First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence Interview Guide

Getting ready for a Business Intelligence interview at First American Financial Corporation? The First American Business Intelligence interview process typically spans multiple question topics and evaluates skills in areas like SQL, report development and optimization (especially with SSRS), data warehousing, ETL pipeline design, and presenting actionable insights to business stakeholders. Interview preparation is critical for this role, as candidates are expected to demonstrate technical expertise in querying and transforming financial and operational data, as well as communicate findings effectively within a data-driven, compliance-focused environment.

In preparing for the interview, you should:

• Understand the core skills necessary for Business Intelligence positions at First American.
• Gain insights into First American’s Business Intelligence interview structure and process.
• Practice real First American Business Intelligence interview questions to sharpen your performance.

At Interview Query, we regularly analyze interview experience data shared by candidates. This guide uses that data to provide an overview of the First American Business Intelligence interview process, along with sample questions and preparation tips tailored to help you succeed.

First American Financial Corporation is a leading provider of financial services focused on title insurance, closing and settlement services, property records, valuation products, home warranty, property and casualty insurance, and banking and trust services. Serving homebuyers, real estate professionals, loan originators, and commercial property stakeholders, First American delivers tailored solutions for residential and commercial property transactions. With roots dating back to 1889, the company operates through direct channels and a network of agents across the U.S. and internationally. As a Business Intelligence professional, you will support data-driven decision-making that enhances operational efficiency and customer service across these diverse offerings.

As a Business Intelligence professional at First American Financial Corporation, you will be responsible for transforming complex data into actionable insights that support key business decisions. Your core tasks include developing and maintaining data models, dashboards, and reports to monitor performance across various business units such as finance, operations, and customer service. You will collaborate with stakeholders to identify data-driven opportunities for process improvement, risk mitigation, and strategic growth. By providing clear analytics and recommendations, you help drive efficiency and support the company’s mission to deliver innovative and reliable financial services.

2.1 Stage 1: Application & Resume Review

The initial step involves a comprehensive screening of your application and resume by the recruiting team. They look for clear evidence of business intelligence expertise, with an emphasis on SQL proficiency, experience with SSRS, and performance tuning. Familiarity with data visualization, reporting, and presenting complex insights is also valued. Tailor your resume to highlight direct experience with BI tools, ETL processes, and analytical problem-solving in a business context.

2.2 Stage 2: Recruiter Screen

This round is typically a phone or video conversation with a recruiter or HR representative. The focus is on your motivations for joining First American Financial Corporation, your understanding of business intelligence, and your career trajectory. Expect questions about your background, communication skills, and ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Preparation should include concise, confident summaries of your experience and reasons for pursuing this opportunity.

2.3 Stage 3: Technical/Case/Skills Round

Led by BI team members or technical leads, this stage delves into your technical skills. You can expect scenario-based and direct questions on SSRS, SQL query writing, and performance tuning. Be ready to discuss data modeling, ETL pipeline design, and troubleshooting complex reporting issues. Demonstrating your ability to optimize queries, handle large datasets, and deliver actionable insights through clear presentations is crucial. Practice articulating your problem-solving approach and decision-making in real-world BI scenarios.

2.4 Stage 4: Behavioral Interview

This interview is conducted by managers or cross-functional leaders and explores your interpersonal skills, adaptability, and collaboration style. You may be asked to describe how you overcome challenges in data projects, communicate findings to diverse audiences, and ensure data quality across reporting systems. Prepare to share examples of how you have worked with stakeholders, managed competing priorities, and contributed to team success in previous BI roles.

2.5 Stage 5: Final/Onsite Round

The final stage may be a panel or series of interviews with senior leaders, including the analytics director or BI manager. This round often combines technical and behavioral elements, with a focus on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and deep-dive discussions on SQL and SSRS performance. You might also be asked to present a case study, walk through a complex dashboard, or analyze a challenging data problem. Preparation should include a portfolio of relevant BI projects and a readiness to discuss your impact on business outcomes.

2.6 Stage 6: Offer & Negotiation

Once you clear all interview rounds, the recruiter will reach out with an offer. This step includes discussions on compensation, benefits, start date, and team placement. Approach negotiations with a clear understanding of your market value and be prepared to articulate your unique strengths that align with the company’s BI needs.

2.7 Average Timeline

The typical interview process for a Business Intelligence role at First American Financial Corporation spans 2-4 weeks from initial application to offer. Fast-track candidates with highly relevant BI and SQL experience may complete the process in as little as 1-2 weeks, while the standard pace involves a few days between each round to accommodate scheduling and feedback. Technical rounds are often scheduled close together, and managerial interviews may require more coordination.

Next, let’s break down the types of interview questions you can expect throughout these stages.

