morningstar interview questions for data research analyst

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Morningstar Data Analyst Mock Interview

To help you prepare for a Data Analyst interview at Morningstar, here are 40 interview questions and answer examples.

Morningstar was written by William Swansen on June 16th, 2022. Learn more here.

Question 1 of 40

Can you recall a time you were assigned a task that wasn't part of your job description? How did you handle this, and what was the outcome?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

How to answer, answer example.

Some employees are reluctant to do anything that is not part of their job description. However, in today's fast-paced business environment, people are often asked to do extra work that may not have been part of their original assignment when they were hired. Morningstar interviewers seek to understand how you react when asked to do something not part of your normal job and determine how flexible you are.

The best way to answer this is to start by stating that you are always open to pitching in wherever you can to help Morningstar get the job done. Emphasize that you are open to learning new skills that will help you and Morningstar. Then describe an incident to illustrate this.

"I have worked for several small companies where the employees wore many hats. I enjoyed this experience because it allowed me to learn new skills as an information security manager outside of my profession. It helped me grow my portfolio of skills and contributed to each company's success. In one case, I was asked to attend a trade show to research new data analysis tools from a technical perspective. Even though I had no experience in this area, I accepted the assignment with enthusiasm. Attending the show and interfacing with the suppliers taught me a great deal about how products are developed and marketed, which helped me evaluate new product features and make recommendations for adopting them to our management team."

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Morningstar Data Analyst Interview Questions & Answers

Below is a list of our Morningstar interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.

1. Can you recall a time you were assigned a task that wasn't part of your job description? How did you handle this, and what was the outcome?

Written by William Swansen on June 16th, 2022

2. Tell me about the audiences to whom you've presented. Were these presentations done in person or remotely?

Hiring managers look for data analysts with strong presentation skills who can present analyses and answer questions clearly and confidently. In many cases, hiring managers look for candidates who can present their findings to people with different backgrounds. Experience communicating with both technical and non-technical audiences is a highly valued skill.

It would be ideal if you had experience presenting to an executive-level audience, but this is not always necessary. When describing your audiences, include approximate size, whether it included executives, and possibly what departments within the company were present. With the rise of remote work, some hiring managers will expect you to discuss presenting analyses via phone or video conference calls since these types of presentations can present unique challenges.

"As a data analyst, I have presented to a wide variety of audiences made up of people with differing backgrounds. The groups ranged in size from one person to 25 people, with the larger ones composed of co-workers from different departments in the company. Most of these presentations were in person, but I have presented a few analyses remotely via video conferencing to smaller audiences. In addition, about one-third of my presentations have had audiences made up of senior managers."

Written by Helen Lee on June 16th, 2022

3. Of the industries you have worked in, from a data perspective, which industry is most similar to the one in which Morningstar competes?

Interviewers at Morningstar will only pose this question if you do not have industry-specific experience related to their company. Without this experience, they want to know how you can apply what you learned from previous positions to the one you are interviewing for. You can be ready to answer this question by conducting research ahead of time.

Morningstar hires candidates based on their skills and abilities to do the job. They also look for a good organizational fit. Specific industry experience is the third most important criterion when evaluating job seekers. If you do not have direct experience within Morningstar's industry, research it before the interview. Come to the interview understanding the unique challenges this industry presents, solutions to overcome these, and practices commonly used by companies within the industry. This will help you answer this question effectively.

"There are a few similarities between the financial services and healthcare industries, specifically related to data and the work of a data analyst. One of the most important is the security of customer or patient data. Both industries work with highly personal and sensitive data that must be kept secure at all times. Because of this, access to data may be more restricted, and analyses may require more time to complete as you navigate the security. To be successful as a data analyst in these industries, you will need to be not only organized but able to present a clear case for the data your analyses require."

4. Describe your experience creating dashboards. If you have experience, what tools have you used to create them?

Dashboards are snapshots of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics. Morningstar managers and their teams use them to track a particular business objective or goal. With the input of others, data analysts are often asked to build and update dashboards. Several tools can be used to build dashboards, including Tableau, Power BI, and Excel. In addition to these well-known tools, many free tools are available online.

If you do not have experience building dashboards, discuss how your data visualization skills can help you in this area. Do not describe your experience in too much detail, but include the purpose of the dashboard, the types of data visualizations you used, and a few metrics you included. If the Morningstar interviewer would like more detail, they will ask additional questions.

"I have experience creating dashboards that included Marketing metrics. The metrics included brand awareness, customer satisfaction, and sales by quarter. I used pie charts, bar and line graphs, and tables to present the data in the dashboard. I have created dashboards using both Power BI and Excel."

5. Which, if any, certifications have you earned related to your career as a data analyst?

Hiring managers at Morningstar will be interested in the training you have received for your job as a data analyst. Certifications ensure that you have attained a level of achievement set by industries or specific vendors. It provides a form of measurement for hiring managers to assess skills or knowledge of a particular subject or tool.

When answering this question, briefly explain how your certifications have helped you in your career as a data analyst. If you have yet to earn any certifications, consider mentioning which ones you may be interested in pursuing in the future and why. Interviewers prefer candidates who are willing to learn and interested in constantly improving their skills and competencies.

"Based on my skills, experiences, and education, I have earned the designation of a Certified Analytics Professional. Earning this designation also required me to take a certification exam that measured my knowledge in the field of Data Analytics. I take a recertification exam every three years to ensure that my skills and knowledge are up to date. The requirements of this certification drive me to advance my analytics education and equip me with a stronger toolset to execute my job as a data analyst."

