A huge congratulations to Dil who has secured himself a role at Barclays. Here, he shares how he found the interview process at Barclays and gives some great tips for future applicants.
Why did you choose this firm and this role?
One thing that stood out to me at Barclays was that as soon as you enter their building you literally see their values written on the walls. This showed me that they want to promote a better world for everyone which is important for an organisation as large as Barclays. This also shone through when I spoke to current Barclays employees who were genuinely friendly and were willing to help me with any questions I had.
The role of an Investment Banker appeals to me for numerous reasons. Firstly, the fast-paced environment I’ll be working in will keep me on my toes and I’ll remain interested in the work. Secondly, there will be a wide variety of things I can get involved with meaning I think I’ll learn a lot and gain some valuable experience. Finally, the team culture in investment banking has to be strong since you’re spending a lot of hours with the same people. Since I enjoy working with others, it seems like a perfect fit for me.
What was the most challenging part of the application process? And your favourite part?:
I think the most challenging part for me was the video interview. I have always found it weird to talk to a computer rather than a person. On top of this, keeping your nerves and recovering from any mistakes you make can be tough. However, with a bit of practice, preparation and some luck, anyone can do well in them.
My favourite part was the competency interview. I got on quite well with my interviewers and I enjoyed asking them about what they do at Barclays and finding out more about their experience. It also transformed from an interview to an interesting conversation very quickly. This definitely eased my nerves and I was able to share some laughs with my assessors.
Were you surprised by anything in the process?
Funnily enough, I was surprised how nice all my interviewers were. Having spoken to my friends who had interviewed at other firms, they said they got grilled on technical details and left the interviews with headaches. With Barclays, it was literally just an interesting conversation between people who have interests in finance. It was also a good learning curve since you get feedback on the interviews, so you know what to improve on when it comes to similar situations.
What three top tips would you give your fellow Bright Network members?
Firstly, I would definitely try and apply as early as possible. This helps you because you don’t know when the vacancy might fill up or close. Even if there is a deadline, don’t wait until then because chances are, if its rolling, there are a lot of people in front of you.
Secondly, for video interviews, I’d make sure you have practiced thoroughly. Employers want people who can present themselves well because they’ll be representing the firm in front of clients. It’s important you are well-spoken, well dressed and have good ideas when you give answers.
Thirdly, speak to as many people as you can if you get an interview with the firm you are applying to. Attend networking events, message your friend’s brother’s boyfriend, and talk to people already working at the firm you’re applying to. This can give you more of an insight on how to ace your interviews and ensure you get the job you deserve so make sure you use your already existing network.
What was the hardest question you faced in the interview?
The hardest question I faced was “how do you think you are better than all the other candidates here today?”. I’m still not sure if my answer was any good, but I tried to highlight my strengths and gave some examples of how I have shown them. This was hard because it put me on the spot and I didn’t want to put the other candidates down.