3.1 SQL & Data Manipulation

Expect questions that test your ability to write efficient SQL queries, handle large datasets, and resolve ETL issues. Focus on demonstrating strong command of joins, aggregations, and troubleshooting data inconsistencies.

3.1.1 Write a SQL query to count transactions filtered by several criterias.
Break down the requirements, identify necessary filters, and use WHERE clauses to count transactions. Clarify assumptions about the criteria and ensure your query is optimized for performance.

3.1.2 Write a query to get the current salary for each employee after an ETL error.
Discuss how to use window functions or subqueries to identify and resolve data discrepancies, ensuring only the most recent salary record is selected.

3.1.3 Write a query to compute the average time it takes for each user to respond to the previous system message.
Explain how to use window functions to align messages, calculate time differences, and aggregate by user. Address handling missing or out-of-order data.

3.1.4 Write a query to create a table for storing company data.
Describe how to define table schema, select appropriate data types, and ensure scalability for future company data needs.

3.1.5 Write a query to modify a billion rows efficiently.
Talk about batching, indexing, and using bulk update strategies to ensure performance and data integrity during large-scale modifications.

3.2 Data Warehousing & ETL

These questions assess your ability to design, optimize, and troubleshoot data pipelines and warehouses. Emphasize scalable architecture, data quality, and integration of diverse sources.

3.2.1 Design a data warehouse for a new online retailer.
Outline the core components, schema, and ETL strategy. Address scalability, data integrity, and reporting needs.

3.2.2 How would you design a data warehouse for a e-commerce company looking to expand internationally?
Discuss handling localization, multi-currency, and regulatory requirements. Recommend partitioning and modular ETL pipelines for flexibility.

3.2.3 Ensuring data quality within a complex ETL setup.
Describe your approach to monitoring, validation, and error handling within ETL workflows. Emphasize automated checks and reconciliation processes.

3.2.4 Let's say that you're in charge of getting payment data into your internal data warehouse.
Explain steps for ingestion, cleaning, and transformation. Highlight strategies for maintaining data consistency and auditability.

3.2.5 Design a scalable ETL pipeline for ingesting heterogeneous data from Skyscanner's partners.
Focus on modular design, schema mapping, and error handling to ensure reliable integration of diverse partner data.

3.3 Business Analytics & Experimentation

Here, you’ll be tested on your ability to measure success, analyze experiments, and translate business needs into actionable insights. Prioritize statistical rigor and clear communication.

3.3.1 The role of A/B testing in measuring the success rate of an analytics experiment.
Discuss establishing control and treatment groups, selecting appropriate metrics, and interpreting statistical significance.

3.3.2 An A/B test is being conducted to determine which version of a payment processing page leads to higher conversion rates. You’re responsible for analyzing the results. How would you set up and analyze this A/B test? Additionally, how would you use bootstrap sampling to calculate the confidence intervals for the test results, ensuring your conclusions are statistically valid?
Explain your analysis workflow, including data cleaning, hypothesis testing, and bootstrapping for confidence intervals.

3.3.3 How to model merchant acquisition in a new market?
Describe using segmentation, predictive modeling, and KPIs to measure and optimize acquisition strategy.

3.3.4 How would you evaluate whether a 50% rider discount promotion is a good or bad idea? What metrics would you track?
Lay out the experiment design, key metrics (e.g., retention, revenue, churn), and methods for post-campaign analysis.

3.3.5 Designing a dynamic sales dashboard to track McDonald's branch performance in real-time.
Explain dashboard requirements, real-time data integration, and visualization choices for actionable insights.

3.4 Data Presentation & Communication

These questions focus on your ability to present complex insights to stakeholders, ensuring clarity and accessibility for non-technical audiences. Highlight storytelling and visualization skills.

3.4.1 How to present complex data insights with clarity and adaptability tailored to a specific audience.
Discuss structuring presentations, using visual aids, and adapting messaging to audience expertise.

3.4.2 Making data-driven insights actionable for those without technical expertise.
Describe breaking down technical concepts, using analogies, and focusing on business impact.

3.4.3 Demystifying data for non-technical users through visualization and clear communication.
Explain visualization choices, interactive dashboards, and concise summaries tailored for decision-makers.

3.4.4 How would you visualize data with long tail text to effectively convey its characteristics and help extract actionable insights?
Discuss visualization techniques, aggregation methods, and storytelling for outlier-driven datasets.

3.4.5 What kind of analysis would you conduct to recommend changes to the UI?
Describe user journey mapping, cohort analysis, and prioritizing actionable recommendations.

3.5 Behavioral Questions

3.5.1 Tell me about a time you used data to make a decision and the impact it had on business outcomes.
Share a specific scenario where your analysis led to actionable recommendations or changes, focusing on your thought process and the measurable results.