6. Can you explain the difference between data mining and data profiling?

Morningstar interviewers use this question to analyze your competency and qualifications for the data analyst job. Knowing the subtle differences between these two concepts indicates that you've worked in this field and have a good understanding of the practices and procedures data analysts use. You should anticipate many questions like this one during the interview with Morningstar.

This technical question asks you to compare two concepts used by data analysts. Keep your answers brief and to the point when responding to technical questions. The Morningstar interviewer will ask you a follow-up question if they need additional information or want to explore this topic in more detail.

"Data Mining is the process of identifying information in large datasets. It can also be used for sequence recovery and analyzing data clusters. Data profiling helps data analysts at Morningstar identify the dataset's characteristics, including its type, length, frequency, and other identifiers. Both of these techniques help data analysts ensure that the dataset they are working with is appropriate for the task they are trying to complete."

7. And how do you deal with inconsistencies in your data?

The recommendation data analysts provide to decision-makers is only as good as the quality of data they are analyzing. If the data is inconsistent, the conclusions drawn from its analysis could contain errors and be misleading. Morningstar interviewers want to ensure that you are aware of this and have processes to clean and sanitize the datasets you are working with. This ensures that your analysis will produce valid recommendations the Morningstar decision-makers can use confidently.

As an experienced data analyst, you have many different processes and procedures you use in your work. You should review these before the interview at Morningstar to keep them at the top of your mind. During the interview, they'll likely ask many questions about how you do this job. As with any operational question, keep your answer brief and to the point, and always anticipate a follow-up question.

"I use several techniques to identify and correct inconsistencies in my data sets. I prefer the central semantic storage approach to prevent data inconsistencies. That helps create a central area for the data that can be used as a reference when processing the complete data set. If an inconsistency still occurs, I typically use a primary key to link to a table so I can re-enter the correct data. This approach has worked well for me in my previous positions."

8. How would you remove the data in a single cell without affecting the formatting when working with an Excel spreadsheet?

Microsoft Excel spreadsheets are one of the primary tools data analysts use in their profession. Interviewers will likely ask you many questions about how to use Excel spreadsheets to determine your knowledge and experience in this area. By asking the question, they indicate that Morningstar uses Excel and expects its employees to be highly competent with this tool.

One of the mistakes many candidates make during an interview is expounding on a very simple answer and providing too much detail to the interviewer. Interviewers often interpret this as trying to cover up a lack of knowledge or experience with the topic you are discussing. When answering technical questions like this, keep your answer brief and to the point. The Morningstar interviewer will always ask you a follow-up question if they need more information or want to explore the topic in more detail.

"The easiest way to remove data from an Excel spreadsheet cell without impacting the formatting is to select Clear Contents from the Editing menu. That will not affect any other properties of the cell."

9. Can you briefly explain your primary responsibilities as a data analyst?

The interviewer will ask this basic question early in the Morningstar interview. It has several purposes. First, it's an easy way for the interviewer to begin asking you questions related to this job. Second, they can use it to level-set your view of this job compared to Morningstar's. Interviewers want to make sure that you clearly understand the role you are interviewing for and the duties you are expected to perform.

You should review the Morningstar job posting several times when preparing for an interview and highlight the responsibilities and duties. While you may know what a data analyst does, Morningstar may have specific expectations for this role. Your answer to the question should align with the job posting. That will start you on the right track during the interview and convince the interviewer that you understand the role and have the necessary background to perform the job.

"The key responsibilities of a data analyst are to collect, manage, and process data for the organizations they work for. We need to ensure the accuracy of the information and recommendation we proved to help decision-makers make data-driven decisions. I also focus on implementing preventative measures to keep the data secure and clean, using critical thinking to compensate for any abnormalities in the data, and paying strict attention to detail."

10. What are the steps you take when beginning a new data analysis project?

Morningstar prefers to hire experienced data analysts who have developed specific processes and procedures to do their job. Interviewers will ask you about these during the interview to ensure that you have them and to determine if they align with the processes used by their data analytic organization. The more specific and detailed your process, the more comfortable the interviewer will be in recommending you to be hired.

Before attending an interview at Morningstar for a data analyst position, take some time to review the processes, procedures, tools, and concepts used in this job. Having these fresh in your mind will enable you to answer the interviewer's questions about how you perform this job. Keep your answer brief and to the point when responding to a question. The interviewer will always ask you a follow-up question if they want to explore the topic in more detail.

"When starting a new data analysis project, I begin by taking some time to review the project. This ensures that I clearly understand the objectives or problems I have been asked to resolve. Next, I find out how reliable the data is and where it originates. I determine if I need to scrub or sanitize the data before beginning the analysis. I then think about the best methods for modeling it and consider whether the deadline I have been assigned is realistic for the task at hand. After that, I carefully process the data and cross-reference it to a database to ensure accuracy."

11. Describe a project in which quantitative and qualitative data were used to conduct your analysis.

Data analysts should use all the available data to conduct the most impactful analyses. This could include both quantitative and qualitative data. The Morningstar hiring manager wants to know how much experience you have, marrying qualitative to quantitative data. Sometimes it is straightforward, as is the case when working with survey data that has both qualitative and quantitative questions. Other times, it may take creativity to find applicable qualitative data to use in conjunction with your quantitative data.

