Online Application
You are only required to submit a CV at this stage.
How to respond for success
It is not that crucial to tailor your CV to the company, but it must be tailored to at least the industry. Given Barclays is involved in banking & finance / financial services, the CV should be in the standard format for this industry. Templates can be found online.
Expect a 1 day wait before advancing to the next stage.
Situational Judgement Test
The first test is a Situational Judgement Test (SJT), where you react to video and written scenarios. This normally involved ranking the responses from 1 - 5 (1 being best, 5 being worst) or simply choosing between the best or worst response. It normally takes about 30 - 45 minutes to complete the SJT. It is based on Barclays “RISES” values, as well as the Barclays mindset. Preparation mainly involved using online psychometric test providers, like JobTestPrep, Graduate First and Assessment Day.
The second test is a Numerical based test. This is given only if you pass the first stage. It involved a similar process to the SJT, regarding video scenarios, but gave you several pieces of data to work with. Each scenario had about 6-8 sources of data to answer the questions. The questions were normally either multiple choice or written. The main purpose is for you to see how to deal with a lot of different data, in which some data are useless in answering the questions. The mathematics and actual calculations are relatively easy using a calculator, but the difficulty lies in finding the right data to use. Again, the best way to practise is through the online test providers mentioned above.
Example
Unless numerical, expect questions to relate to the core values of the company.
How to respond for success
I practised at least 3-5 tests for each application, before going for the actual test. This set me up well and allowed me to secure 6 spring weeks, despite having applied very late in the application cycle (December onwards).
Expect a 2-3 week wait before advancing to the next stage.
HireVue
This stage is a virtual HireVue. They give you video scenarios or written questions, and you have to respond based on that. They are entirely based on the Barclays “RISES” values and the Barclays mindset.
It took about 30 minutes to go through the entire process. There were about 6 questions, and you have about 30 seconds to 1 minute to prepare your answer. After this time limit is over, it will begin recording you and you have to answer the question in 2 minutes. The best way I prepared is by creating a table of examples from my entire educational and professional history. I assigned these examples to specific values and skills they were looking for. Then, I practised recording myself speaking to the camera on my laptop, watching the video back to see where I could improve. I was able to stop unnecessary pauses, “ums” and “ahs” when they were not needed. For example, I used my tutoring experience as an example of Stewardship, alongside showing evidence of tailoring my communication to appropriate audiences and providing value to clients.
Example
Expect generic competency based questions throughout, such as “tell me about a time when…”
How to respond for success
Using a wide range of examples, and applying the STAR technique where applicable. I added a reflection point of what I would do differently in that situation at the end, to show I was all about the growth mindset and seeking to always improve.
Practising as much as possible is the key to success. I always thought about it from the perspective that someone is always out there working harder to prepare for the application process, so I have to put my all into this. Expect rejections (I got rejected from at least 5 companies) and use it as a lesson to take forward.
Don’t let imposter syndrome get to you, no matter your background or knowledge, you are certainly able to get the job if you put the effort in! I used Notion as a great way to keep my notes, prepare my examples. Using online resources like Glassdoor help a lot when it comes to the questions that each company might ask.
