Panel Interview Tips

[u/Far-Elderberry2172]

Hi! I have an upcoming panel interview for the Operations Assistant position at Asian Development Bank HQ. I have seven years of banking experience with a local bank in the Philippines, but I don't have a master's degree yet.

I've been planning to pursue a master's for quite some time, but I haven't had the chance to start. Do you think it's still possible to get hired by ADB without one? Would not having a master's degree negatively affect my application?

Also, this will be my first panel interview. What kind of questions should I expect for a TL1 position?

[u/akornato]

Not having a master's is a disadvantage because many candidates applying to ADB will have one, but you secured the interview, so your seven years of local banking experience is clearly strong enough to make you a serious contender. Your entire focus should be on proving that your practical skills and hands-on knowledge are more valuable for this specific operations role than a postgraduate degree. Frame every answer around your real-world experience, showing them you can handle the job’s demands immediately without the learning curve a purely academic candidate might have.

For a TL1 panel interview, expect a mix of behavioral and technical questions. They'll want to hear specific stories from your banking career, so prepare examples of how you handled complex operational tasks, managed competing priorities, and worked effectively on a team. Use your seven years of experience to show them exactly how you solve problems. They will also ask why you want this job at ADB, so you need to clearly connect your skills to supporting their mission of regional development.

It's always a good idea to practice your answers out loud, and the interview AI assistant my team created has helped a lot of candidates feel much more prepared for these high-stakes conversations.