Morningstar interviewers often ask this question for a data analyst position, so you should anticipate it during the interview. Come to the interview prepared with stories about several projects you've worked on that demonstrate various skills you've used. You can repurpose the stories to address specific questions by including details the Morningstar interviewer asks you about. If you have several projects to choose from, share the project where you used the most creativity in merging the two types of data when answering this question.

"If possible, I always try to incorporate qualitative data to support what the quantitative data tells me. I have been fortunate to have conducted several analyses where qualitative survey data was readily available. However, when working with survey data, I don't think you should limit yourself to the qualitative data from one survey. When appropriate, I have found that there can be valuable qualitative data from other surveys or external sources. For one marketing analysis dealing with a new product evaluation, I reached out to the operations department to utilize qualitative data they had collected from distributors. Using this qualitative data strengthened the validity of my recommendations to the product development group."

12. Tell me about an aspect of your profession that makes you the most satisfied, energized, and productive at work.

The interviewer asks this question to uncover your passion and what you enjoy doing. Morningstar interviewers know that people do their best work when they are passionate about what they do. They will ask questions like this to discover if you are passionate about this job or just doing it for the money.

This is a great question to ask yourself before beginning your job search. It will help you target specific jobs that you enjoy doing and will therefore be good at. That will enable you to answer this question when asked by an interviewer by simply describing a task you enjoyed working on related to the job you are applying for.

"One of my favorite parts about this profession is collaborating with Morningstar employees from other departments. I enjoy working together to determine how to achieve the business's objectives. Participating as a member of a creative team is one of the best aspects of this job."

13. Can you give me an example of when you had to work with someone difficult to get along with? How did you handle the situation?

This is a behavioral question to which the Morningstar interviewer expects a 'STAR' formatted answer: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Interviewers ask behavioral questions to determine how you react to challenging situations in the workplace. Your description of how you handled this in a previous job will indicate what you will do if hired by Morningstar. Behavioral questions typically involve challenges, relationships, conflict, or communication errors.

When responding to this question, use the 'STAR' format to frame your answer: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Start by describing the Situation, followed by a brief explanation of the Task you were attempting to complete. Walk the interviewer through the Actions you took, then conclude by discussing the Results you attained and how these benefited the organizations. Describe a situation that you are likely to encounter when hired by Morningstar.

"In one of my recent jobs, I was partnered with another employee who was not open to new ideas and suggestions. Their attitude was 'my way or the highway.' We were tasked to develop a new process for using advanced data analytics techniques more effectively. I asked for their ideas and noted that while they were good, it would be more efficient to modify them slightly. We developed a consensus about the new process by accepting their initial suggestions and only recommending minor modifications. We recommended this to management, and the new process was implemented. This resulted in significant savings for the company and made it easier for my colleague and me to work together on future projects."

14. Please tell me about a time something major didn't go according to plan at work.

Responding to situations that don't go according to plan is a characteristic that Morningstar interviewers look for. They will ask you a question like this to determine how you react to unforeseen circumstances. Your answer provides them with an indication of your flexibility, responsiveness, and creativity.

Since this is a behavioral question, you should utilize the 'STAR' response methodology. Make sure to stay positive, don't blame anyone else for the problem, and don't take full credit for the solution. Demonstrate how you worked with others to resolve the situation. As with any behavioral question, discuss the results you attained and possibly the lessons learned, especially if the outcome wasn't optimum.

"During a recent software update project, the versions of the software we ordered were not correct. We reviewed the purchase order and determined that the software had been ordered incorrectly. Since the software seals were broken, we couldn't return the product, nor was the manufacturer likely to agree to correct this because it was our error. Even though this involved additional expense, my manager and I agreed it would be quicker to order the correct versions of the software so we could proceed with the upgrade. We did this and installed the software without a major delay in the project. This experience taught us to carefully review the software versions we had and needed before ordering new products or performing any upgrades."

15. Describe a situation where you needed to persuade someone about an idea or process.

The Morningstar interviewer will ask you this question because they are interested in learning about your communication and leadership skills and how you apply them to accomplish the tasks required in this role. Persuading other people about your ideas and suggestions is a valuable skill. Interviewers recognize that this will make you more effective in the job and reduce conflict between you and other team members.

You can answer this question using the STAR format, describing how you seek to understand other people's points of view, acknowledging them, then offering them an alternative and the rationale behind it. You can then describe how you addressed any questions and concerns they had and developed a win-win scenario with a positive outcome.

"I take great pride in my ability to convince others of my ideas and suggestions. First, I solicit others' input, carefully listening to their ideas and acknowledging them. If their suggestions are appropriate, we move forward. However, if I believe we can improve on them, I state my ideas and recommendations and explain why I believe in them. I then answer any questions they may have and drive for a consensus in which all the parties are satisfied we are moving in the right direction."

16. Give me an example of a time you led by example. Describe what you did and how your team reacted.

Interviewers ask this question to prompt you to talk about your leadership style, hoping you will describe how you lead from the front by example rather than from the back by exercising your authority. They recognize that teams perform better when they believe in their leadership and are willing to follow their example. By asking this question, the Morningstar interviewer hopes to discern whether you will be an effective leader.

Since this is a behavioral question, format your answer in the STAR framework by first describing a Situation and the Task you were required to complete. Then, tell the interviewer how you Acted by demonstrating the behavior you needed the team to exhibit. Finally, discuss the outcome of the project or task and what your team learned from the example you set. Make sure you communicate how you led by example and how this motivated the team to accomplish the assigned task.