3.5.2 Describe a challenging data project and how you handled it.
Discuss the complexity, obstacles faced, and the steps you took to overcome them, emphasizing resilience and problem-solving.

3.5.3 How do you handle unclear requirements or ambiguity in data requests?
Explain your approach to clarifying objectives, asking targeted questions, and iteratively refining deliverables.

3.5.4 Give an example of when you resolved a conflict with someone on the job—especially someone you didn’t particularly get along with.
Describe the situation, your communication strategy, and how you reached a constructive resolution.

3.5.5 Talk about a time when you had trouble communicating with stakeholders. How were you able to overcome it?
Highlight techniques for translating technical findings, adapting communication style, and building stakeholder trust.

3.5.6 Tell me about a situation where you had to influence stakeholders without formal authority to adopt a data-driven recommendation.
Share how you built credibility, presented your case, and navigated organizational dynamics.

3.5.7 Describe how you prioritized backlog items when multiple executives marked their requests as “high priority.”
Discuss frameworks or decision criteria you used to balance competing demands and maintain project momentum.

3.5.8 Give an example of automating recurrent data-quality checks so the same dirty-data crisis doesn’t happen again.
Explain the tools or scripts you implemented, the impact on team efficiency, and how you ensured ongoing data reliability.

3.5.9 How comfortable are you presenting your insights to senior leadership?
Share examples that demonstrate your confidence, adaptability, and ability to tailor complex findings for executive audiences.

3.5.10 Tell me about a time you exceeded expectations during a project.
Describe the initiative you took, how you identified and addressed a gap, and the positive outcome for your team or business.

4.1 Company-specific tips:

Familiarize yourself with First American Financial Corporation’s suite of financial services, including title insurance, settlement services, property valuation, and home warranty products. Understanding how data flows through these business units will help you contextualize BI questions and demonstrate your ability to build solutions that drive operational efficiency.

Research recent trends in real estate, mortgage lending, and property transactions, as these are central to First American’s business. Be prepared to discuss how BI can support compliance, risk mitigation, and customer experience within these domains.

Review the company’s commitment to data integrity and regulatory compliance. Show that you appreciate the importance of secure, accurate reporting in the financial services sector and are ready to uphold these standards in your BI work.

Stay current with First American’s digital transformation initiatives, such as investments in analytics platforms and modernization of legacy systems. Reference these efforts when discussing how you would contribute to scalable, future-proof BI solutions.

4.2 Role-specific tips:

4.2.1 Master SQL for complex financial and operational queries. Practice writing SQL queries that aggregate and filter large transaction datasets, resolve ETL errors, and efficiently modify billions of rows. Be ready to explain how you optimize query performance, use window functions for time-series analysis, and ensure accuracy when dealing with sensitive financial data.

4.2.2 Demonstrate expertise in SSRS report development and tuning. Showcase your experience creating and optimizing SSRS reports for diverse stakeholders. Discuss your approach to designing intuitive dashboards, improving report performance, and troubleshooting issues in production environments. Emphasize how you ensure reports are actionable and aligned with business objectives.

4.2.3 Articulate your approach to data warehousing and scalable ETL pipeline design. Prepare to outline the architecture of a data warehouse, including schema design, modular ETL pipelines, and strategies for integrating heterogeneous data sources. Explain how you maintain data quality, handle localization and regulatory requirements, and support robust analytics for business growth.

4.2.4 Communicate actionable insights to non-technical stakeholders. Practice presenting complex analyses with clarity and adaptability. Use storytelling, visualizations, and analogies to translate technical findings into business impact. Show how you tailor your message for executives, frontline staff, or cross-functional teams, ensuring insights are both understood and actionable.

4.2.5 Apply statistical rigor to business analytics and experimentation. Demonstrate your ability to design and analyze A/B tests, calculate confidence intervals using bootstrap sampling, and model business scenarios such as merchant acquisition or promotional impact. Emphasize how you select appropriate metrics, validate results, and deliver recommendations that drive measurable outcomes.

4.2.6 Highlight your experience with automating data quality checks and maintaining reliability. Share examples of implementing automated validation, reconciliation, and error-handling scripts within ETL workflows. Illustrate how these solutions prevent recurring data issues and enhance trust in BI outputs across the organization.

4.2.7 Showcase your stakeholder management and prioritization skills. Prepare stories that illustrate how you clarify ambiguous requirements, balance competing priorities, and influence decision-makers without formal authority. Explain your frameworks for backlog management and how you ensure timely delivery of high-impact BI projects.

4.2.8 Present a portfolio of BI projects that demonstrate business impact. Bring examples of dashboards, reports, and analytics solutions you’ve built that improved efficiency, reduced risk, or supported strategic decisions. Be ready to discuss the challenges faced, your problem-solving approach, and the quantifiable results achieved.

