Barclays interview questions, and the assessment center

1. Step 1

   Your application

   On Barclays' careers site. It asks you to show how you align with its Values and ways of working.

2. Step 2

   Initial assessments

   Two short interactive assessments on how you might perform at work and your preferred ways of working, on any device. Technical programs add a skills test.

3. Step 3

   Assessment center

   In person or virtual, two or three stages, including a motivational interview with a member of the leadership team.

With a member of the leadership team. Know why you want this.

1. 1

   Why Barclays?

   What a strong answer does

   Something specific about its business or people that you met, linked to your goals. Not its size. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “Why this business area at Barclays?”
   • “Where else have you applied?”
2. 2

   Why this role, given you could only apply to one?

   What a strong answer does

   Barclays allows one application a year. Show how you chose, so it reads as conviction. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “What else did you consider?”
   • “What would make you change your mind?”
3. 3

   What makes you stand out beyond your grades?

   What a strong answer does

   Barclays says it doesn't select purely on academics. Pick one activity and the result you drove. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “What would a teammate say about you?”
   • “How does that help in this role?”
4. 4

   Walk me through your resume.

   What a strong answer does

   You picked one role for the year, so the story should arrive at it. Short, in order, with a reason at every turn. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “Which line on your resume matters most?”
   • “What would you add in a year?”

Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship.

1. 5

   Tell me about a time you did the right thing when it was hard.

   What a strong answer does

   Integrity: honesty, courage, transparency and fairness. A real example with a cost to you.

   • “What would have happened if you'd stayed quiet?”
   • “Would you do it again?”
2. 6

   Tell me about a time you put someone else's needs at the center.

   What a strong answer does

   Service: empathy and humility for the people you serve. Show what you learned about them first. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “How did you know what they needed?”
   • “What did it cost you?”
3. 7

   Tell me about a time you left something better than you found it.

   What a strong answer does

   Stewardship, in Barclays' own words. Show the before, what you changed and that it lasted. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “Who carried it on after you?”
   • “What would you do next?”
4. 8

   Tell me about a time you worked with someone very different from you.

   What a strong answer does

   Respect: valuing everyone's contribution. Show how their view changed your result. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “Where did you disagree?”
   • “What did you learn from them?”

The assessment center can test technical skills for the role.

1. 9

   Walk me through the three financial statements and how they connect.

   What a strong answer does

   Trace net income through the cash flow statement into cash and retained earnings, and show both sides still match. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “A $100 sale on credit: what changes?”
   • “How can profit and cash move in opposite directions?”
2. 10

   Explain enterprise value versus equity value.

   What a strong answer does

   Start from market cap, add net debt and the other claims, and say why each one belongs. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “Why subtract cash?”
   • “Which multiples use which?”
3. 11

   Walk me through a DCF.

   What a strong answer does

   Forecast the cash flows, discount them, add what the business is worth after the forecast, and finish at equity value. A minute or two, no more. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “Why discount at WACC and not the cost of equity?”
   • “What kind of company breaks a DCF?”
4. 12

   Walk me through a basic LBO.

   What a strong answer does

   A sponsor buys mostly with borrowed money, uses the company's cash to repay it and sells in a few years. Returns come from paydown, growth and the exit multiple. Practice it, see a model answer

   • “What makes a good LBO candidate?”
   • “What's the difference between IRR and MOIC?”

• Wasting your one application

  Only your first application counts each year. Research before you click.

• An AI assistant in the call

  Barclays ends the interview and withdraws the application.

• Copying its website

  Barclays asks for your own words on why its information matters to you.

• Giving up after one exercise

  Barclays says performance across all assessment center exercises counts.

Barclays publishes tips for each stage. These are the ones that matter most.

1. Before you apply

   Choose your one role

   Research the business area and program, then tailor your resume with the job description's key words.

2. Before the assessments

   Practice first

   Its assessment platform has practice tests and information on its Purpose and Values.

3. Before video interviews

   Set up and rehearse

   Stable device, quiet room, headphones if they help, and mock interviews with family or friends.

4. Before the assessment center

   Know why you want it

   The motivational interview is with a leader. Have a clear reason and a story for each Value.