"In my most recent role, my team and I were tasked with implementing a new process. Since none of us had experience in this area, I researched the process and created a training curriculum. I presented this to the team, participating in the exercises which simulated the new process. Together, we debugged the process, created an implementation plan, and launched the process. By fully participating in each aspect of the project, I demonstrated to the team that I was willing to roll up my sleeves and work alongside them to make the project successful. They acknowledged this and expressed their willingness to replicate the process on future projects."

17. Tell me about a difficult decision you had to make in one of your previous roles.

The Morningstar interviewer wants to hear examples of your decision-making process and how you approach challenges or difficult situations. They want to learn more about how decisive you are and whether you are willing to make difficult choices. The interviewer hopes to see that you will put Morningstar's interests ahead of your personal feelings.

When answering this question, choose a situation in which you made a decision involving a personal sacrifice or two equally undesirable outcomes. Explain the choice you made, your rationale, and the outcome. Then briefly discuss what, if anything, you would have done differently based on the outcome.

"During a recent downturn in business, I was required to reduce my staff. Every team member was well qualified and valuable to the organization, so choosing who to let go was difficult. After much consideration, I decided to dismiss one of the more experienced workers, knowing that they could easily find another job within the industry with my recommendation. This allowed me to develop one of the junior staffers, increasing their skills and making them more valuable to the organization. I would make the same decision if presented with this situation again at Morningstar."

18. Can you recall a time your manager was unavailable when a situation arose that demanded an immediate resolution? How did you react?

While this appears to be a question about leadership, it addresses your willingness to take the initiative. The Morningstar interviewer is interested in this because it helps them determine your future growth potential. Morningstar likes to hire individuals who continually improve themselves and develop new skills, allowing them to advance within the company.

When responding to this question, emphasize your willingness to take the initiative rather than complain about the manager's absence. Explain why you felt the need to take action and describe how you did so to resolve the immediate situation and then review the issue and your actions with your manager. Be prepared to answer a follow-up question about what you would do differently next time.

"Recently, my manager was away on vacation and asked me to fill in for them. A conflict arose between our team and another department that demanded an immediate resolution. The manager from the other department insisted we do what they wanted since our manager was not available. Knowing this was not the best solution, I presented an alternative and recommended that we discuss this with the senior leadership team to get their input. The other manager agreed. Working with senior leaders, we developed a compromise that resolved the conflict. When my manager returned from vacation, I briefed them on the incident, and they agreed I had acted appropriately."

19. When was the last occasion you asked for direct feedback from your manager?

The Morningstar interviewer will ask this question to separate you from most applicants because many professionals don't ever seek feedback from their supervisors. Interviewers prefer candidates who constantly seek feedback so they can immediately correct any deficiencies they may have or incorrect actions they are taking. The best professionals know the only way to get better news is to engage their colleagues for feedback and suggestions.

Requesting feedback from the people you work with shows your desire to improve. Most employees avoid receiving feedback, fearing that it will be negative. By actively seeking it, you demonstrate courage, a willingness to be open to criticism, and the initiative to improve. Describe a time you felt you didn't complete a task properly and sought feedback to correct your process so you'd do better next time.

"I have found that one of the best ways to improve myself is to continually seek feedback from the people I work with. My colleagues and management team have perspectives I don't and can spot weaknesses I need to work on to improve. Therefore, I am constantly asking them about my performance. I also ask them for any suggestions they have and resources I can use to improve my skills and expertise. I do this continuously, and it has been very valuable."

20. Why did you choose to interview with Morningstar rather than with others in our industry?

You should anticipate being asked this question in every interview. Employers want to know why you chose to interview with their specific company. They prefer to hire employers who are passionate about their work and the organization. This question is also meant to determine how much research you have done about Morningstar.

If you expect this question during every interview, you can be prepared to answer it based on your research of Morningstar beforehand. Mention the company's recent achievements, business prospects, or work culture. You may also want to refer to Morningstar's challenges and how you can help them address these based on your skills and experience.

"One of the reasons I chose to interview with Morningstar is that my research indicated you are a leader in the financial industry. The products and services you provide have been developed through the innovation and creativity of your staff. As the financial industry pivots towards new technologies, I believe I can help you maintain this leadership position utilizing my information security skills and experience."

21. Working as a data analyst gives you a unique perspective on the data and the tools used while working with that data. Have you ever recommended a change to any of the data processes or tools used? Did anything result from your recommendation?

Hiring managers would like to see that you are confident in your knowledge and experiences as a data analyst and would take the initiative to recommend a change that would benefit Morningstar. Organizations hire candidates who can not only do the job but also bring new processes and procedures into the organization to help them save money, make money, or save time. Demonstrating your ability to do this during the interview will increase your chances of being offered the job at Morningstar.

When sharing your recommendation, include as many details as possible, particularly why you made it. Do not hesitate to share a recommended change that was not implemented. It shows your ability to take the initiative and continually consider process improvement. You can use the STAR format to frame your answer since this is a behavioral question.

"I believe data analysts in non-technical departments are usually the most familiar with the company's data. However, I have worked in companies where data was accessible to several people who were not in an analyst role. This caused confusion over the interpretation of the data. While data dictionaries can be helpful in these situations, I believe it provides a limited explanation. I recommended that those in non-analytical jobs rely on data analysts for data access. This ensured that data was not misinterpreted, which could negatively affect the strategies being created. I built a case by identifying examples of when data was misinterpreted. The company implemented my recommendation and was even willing to hire more data analysts to ensure that there were enough resources to execute my plan."

