overlap.

You are given two rectangles a and b each defined by four ordered pairs denoting their corners on the x, y plane. Write a function rectangle_overlap to determine whether or not they overlap. Return True if so, and False otherwise.

6. What’s the difference between Lasso and Ridge Regression?

Explain the key differences between Lasso and Ridge Regression, focusing on their regularization techniques and how they handle coefficients.

7. What are the key differences between classification models and regression models?

Describe the main distinctions between classification and regression models, including their objectives, output types, and common use cases.

8. Which model would perform better for predicting Airbnb booking prices: linear regression or random forest regression?

Consider building a model to predict booking prices on Airbnb. Compare linear regression and random forest regression in terms of performance and suitability for this task.

9. What are the assumptions of linear regression?

List and explain the fundamental assumptions underlying linear regression models.

10. How do you detect and handle correlation between variables in linear regression?

Discuss methods to detect and manage correlation between variables in linear regression. Explain the consequences of ignoring such correlations in the model.

11. What will the coefficient be if we run a regression of Y on X?

Given two variables, X and Y, where Y = X + some normal white noise, what will the coefficient be if we run a regression of Y on X?

12. What are the Z and t-tests, and when should you use each?

Explain the purpose and differences between Z and t-tests. Describe scenarios where one test is preferred over the other.

13. How would you reformat student test score data for better analysis?

Given two datasets of student test scores, identify drawbacks in their current organization. Suggest formatting changes and discuss common issues in “messy” datasets.

14. What metrics would you use to evaluate the value of marketing channels?

Given data on marketing channels and costs for a B2B analytics dashboard company, identify key metrics to determine the value of each marketing channel.

15. How would you determine the next partner card for a company?

With access to customer spending data, outline a method to identify the best partner for a new credit card offering.

16. How would you investigate the impact of a redesigned email campaign on conversion rates?

Analyze whether an increase in new-user-to-customer conversion rates is due to a redesigned email campaign or other factors, considering historical conversion rate trends.

Here are a few tips to help you ace your interview for the Business Analyst position at USAA:

1. Understand the Mission: USAA takes pride in its mission to support the financial security of military members and their families. Showing your alignment with this mission will help you stand out.

2. Be Prepared for Scenario-Based Questions: USAA often utilizes scenario-based questions. Practice answering “Tell me about a time…” questions that showcase your problem-solving, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

3. Strong SQL and Analytical Skills: Demonstrate your proficiency with SQL and other data analysis tools. Use platforms like Interview Query to practice SQL queries and analytical problem-solving.

What is the average salary for a Business Analyst at USAA?

Why should I consider working at USAA?

USAA has a special mission dedicated to facilitating the financial security of U.S. military members and their families. The company operates under core values of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service, which guide everything from member interactions to employee relationships. Join USAA to make a meaningful impact and be part of a special, mission-driven organization.

What does the Business Analyst - Mid-Level position entail?

As a Business Analyst - Mid Level at USAA, you will support the business by analyzing and evaluating relevant complex data, information, and processes. You’ll participate in planning, research, analysis, and implementation of new or modified applications and processes. The job also involves developing reports, validating information, and ensuring risks are effectively managed according to compliance policies.

What qualifications are required for the Business Analyst - Mid-Level position?

A Bachelor’s degree or 4 years of related experience is required. You’ll need 4 years of experience in analysis, operations, requirement gathering, data analytics, and business planning. Proficiency in tools like MS Excel, MS Visio, Tableau, and SQL is also necessary. Military experience or leading high-profile projects, as well as PMP certification, can set you apart.

By joining USAA as a Business Analyst, you will be part of an organization that values honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service.

If you’re intrigued by the prospect of joining a mission-driven organization and want more insights about the company, check out our main USAA Interview Guide, where you can find many interview questions that could be asked. Additionally, explore interview guides for other roles to learn more about USAA’s interview process for different positions.

At Interview Query, we empower you to unlock your interview prowess with a comprehensive toolkit, equipping you with the knowledge, confidence, and strategic guidance to conquer every interview question and challenge, ensuring you are well-prepared for your dream job.

Good luck with your interview!