4.2.9 Exhibit confidence in presenting insights to senior leadership. Practice summarizing key findings, recommending actionable next steps, and adapting your communication style for executive audiences. Share how your insights have influenced strategic decisions and contributed to business success at previous organizations.

4.2.10 Demonstrate initiative and a track record of exceeding expectations. Prepare to discuss times when you identified gaps, automated repetitive tasks, or delivered solutions beyond the original scope. Highlight your proactive approach and the positive impact your contributions had on business outcomes.

5.1 “How hard is the First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence interview?”
The First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence interview is considered moderately challenging, especially for candidates without prior experience in financial services or enterprise BI environments. The process tests not only your technical skills in SQL, SSRS, ETL pipeline design, and data warehousing but also your ability to communicate complex insights clearly to business stakeholders. Candidates who demonstrate both technical depth and strong business acumen tend to stand out.

5.2 “How many interview rounds does First American Financial Corporation have for Business Intelligence?”
Typically, there are five to six rounds in the First American Business Intelligence interview process. These include an initial application review, recruiter screen, technical/case round, behavioral interview, a final onsite or panel interview, and the offer/negotiation stage. In some cases, additional technical deep-dives or presentations may be required, especially for senior BI roles.

5.3 “Does First American Financial Corporation ask for take-home assignments for Business Intelligence?”
Take-home assignments are not always a standard part of the process, but they do occasionally appear, especially for roles with a heavy focus on report development or data modeling. When given, assignments often involve creating a dashboard, optimizing SQL queries, or designing an ETL process using a sample dataset relevant to First American’s business domains.

5.4 “What skills are required for the First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence?”
Key skills include advanced SQL for querying and manipulating large transactional datasets, expertise in SSRS report development and tuning, experience with data warehousing and scalable ETL pipeline design, and the ability to present actionable insights to non-technical stakeholders. Familiarity with regulatory compliance, financial data analysis, and automation of data quality checks is highly valued. Strong communication, stakeholder management, and prioritization abilities are also essential.

5.5 “How long does the First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence hiring process take?”
The typical timeline for the Business Intelligence hiring process at First American Financial Corporation is 2-4 weeks from application to offer. Highly qualified candidates may move through the process more quickly, particularly if scheduling aligns for technical and managerial interviews. The process may extend if there are multiple stakeholders involved or if additional technical assessments are required.

5.6 “What types of questions are asked in the First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence interview?”
You can expect a mix of technical and behavioral questions. Technical questions focus on SQL (including complex queries and performance tuning), SSRS report development, ETL pipeline design, and data warehousing. Case studies or scenario-based questions may test your ability to design BI solutions for financial and operational data. Behavioral questions assess your communication skills, stakeholder management, and ability to deliver insights in a compliance-focused environment.

5.7 “Does First American Financial Corporation give feedback after the Business Intelligence interview?”
Feedback is typically provided through the recruiter, especially if you reach the final stages of the process. While detailed technical feedback may be limited, you can expect high-level insights into your performance and areas for improvement. The company values transparency and aims to leave candidates with a positive impression, regardless of the outcome.

5.8 “What is the acceptance rate for First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence applicants?”
While exact acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed, the Business Intelligence role at First American Financial Corporation is competitive. The acceptance rate is estimated to be between 3-7% for qualified applicants, reflecting the company’s high standards for technical expertise and business alignment.

5.9 “Does First American Financial Corporation hire remote Business Intelligence positions?”
First American Financial Corporation does offer remote and hybrid opportunities for Business Intelligence roles, depending on the team and business unit. Some positions may require occasional in-person meetings or visits to regional offices, particularly for roles involving sensitive financial data or cross-functional collaboration. Be sure to clarify remote work expectations with your recruiter early in the process.

• Related guides:
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  • Business Intelligence interview guide
  • Top business intelligence interview tips
  • Business Intelligence case studies
  • SQL Interview Questions for Business Analysts

Ready to Ace Your Interview?

Ready to ace your First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence interview? It’s not just about knowing the technical skills—you need to think like a First American Business Intelligence professional, solve complex data problems under pressure, and connect your expertise to real business impact in a highly regulated financial environment. That’s where Interview Query comes in with company-specific learning paths, mock interviews, and curated question banks tailored toward roles at First American and similar companies.

With resources like the First American Financial Corporation Business Intelligence Interview Guide, Business Intelligence case studies, and our latest SQL Interview Questions for Business Analysts, you’ll get access to real interview questions, detailed walkthroughs, and coaching support designed to boost both your technical skills and your ability to present actionable insights to stakeholders.

Take the next step—explore more case study questions, try mock interviews, and browse targeted prep materials on Interview Query. Bookmark this guide or share it with peers prepping for similar roles. It could be the difference between applying and offering. You’ve got this!