22. Can you describe the largest data set you had to work with from a past project? How many rows/entries and columns/variables did the data set include, and what kind of data was included—financial, marketing, operational, etc.?

Many hiring managers look for data analysts who can deal with massive data sets with a large number of variables and rows. This requires skills such as organization and the ability to see both the big picture and the details of a project. Morningstar hiring managers will look for these skills in data analysts.

This question is relatively straightforward, and you should not feel compelled to review details about the background of the project and any processes you might have gone through. The Morningstar interviewer is interested in the size and type of data when asking questions like this. Your answer gives them an idea of the scope of projects you have experience with and are comfortable working on.

"The largest data set I worked with was built for a corporate strategy project that required the combined efforts of various departments. This data set had over a million records and 500-600 variables. Included in this data set were marketing and operational data that was eventually loaded into an analytical tool for exploratory analysis. Is this similar to the data sets I will be working with here at Morningstar?"

23. What tools/software do you have experience using in each phase of a data analysis project—from cleaning/preparing data to data exploration to the final presentation?

Data analysts should have experience with various tools as they work with the data and build their analyses. The Morningstar hiring managers will understand that an analyst may use one tool for multiple phases. They also want to learn if your tools are the same ones their data analytics team uses. This indicates that you will come up to speed quickly and begin contributing to the organization's objectives.

If you have experience with the popular tools used in analyzing data, do not hesitate to share it. Highlight your expertise with a particular tool that Morningstar's data team uses to demonstrate your fit with the organization. You can find this out during your pre-interview research and by speaking with current and former Morningstar data analytics team members. If you have used multiple tools for a particular phase throughout your career, communicate that because it showcases your breadth of experiences.

"Throughout my career as a data analyst, I have been fortunate to have opportunities to strengthen my skills using many tools. In the data cleaning or preparation phase, in most cases, I have used Microsoft Excel, and depending on the complexities of the datasets, Microsoft Access if the need arises. I have also used these tools for the data exploration phase. In this phase, I have used several other tools to extract learnings from the data, including statistical programs such as SAS and SPSS and analytical tools such as Tableau and Cognos Analytics. I have also used Tableau and Power BI to present my findings through data visualizations in a dashboard format. In addition, Excel and PowerPoint are some of the more basic tools I will use to build presentations for Morningstar internal clients."

24. Considering all the phases of data analysis, what tools/software work the best for you or do you feel the most comfortable using, and why?

Over a data analyst's career, they have likely had exposure, training, and experiences using different tools, and over time, they begin establishing preferences for specific ones. However, employees' options for data analysis tools are limited to what Morningstar has already chosen. If you have experience working at different companies, you are more likely to have exposure to a variety of analytical tools. This question aims to understand which tools you are comfortable with and not necessarily the number of different tools you have used.

This question may seem similar to one you were asked earlier in the interview. Morningstar interviewers will ask several questions about the same topic during an interview to ensure that your answers are consistent. They also use this process to explore a topic from different perspectives. If you recognize this during the Morningstar interview, try to answer similar questions similarly, providing additional details in the subsequent answers.

"As a data analyst, I find basic tools such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access work the best for me. I feel the most comfortable using these tools because they are the ones I have the most experience using since most--if not all companies--have them readily available. Although most consider these tools basic, I believe with the right training and knowledge, you can accomplish many things using them."

25. It is likely you will work with Morningstar stakeholders who may have little knowledge of data and databases. Describe a time you found yourself working in a situation such as this—what specific challenges did you face, and how did you deal with them?

As with any job, communication is a crucial skill for data analysts. However, communicating with co-workers from multiple departments across Morningstar takes different skills than communicating with co-workers within your department. It may require less technical terms and more time listening to their questions and concerns, which sometimes requires patience.

The experience you share should reflect how you adapted to working with people who may not have spoken your "language." Many times, this requires you to have the ability to look at a situation from different perspectives and beyond just your own. You can demonstrate this skill by answering the Morningstar interview questions using simple, easy-to-understand language and avoiding acronyms, jargon, and technical language. The exception is if the Morningstar interviewer is your hiring manager or a prospective colleague.

"I have run into this situation frequently as a data analyst. In most cases, stakeholders want answers to questions that are not available because of the limitations of the data that is collected or of the database structure. In these situations, I worked with the stakeholder to develop an analysis to answer related questions that may give them an answer as close to what they are looking for as possible. In the process, I tried to offer them a basic understanding of the data available and the database structures--nothing too detailed as I thought this might confuse them. In the long term, we developed a project to investigate whether we can collect the unavailable data. This ensured them that I understood their needs and was willing to work hard at trying to get them what they needed."

26. Describe an analysis project you worked on where the results were surprising to you and others involved in the project.

When launching an analysis, most analysts have a prediction of the outcome based on information from past projects. However, there will likely be times when the results are unexpected. The Morningstar interviewer seeks to understand how you react to unexpected results. They hope to learn that you keep an open mind and use this type of situation as a learning experience or an opportunity to explore a new track for your analysis.

Your answer to this question will give the Morningstar interviewer a glimpse of the type of analytical projects you have worked on and your enthusiasm for them. When describing your project, show some passion for the lessons you drew from it. Also, consider including what action you and the other stakeholders took due to the unexpected results.

