20 Barclays Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, Barclays is known for asking tough questions. If you’re interviewing with Barclays, you can expect to be asked about your experience, your motivation for the job, and your knowledge of the company.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample Barclays interview questions and answers. These questions will help you demonstrate your knowledge of Barclays and your ability to think critically about the role you’re applying for.

Barclays Interview Process

The interview process at Barclays is generally long, beginning with a phone screening and followed by two interviews with management. However, it is possible to have the interviews on the same day. The process is then followed by a meeting with the head of the group.

Data scientists report that the interview process is smooth, with really nice people. There is a case study round followed by a behavioral questions round. All of the interviewers are extremely supportive.

Analyst candidates go through multiple rounds of technical and fit interviews. Initial phone conversations and networking serve as phone screens for prior to a traditional first round, meet and greets, superday with several technical interviews.

Sales associates report that the interview process is good, with easy questions and a straightforward phone interview.

AVP candidates report that the interview process is long, but recommend the experience.

Overall, the interview process at Barclays is lengthy, but most employees report having positive experiences.

1. Why do you want to work for Barclays?

Barclays is a large financial institution that offers many career opportunities. The interviewer wants to know why you are specifically interested in working for their company. Use your answer to highlight the aspects of Barclays that interest you and how they align with your goals.

Example: “I want to work for Barclays because I am passionate about technology and finance, and I think this would be an excellent place to put those interests together. I have always been fascinated by the way money works, and I find it interesting that Barclays has such a long history of innovation in the financial sector. I also love the idea of being part of a team that can make a real difference in people’s lives.”

2. What interests you about the position?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and interests. They want to know what you can bring to their company, so it’s important to highlight any skills or experiences that are relevant to the position.

Example: “I’m interested in this role because I’ve always wanted to work in an environment where I could use my coding skills to help businesses grow. Your company seems like a great place to do that, as you have many clients who need support with their technology. I also think working here would be a good fit for me because of my customer service experience. I enjoy helping people solve problems, especially when I get to use my technical knowledge.”

3. How would you describe your communication style?

Barclays, Fintros (Techstars ’18) wants to know how you’ll communicate with your team and other stakeholders. This question helps them understand if you’re a good communicator and whether you can work well with others. To answer this question, think about the different types of communication you use in your current role. Explain what type of communication you prefer and why.

Example: “I consider myself an active listener who prefers one-on-one conversations over group meetings. I find that having individual conversations allows me to better understand my coworkers’ needs and concerns. In my last position, I noticed that many employees preferred group meetings because they could learn from each other’s experiences. So, I started holding weekly meetings where everyone shared their challenges and successes.”

4. Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something that was not in your job description, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you handled the situation successfully and what you learned from it.

Example: “When I was working as an accountant for a small business, my manager asked me to help with payroll because our usual employee was out sick. At first, I was nervous about doing something outside of my job description, but after talking with my manager, we decided that I would do payroll for two weeks until our regular employee returned. After those two weeks, I had gained enough confidence in my abilities to take over payroll duties permanently.”

5. Give an example of a recent project where you had to collaborate with others on your team.

This question is a great way to show your communication skills and teamwork abilities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you used these skills to help the project succeed.

Example: “At my previous job, I was working on a team that had to create a new website for our company. We were all given different tasks to complete, but we also had to work together to make sure everything worked well together. For example, I was in charge of creating the homepage while another teammate created the contact page. We had to communicate with each other about what we were doing so that both pages would look good when they were put together.”

6. If hired, what are some things you will be looking forward to doing at Barclay’s?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and interests. It also helps you determine if they are excited about working at your company or not. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something that you have done in the past that relates to what you will do as an employee of Barclay’s.

Example: “I am looking forward to learning more about the financial industry and how I can use my coding skills to help companies succeed. I’m also really excited to work with such a talented team.”

7. Describe your experience working with clients and client relations.

Barclays, Fintros (Techstars ’18) is a customer-focused company. Your interviewer will want to know how you interact with clients and customers. Use examples from your experience that show your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and teamwork skills.

Example: “I have worked in the financial industry for five years now. I started as an entry-level employee at my current company but quickly moved up to become a client relations specialist. In this role, I helped clients understand their accounts and answered any questions they had about their finances. I also helped them set up automatic bill payments and other features on their accounts.”

8. How do you like to interact with your team members?

Barclays, Fintros (Techstars ’18) wants to know how you interact with your team members. This question helps them understand if you are a good fit for their company culture. They want to see that you value teamwork and collaboration.

Example: “I love collaborating with my team members. I find it helpful to bounce ideas off of others before making decisions. It’s also important to me that everyone feels like they can contribute to the discussion. I try to make sure everyone has an opportunity to speak up during meetings or discussions.”

9. Do you prefer to work independently or as a part of a team?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you might fit into their organization. Barclays, Fintros (Techstars ’18) values teamwork and collaboration in its employees. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you worked well with others on a project or helped your team succeed.

