Vault’s Verdict

As a very prestigious bank, Barclays runs a very selective interview process. The bank is looking for talented candidates from top-tier schools whose personalities fit in with the firm's culture. Management is said to be very supportive of junior bankers, always willing to help out. And, with respect to minority employees, the firm is rather diverse for a Wall Street firm, and women are said to hold several very important positions at the bank. Internships are rated highly and, of course, are a great way to get hired on a full-time basis. Although hours can be long, they aren't too bad: insiders say that they still have lives outside of work.

Note: The firm did not participate in our 2022 Banking Survey; all comments are from surveys in previous years.

Hiring Process 

"The interview process is a very selective, very difficult one, but you can expect very friendly interviewers.”

“The firm puts candidates through a relatively long and challenging selection process. Only once a candidate has passed through several rounds of scrutiny can he or she expect to receive a job offer.”

“Barclays targets more than 30 top-tier graduate and undergraduate schools, including NYU, Cornell, Penn, Princeton, Duke, Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Carnegie Mellon, Chicago, Boston College, Colby, Georgetown, Rutgers, UVA, and MIT. If you're not from a target school, it’s extremely difficult to get in the door, especially if you don’t know anyone within the bank to refer you.”

Interview Questions

“Expect behavioral/fit-type questions, and to be asked about your experience in previous positions as well as general questions like ‘Why are you leaving your current job?’ The firm likes to ask questions about the most and least enjoyable parts of your previous work.”

“Candidates need to meet the personality the firm is looking for, proving that they have the right skills and talents.”

Intern Experience

“During my internship, I was treated me more like an employee than an intern. I was never asked to do any of the typical intern activities like getting coffee or ordering lunch. I went beyond my assigned tasks and learned quite a lot, including how exactly securities are acquired and structured. It’s important to take advantage of the time you meet with senior management. Make sure to talk to them about the possibilities to move around once you’re hired full time, and to prove that the firm should hire you.”

“The compensation for interns is competitive with other firms on the Street.”

Career Development

“Management is extremely nice, supportive, and always ready to help. Upper management is strong. Basically, you can meet anyone you want to meet, and they are all helpful.”

Quality of Life

“Barclays is a great place to work. It’s a good company to work for and has been a very pleasant experience.”

“The work culture can be hectic, and employees are generally involved in enhancements and process improvements rather than just business as usual. But innovation is encouraged.”

“Working hours are what you would expect at any investment bank. But there aren't too many long days.”

“Hours are not too bad. You still have a life.”

Diversity, Philanthropy, and Green Initiatives

“Diversity within Barclays is huge and encouraged. People from all over the world work together within the company. Women share an equal standing, too, and quite a few are in very important positions throughout the firm.”