"In my experience working with customer profiling projects, analyses usually do not show surprising results, particularly for established brands. However, while conducting one routine analysis, I was able to identify a customer subsegment that had the potential to provide additional value to the company if it was offered the right product and services with a relevant message. It felt as if I struck gold--the opportunity to add value to a subset of an existing customer base through new products and services was invaluable. It was surprising to everyone involved that we could identify a subsegment from this customer base. From there, we began strategizing with product development and brand managers to develop a plan for this new subsegment."

27. Do you have any experience working with statistical models? If so, please describe in as much detail as possible the statistical model you worked on and your role in creating it or using it to answer a business question.

Not all data analysts will have experience working with statistical models. Interviewers, in most cases, will only ask this question if the job description mentioned statistical modeling. Having read your resume, they may be aware of your experience or lack of experience with statistical models and are asking the question to either confirm this or have you describe what you know about this topic and how you will be able to learn to use it when hired by Morningstar.

If you are surprised by this question, be upfront about your experience. If you have not had any direct involvement with statistical modeling work, highlight what you know about it and any training or exposure you have had to it. The Morningstar interviewer will appreciate your honesty and willingness to learn a new skill. Remember, statistical modeling work can include building, using, or maintaining it.

"As a data analyst, I have had experience working with statisticians to help them build their models. Although I do not have direct experience building the model, I have aided them by analyzing data and ensuring they have access to the appropriate data. The model was built to help the sales team identify customers most likely to purchase additional products and services and when they would be most apt to make that decision. This model increased the sales team's efficiency so we didn't waste time with customers who were unlikely to purchase again in the near future. I aided in identifying the appropriate variables used in the model and evaluating the efficacy of the model upon completion."

28. Morningstar, like most large companies, houses its data in multiple data warehouses. In one of your more complex analytical projects, how many data warehouses did you have to query to gather all the required data?

The technical complexity of your work as a data analyst may vary depending on the size of the companies you have previously worked for. Strong technical skills are an important attribute of a data analyst's background. Having experience retrieving data from multiple data warehouses demonstrates your understanding of databases, data structures, and programming languages.

The Morningstar interviewer uses this question to determine how you perform the duties required by this job. This specific question gives them an idea of the scope of work you've done in your previous roles. Keep your answer brief and to the point when responding to operational questions. The interviewer will ask you a follow-up question if they need additional information.

"In the larger companies I have worked at as a data analyst, I have had to work with multiple data warehouses to retrieve the appropriate data. For a particular corporate-wide initiative, I queried against four different data warehouses. Once I retrieved the records and variables I needed, I built one large dataset I worked off of to complete my analysis. Does this sound similar to how Morningstar manages its data?"

29. Querying, cleaning/preparing, analyzing, presenting, and communicating findings are some of the main steps in a data analysis project. Of those, which ONE step do you enjoy most?

Interviewers at Morningstar will ask this question for several reasons. The first is to determine if you are familiar with each step in the data analysis process. The second is to determine which of these you favor. This question may indicate that the data analytics team delegates specific processes to individual members of the team based on their aptitude, skills, and preferences.

It is acceptable to prefer completing one task over another. However, you would be expected to have experience performing all these tasks. Avoid showing aversion to any of the steps in the process when indicating which you enjoy performing most, including explaining why it's your favorite. This will illustrate your strengths to the interviewer.

"If I had to select one step as a favorite, it would be analyzing the data. I enjoy developing a variety of hypotheses and searching for evidence to support or refute them. While following my analytical plan, I have stumbled upon interesting and unexpected information from the data. I believe there is always something to be learned from the data, whether big or small, that will help me in future analytical projects here at Morningstar."

30. Describe a project where the stakeholders' questions couldn't be answered due to data limitations. What advice, if any, did you give the stakeholders?

At some point, data analysts will encounter data obstacles when conducting analytical projects. Hiring managers at Morningstar want to know how you would deal with these situations, particularly when working directly with stakeholders who may not have a strong understanding of the data. Your answer to this question will also reflect your ability to problem-solve.

Since this behavioral question asks you to describe a situation you encountered in a previous job, you can structure your answer using the STAR format. Describe the situation, talk about the task you were asked to complete, provide an overview of your actions, and then talk about the results you attained. Your answer should demonstrate your tact and diplomacy when communicating with other project stakeholders. This is important since the project you worked on did not provide the information they were looking for.

"Years ago, I worked at a company where the executives wanted to initiate a customer segmentation project. However, the data collected in the customer data warehouse was not robust enough to create a meaningful customer segmentation plan. Understanding the importance of this project to the stakeholders, I was able to work with the data warehouse team to outline a handful of data initiatives that would move us closer to a customer segmentation plan. By the time I moved on from this company, the initiatives were progressing well towards its ultimate goal."

31. Think of a project where you worked with a relatively large data set. Describe the process you took to gather and prepare the data for analysis.

Working with large data sets can present challenges, so the Morningstar hiring managers want to know that you have the experience to handle them if they arise. They want to ensure you have encountered challenges in your previous work and learn about the steps you took to overcome them. They are also interested in whether the project you worked on and the impediments you encountered are similar to the ones the Morningstar data analyst team handles.

Walk the interviewer through the project you plan to present step-by-step. Share any challenges you might have faced and how you successfully overcame them. If you have been fortunate enough not to face any challenges, stick to the details of your project and the steps you took while working with the data.