Example: “I enjoy working both independently and as part of a team. I find that my best work comes from combining the strengths of individuals together into one cohesive unit. In my last role, I was tasked with creating a new website for our company. My manager assigned me two other designers to work with me on the project. We each had different skillsets, which allowed us to create a more comprehensive website than we would have been able to do alone.”

10. Have you ever had a conflict with another employee while working together on a project? How did you handle it?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle interpersonal conflicts and whether you’re able to resolve them. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you had a conflict with another employee and the steps you took to resolve it.

Example: “I once worked on a project with an employee who was constantly late to meetings. This made it difficult for us to collaborate effectively because we weren’t all present at the same time. I approached this employee after one of our meetings and explained that their tardiness was making it hard for me to do my job. They apologized and promised to arrive on time from then on.”

11. Tell me about a situation when you had to make a difficult decision between two different options. Which option did you choose and why?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make decisions and what factors influence your choices. It can also show them that you have experience making important decisions in a work setting.

Example: “In my last position, I had to choose between two different software programs for our company’s accounting needs. One was more expensive than the other but would allow us to save money on employee training costs because it was easier to use. In the end, I chose the more expensive program because it would be better for our employees overall. They were able to learn the system faster and could perform their jobs more efficiently.”

12. What is your preferred method of receiving feedback from your manager?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you prefer to receive feedback and whether your preferred method aligns with Barclays’ culture. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention a specific time when you received constructive criticism from your manager that helped you improve in your role.

Example: “I find receiving regular feedback from my manager is helpful because it allows me to make adjustments to my work as needed. I also like to give feedback to my managers so they know what I’m working on and if there are any changes I need to make to my tasks or deadlines.”

13. When was a time you failed and what did you learn from it?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s ability to overcome challenges and use them as learning opportunities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to share a specific example of a time you failed and how you overcame that failure.

Example: “When I first started working in my current role, I was tasked with creating an automated system for our company’s sales team. While I had experience coding, I hadn’t done so much work on large-scale projects before. As a result, I didn’t anticipate all of the issues that could arise from implementing the new system. After several months of development, we realized the system wasn’t going to meet our needs. We ended up scrapping the project and starting over.”

14. Would you say you have strong computer skills?

This question is a great way for employers to assess your computer skills and how you feel about them. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but also show that you’re confident in your abilities. If you have experience with the specific software they use, it can help you stand out from other candidates.

Example: “I would say I have strong computer skills. I’ve been using computers since middle school when I started learning coding. I’m very comfortable with most operating systems and applications. I even taught myself some of the more advanced coding languages like Python and JavaScript.”

15. How would you describe yourself in three words?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and values. Barclays, Fintros (Techstars ’18) wants to know that you are honest in your response and that you can be yourself around their team.

Example: “I would describe myself as driven, empathetic and creative. I am driven because I have always been motivated by success. I am empathetic because I care deeply for others and want to make sure everyone feels included. Finally, I am creative because I love coming up with new ideas.”

16. What qualities do you think are most important for an employee at Barclays to possess?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your understanding of Barclays’ culture and values. When answering this question, it can be helpful to refer to the job description or any other information you have about the company’s expectations for employees.

Example: “I think that the most important quality for an employee at Barclays is integrity. I believe that working in finance requires someone who is honest and trustworthy. In my last role as a financial analyst, I was responsible for ensuring all data used by our team was accurate and reliable. To do so, I had to ensure that everyone on my team followed proper procedures when entering data into the system.”

17. In one word, how would you best describe your work ethic?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s work ethic. It can also be an indicator of how they might fit in with your team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what you value most in your own work ethic and how that aligns with the company culture.

Example: “I would describe my work ethic as relentless. I am always looking for ways to improve myself and my performance at work. I want to make sure that I’m doing everything I can to help my team succeed.”

18. What do you hope to gain by working at Barclays?

Barclays is a large company with many different departments. The interviewer wants to know what you hope to gain by working for their organization and how it fits into your career goals. Use this question as an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done research on the company and understand its mission.

Example: “I am excited to work at Barclays because of its reputation in the financial industry. I want to be part of a team that helps businesses grow through innovative technology solutions. I also appreciate the fact that Barclays has a strong commitment to diversity, which makes me feel like I would fit right in.”

19. What are some of your favorite apps and websites?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s interests and how they spend their free time. Barclays, Fintros (Techstars ’18) wants to know that you’re passionate about technology and enjoy using it for fun as well as work. When answering this question, try to mention apps or websites that are relevant to your career goals.

Example: “I love reading blogs and articles online, so I use Feedly to keep up with my favorite bloggers. I also have an Instagram account where I follow lots of photographers and artists. I find inspiration from these accounts when I’m feeling stuck in my own creative process.”

20. What kind of knowledge do you have in the finance industry?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and how it relates to the position you’re applying for. Use this opportunity to share any experience or knowledge you have in the finance industry, including what kind of work you’ve done in the past and what you hope to do in the future.

Example: “I have quite a bit of experience working with financial data. In my last role as an accountant, I was responsible for creating reports that analyzed our company’s spending habits and helped us make better decisions when it came to budgeting. I also had some experience working with clients who were looking for ways to save money.”