"I have had experience working with large data sets delivered to us from outside vendors. These data sets were often survey responses for marketing research projects with large sample sizes. Upon receiving the data set, I checked the validity of the data by running predetermined frequencies and queries. Doing so would often reveal issues, such as missing data, data type issues, and errors in skip patterns within the survey. I would work with the vendor to correct these issues before beginning further analyses of the data. Once we resolved the data issues, I would load the data into a data analysis tool to begin my analysis. Sometimes I would work with a data engineer to load it into an appropriate tool that could handle the size of the data set."

32. Talk about your knowledge of statistics and how you used this knowledge in your analytical projects.

At the minimum, data analysts should have knowledge and experience using basic statistics, including mean, median, and mode, and be able to conduct significance testing. A more advanced level of statistics may be required, but this would be specified in the job description. Data analysts should not only know how to calculate these basic statistics but should also be able to interpret them about the business. The Morningstar interviewer will ask your question to confirm all of this and determine your level of expertise.

You may be tempted to provide the Morningstar interviewer with a great deal of information about your ability to use statistics. This may result in a long, drawn-out answer. Try to avoid this. When you are asked about your capabilities, keep your answers brief and to the point. The interviewer will use follow-up questions to explore this topic in more detail if they want to.

"I use statistics regularly as a data analyst. For the majority of my work, I calculate basic statistics such as the mean and standard variances. I also conduct significance testing frequently to determine if measurement differences between two populations are statistically significant and worth highlighting for further investigation. In addition, for a few projects, I have worked with correlation coefficients to determine the relationship between two variables in a data set."

33. What scripting language have you used in your past projects as a data analyst? Which are you most confident using?

The interviewer will ask this question to determine if the scripting languages you use are similar to those used by Morningstar's data analytics organization. This will indicate that you can be onboarded quickly and come up to speed with their processes and procedures rapidly. The sooner you contribute to Morningstar's objectives, the more valuable you are as an employee. This will set you apart from other candidates.

Companies like Morningstar work with multiple scripting languages, so knowing more than one is an asset. If you do not have extensive experience programming with the main language used by the company, highlight your eagerness to learn or strengthen your skills with new scripting languages. Many find that, at a general level, their experience with one scripting language helps them learn new ones.

"I have primarily used SQL in my projects as a data analyst and am the most comfortable with it. I have had experience executing some basic Python commands and have made it my goal to receive additional training for it. I have found that my extensive SQL experience has helped me learn Python more easily."

34. How many years of SQL programming do you have? In your most recent position as a data analyst, for what percentage of your analytical projects did you utilize your SQL skills?

SQL is the most well-known scripting language, and many believe it is the easiest to learn. To be marketable, data analysts should learn SQL and gain experience using it. This question is straightforward--the Morningstar interviewer wants to gauge the strength of your SQL programming skills.

Even though this information is probably available in your resume, the Morningstar interviewer asks the question to confirm what they've already read. If you only have a few years of experience, emphasize how your skills have grown with each subsequent project. You can provide examples of projects you worked on using your SQL programming skills to illustrate your answer.

"I have seven years of experience programming with SQL. Over this period, I have used SQL for over 90% of my projects. At times, I have used multiple languages for different phases of projects, but find SQL to be the language I turn to the most."

35. There are many analytical tools data analysts can include in their toolbox. Excel continues to be a common tool for many. Which Excel functions do you have experience using? Describe in detail how you used Excel for one of your analytical projects.

Excel is by far the most utilized tool in the field of data analytics. Interviewers will ask you several questions about this topic to determine your expertise using this tool. They are interested in your expertise in both the basic functionality of Excel and your ability to use more advanced techniques within the tool. They expect you to provide examples for both of these.

If you are an Excel expert, it would be challenging to list all the functions you have experience using. Instead, concentrate on highlighting the more difficult ones, particularly statistical functions. If you have experience utilizing the more challenging functions, Morningstar hiring managers will presume you have experience using the more basic ones. Be sure to highlight your pivot table skills and ability to create graphs in Excel. If you have not attained these skills yet, investing in training to learn them is worthwhile.

"As a data analyst, I have used Excel almost daily. It has become an essential tool in all phases of my analytical projects. I have used Pivot tables to check and clean data sets and analyze them. I have also used statistical functions to calculate standard deviations, correlation coefficients, percentiles, and quartiles in the analysis phase. In addition, I have used the graphing function in Excel to develop visual summaries of the data. For example, I regularly worked on customer satisfaction surveys and received raw data from external vendors. I would take this data, bring it into Excel, and use sort functions and pivot tables to verify the data was clean and loaded correctly. As part of the analysis phase, I always worked with pivot tables to segment the data. In addition, if the analysis called for it, I used the statistical functions I mentioned earlier. Building tables and graphs in Excel allowed me to tie my analyses together visually. I could often complete the tasks in one file, making everything I worked on easily accessible."

36. Do you think creativity is a good skill for a Morningstar data analyst, and if so, how have you used it in your career?

When considering a data analyst's skills, creativity is not top of mind for many. Instead, plenty of people would consider technical and math or statistical skills to be at the top of the list. However, data analysts use their creativity in various ways, including developing analytical plans, finding solutions to data issues, and presenting data visually. Creativity is about 'thinking outside the box.' Be prepared to share in more detail how you used your creativity for a specific project.

You'll note that this is a two-part question. One of the most important skills you can use during an interview is active listening. Listen carefully to the interviewer's question and allow them to finish before you begin to formulate your answer. Interviewers are not only interested in your answers to the questions, but they want to make sure that you answer each part of the question. Doing so demonstrates your attention to detail and ability to communicate effectively.

"As a Morningstar data analyst, there is no question that creativity is an important skill to have. Creativity has gotten me past the data roadblocks in past projects. It has also helped me find new and interesting ways to present analytical results to clients. More specifically, creativity is important when validating data before analyzing it. There have been a few times when I began analyzing data only to find there were some 'abnormal' results. I stepped back and created new and 'non-routine' data checks to identify issues causing the atypical results."

37. What experience, if any, do you have with web analytics? If you have experience, what tools have you used?

An increasing number of data analyst job postings include web analytics experience as a preferred or required skill. At times, companies like Morningstar may choose to separate the roles. Still, in many cases, they prefer data analysts to have a holistic view and, therefore, choose to integrate web analytics into their job description.

When sharing your web analytics experience, give some detail on the measurements you were tracking and the general scope of the project. If you don't have a specific experience with web analytics, convey this to the Morningstar interviewer and then discuss how you would go about learning about this practice. Interviewers can immediately recognize if you're trying to bluff your way through a question and prefer you to answer honestly.

"Using Google Analytics, I have used web analytics as part of a larger marketing campaign evaluation project. The web metrics I tracked included open rate, click-through rate, average time on page, and conversion rate. In addition, I built funnels within Google Analytics to measure where visitors were dropping off before converting. By tracking these web metrics in conjunction with non-web marketing efforts, I was able to recommend the best marketing channels to use to target specific segments."

38. As a data analyst, what skills do you believe are important for working on a Morningstar team with people with different backgrounds and varying roles and responsibilities?

As a data analyst, you will likely have opportunities to work on cross-functional teams. Members of these teams have various backgrounds, differing priorities, and varied skill sets. Of course, there are general skills that would be helpful in any team environment. However, Morningstar hiring managers would be interested in skills that may be somewhat unique to a data analyst facing a team environment. If possible, think of skills that go beyond basic ones like communication.

If the Morningstar interviewer is your hiring manager, they already know about the technical skills needed for this role. Therefore, your answer should address soft skills such as communication, creativity, adaptability, and decision-making. Your answer should demonstrate to them that you understand that the job of a data analyst is more complex than just crunching numbers.

"I believe data analysts have the unique challenge of communicating technical and statistical concepts that many others on the Morningstar team may not understand. Data analysts must be able to explain these concepts in a way that is easily understood by everyone. To successfully do so, data analysts need to have the ability to apply these technical and statistical concepts to the business--specifically to those parts of the business represented on your team. This is possible when data analysts have a more holistic view of the company."

39. How would you rate your writing skills? How do you use this form of communication as a data analyst?

Although data analysts spend much of their time working with numbers, strong writing skills are equally important. They need to interpret the results of their analyses into words to present to stakeholders. Data analysts should be able to tell the 'story' with words and numbers. The Morningstar interviewer will ask this question to understand your communication skills. Your answer will provide them with an example of how you communicate.

If you have not had many opportunities to use or strengthen your writing skills, state the extra measures you are willing to take to change that, whether through training or by proactively seeking opportunities. If you already have strong writing skills, offer to provide the Morningstar interviewer with an example of this using a document you created in one of your previous roles. Make sure to purge any proprietary information before sending this to the interviewer.

"I have a high level of confidence in my writing skills. As a data analyst, I have had many opportunities to strengthen these skills. Whether through email communications with team members or more formal analytical summaries, I find I can get my point across clearly and concisely. I continuously look for ways to exercise and strengthen my writing skills."

40. In your opinion, what soft skills do you believe will be most important in your role as a Morningstar data analyst, and why?

Soft skills are personal attributes that help people work well with others and perform their jobs at a high level. Many refer to these skills as 'non-tangible' and 'non-technical.' As with most jobs, data analysts must have strong soft skills because they do not work in isolation. Therefore their work habits and performance affect others on their team. Morningstar interviewers want to know that you understand the importance of these types of skills.

Knowing the soft skills related to a data analyst job is critical to performing well during the interview at Morningstar. You can find this information by searching for it on the internet. Some common soft skills employers prefer are interpersonal communication, leadership, creativeness, innovation, adaptability, flexibility, and the willingness to learn. Use your past work experiences to support why you find a particular soft skill important, and try to include how you have developed it over time.

"Personally, as a data analyst, I have found leadership skills to be one of the most important soft skills. In my experience, exercising leadership skills does not require a person to be in a managerial role. In a team environment, leadership skills are displayed when you take the initiative to guide and help others. In many cases, data analysts are in a position where they need to educate others on the data and how to interpret it. I have found it crucial to speak up and become an expert in interpreting the company data. Being able to take the initiative has become easier for me over time. I have strengthened this skill by educating myself and finding more opportunities to share my learnings with my team. As a result, I became more confident and built myself up as a leader in this area amongst my team members."

Morningstar Data Analyst Interview Guide

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Getting ready for an Data Analyst interview at Morningstar? The Morningstar Data Analyst interview span across 10 to 12 different question topics. In preparing for the interview:

• Know what skills are necessary for Morningstar Data Analyst roles.
• Gain insights into the Data Analyst interview process at Morningstar.
• Practice real Morningstar Data Analyst interview questions.

Interview Query regularly analyzes interview experience data, and we've used that data to produce this guide, with sample interview questions and an overview of the Morningstar Data Analyst interview.

Morningstar Data Analyst Salary

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Morningstar Data Analyst Interview Process

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

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Morningstar Data Analyst Interview Questions

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